Halle/Gardner, Bridgewater Hall, Thursday October 11; Strauss and Janacek.

[kindofblue]

First live performance for me of both works - 'Also Sprach Zarathustra' and 'Glagolitic Mass'. I'm not a huge Strauss fan, and this performance did little to send me off to do some further listening. After the first and famous section, which I felt was a little under-powered, I found what followed somewhat underwhelming. Some pretty passages, but all rather bitty. Time for an ice cream.

The Janacek though was something else. What an astonishingly vital and dynamic piece of music this is. The power of the massed Halle choir, the organ, and the orchestra was thrillingly physical. Brilliantly rhythmic and punchy brass, and passionate soloists - Sara Jakubiak, Dame Felicity Palmer, Stuart Skelton and James Platt - you forget that it was liturgy that they are singing. Also a structurally fascinating piece, the penultimate section being solo organ, and ending on a highly-charged orchestral 'Intrada'. Gardner was highly animated throughout, and gave his all along with everybody else, but at no point losing control. Wonderful.

[DracoM]

Agree about the Strauss which I thought pretty lifeless - odd, since at other times I've sat through it enthralled.

[Bryn]

I listened to this broadcast while driving back from Shaldon. As in his recording of the Glagolitic Mass with the Bergen Philharmonic, Gardiner opted for the Critical edition of the revised, rhythmically simplified version of 1928. Also as with the Bergen recording, I found it a tad laclustre. I readiliy admit to prefering the original 1927 version with its cross-rhythms, though I am in two minds regardng the timpani interuption durinig the organ section of the Veruju. However, both Ancerl in the standard 1928 score, and Mackerras in effectively the same score as that given here, have more raw energy to them.



Not to be confused with Mackerras's other two recordings of the work, both of which used the Paul Wingfield edition of the 1927 version.

[kindofblue]

Many thanks Bryn, I will seek out this version. I'm all for a bit of raw energy.

[Bryn]

Many thanks Bryn, I will seek out this version. I'm all for a bit of raw energy.

You will find both that recording, plus a DVD with a live performance of the Wingfield edition of the 1927 version in this box:



I cannot recommend it too highly. There is not a dud performance in it.

See amazon.co.uk ASIN: B0046VRR7S . One of the UK based marketplace vendors is your best bet.

[kindofblue]

You will find both that recording, plus a DVD with a live performance of the Wingfield edition of the 1927 version in this box:



I cannot recommend it too highly. There is not a dud performance in it.

See amazon.co.uk ASIN: B0046VRR7S . One of the UK based marketplace vendors is your best bet.

Thanks again Bryn! I have sourced it at a reputable, Leamington Spa-based outlet, and will purchase later. Keen to hear how different this version is, and I also don't already have the Martinu pieces.

[BBMmk2]

Also Sprach can prove to be pretty rewarding listening, in the hands of the right conductor. Say, Rudolf Kempe, for example. There are many others to choose from.

[AjAjAjH]

Point and Counterpoint.
Couldn't fault this concert. Our little group on the tram home to Rochdale, some with greater musical knowledge than I, were of a similar opinion.