Haydn, Mahler: BBCSSO/Dausgaard. Mon 22/5/17

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Did anyone else listen to this? I was greatly looking forward to it - Dausgaard has led some wonderful concerts with the BBCSSO in recent months, and Mahler #7 (one of my favourite works) seemed to be exactly the sort of work that he would do well. I was greatly disappointed with the Haydn #88 - sounding like a dress rehearsal run-through, rather than a concert performance. The first four movements of the Mahler made up for this - a very fine performance indeed - but the Finale??!! Desperately rushed through, I thought, with an idea of structure and pacing that I couldn't recognise from the score. What do I know? The audience in Glasgow cheered as if they'd heard something very special - maybe in the Hall, there was a thrill that I didn't detect over the digital airwaves.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08r2t3m#play

[Alison]

In the finale it did sound as if the orchestra hadn't played the work for a long time. From the rushed and ill defined timpani solo onwards (few are the players who nail this passage) much of it felt a bit approximate. Even in the helter skelter a shade more poise is required!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

In the finale it did sound as if the orchestra hadn't played the work for a long time. From the rushed and ill defined timpani solo onwards (few are the players who nail this passage) much of it felt a bit approximate. Even in the helter skelter a shade more poise is required!

I'll say!!! Absolutely nothing of the written rhythm came across (although this might have been a poorly-judged microphone placement - or the performer's exercising his freedom not to be restrained by what the composer wrote; I mustn't adopt the moral highground). Yes - more "poise" (placement and timing) is essential to getting the helter-skelter (good analogy ) to sound more frenetic!

[BBMmk2]

I didn't enjoy this performance. Yes the playing wasn't not top notch. I hope for more improvement. I always enjoyed their concerts under Donald Runnicles. Mahler 9 this evening!

[Alison]

Try CSO/Solti for another botched timpani solo.

[Alison]

Jamie McDougall at his garrulous worst too at the end of the concert before passing over to a dreamy Kate Molleson who made a complete horlicks of announcing tonight's Barbican concert

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I've moved the relevant posts on the Haitink/LSO Mahler #9 to a Thread of its own - seemed more appropriate, and I hope nobody objects.