Halle/Elder.Gavrylyuk

[Barbirollians]

The Sheffield Philharmonic Concerts season began with a programme of Debussy Marche ecossaise ( neatly and charmingly played) Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No1 and the complete Firebird .

Elder did a little speech at the start of the second half suggesting that the complete Firebird was a rarity in the concert hall . Nowadays I should not have thought this was the case . It was a fine performance with excellent orchestral playing especially from the woodwind but it did not have the sweep that my favourite recordings seem to have ( the composer,Dutoit and Rattle)

The Tchaikovsky was played in barnstorming fashion by Gavrylyuk though I felt rather the same about this as I did his Grieg in 2016 - much virtuosity but not much subtlety his encore of Liszt's Consolation No 3 was another matter .

[teamsaint]

The Sheffield Philharmonic Concerts season began with a programme of Debussy Marche ecossaise ( neatly and charmingly played) Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No1 and the complete Firebird .

Elder did a little speech at the start of the second half suggesting that the complete Firebird was a rarity in the concert hall . Nowadays I should not have thought this was the case . It was a fine performance with excellent orchestral playing especially from the woodwind but it did not have the sweep that my favourite recordings seem to have ( the composer,Dutoit and Rattle)

The Tchaikovsky was played in barnstorming fashion by Gavrylyuk though I felt rather the same about this as I did his Grieg in 2016 - much virtuosity but not much subtlety his encore of Liszt's Consolation No 3 was another matter .

Just back from seeing Gavrylyuk playing the same Tchaik at the RFH with the Philharmonia under Rafael Payare this afternoon. His performance seemed a bit more subtle than the one you heard, but flair very much to the fore. Went down a storm with the London audience though. I enjoyed his performance very much.

[richardfinegold]

I have a couple of recordings of the complete Firebird, and I’ve seen the ballet danced recently. I don’t miss the Music omitted from the Suite at all. It’s not the same as the Tchaikovsky ballets, particularly Nutcracker, where some of the best music is omitted.
I heard MTT conduct the complete Appalachian Spring here a few years ago, which I think is even less frequently performed than the complete Firebird. I felt the same as I do about the Firebird, that Copland knew what he was doing when he arranged the Suite because the left out bits actually impede the power of the music in the Concert Hall. The same with Rodeo-the little snippets that are usually omitted aren’t missed

[Darkbloom]

I have a couple of recordings of the complete Firebird, and I’ve seen the ballet danced recently. I don’t miss the Music omitted from the Suite at all. It’s not the same as the Tchaikovsky ballets, particularly Nutcracker, where some of the best music is omitted.
I heard MTT conduct the complete Appalachian Spring here a few years ago, which I think is even less frequently performed than the complete Firebird. I felt the same as I do about the Firebird, that Copland knew what he was doing when he arranged the Suite because the left out bits actually impede the power of the music in the Concert Hall. The same with Rodeo-the little snippets that are usually omitted aren’t missed

I find the mixture a bit too rich in the Firebird Suite. The final moments are so tremendous that it feels a bit unearned when we reach the end too quickly. I agree that it contains the best music but the complete score adds some context and the best bits are more striking as a result.

[cloughie]

I have a couple of recordings of the complete Firebird, and I’ve seen the ballet danced recently. I don’t miss the Music omitted from the Suite at all. It’s not the same as the Tchaikovsky ballets, particularly Nutcracker, where some of the best music is omitted.
I heard MTT conduct the complete Appalachian Spring here a few years ago, which I think is even less frequently performed than the complete Firebird. I felt the same as I do about the Firebird, that Copland knew what he was doing when he arranged the Suite because the left out bits actually impede the power of the music in the Concert Hall. The same with Rodeo-the little snippets that are usually omitted aren’t missed

I think the Complete Firebird is wonderful and the LSO Dorati shows it in all its glory as do Boulez, Ozawa, Ansermet and many others!

[Bryn]

I think the Complete Firebird is wonderful and the LSO Dorati shows it in all its glory as do Boulez, Ozawa, Ansermet and many others!

Agreed. I feel somewhat sold short by each of the suites, though the considerably reduced forces of 1945 lend it a certain something of its own.