BBC SO Sakari Oramo, Bax, Sibelius, Saariaho last night live

[salymap]

Well, I didn't hear it but a deafening silence from everyone else. Live from the Barbican last night. First of a Sibelius symphony cycle.

Any views?

[Curalach]

I was unable to catch the broadcast last night salymap so will have to rely on iPlayer. This review of the concert has whetted my appetite. http://www.theartsdesk.com/classical...-barbican-hall

[Ferretfancy]

I was at the Barbican for it, but sadly it was rather poorly attended although the stalls were reasonably full. To my ears Bax's Tintagel got off to a very untidy start.though having said that it would be hard not to have enjoyed it, all the necessary surge was there.

The Saariaho Leino Songs made a better impression on most of the audience than they did on me. I sometimes think that I have been listening to pieces like it for the past sixty years. Looking at the translations of the Finnish texts in the programme, I couldn't find much dramatic correlation with the music, and the rapid shifts in dynamics from the soloist were strangely at odds with the filigree textures in the orchestra.

After the interval there was a real leap in quality. Anu Komsi, the soprano soloist, gave a fine performance of the marvellous Luonnotar, and the orchestra played beauitifully for Sakari Oramo, ending with a superb performance of the 3rd Symphony. If the BBC SO do as well in the rest of the Sibelius series it will be a fine achievement.

Perhaps I am being a little hard on the first part of the evening. I may have been spoilt by the stunning playing of the Philharmonia in their Bartok concert at the RFH the night before with Salonen. By the way, there were numerous microphones in evidence at that concert, so perhaps a CD is planned.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

I was at the Barbican for it, but sadly it was rather poorly attended although the stalls were reasonably full.

A common feature of the Barbican season, I'm afraid, and pretty dispiriting for the performers. Maybe the Proms marketing team would make a difference, or perhaps a different pricing strategy would help - every ticket a tenner, for example. Failing that, fulfil the public service remit and distribute tickets around the colleges and schools?

[Petrushka]

A common feature of the Barbican season, I'm afraid, and pretty dispiriting for the performers. Maybe the Proms marketing team would make a difference, or perhaps a different pricing strategy would help - every ticket a tenner, for example. Failing that, fulfil the public service remit and distribute tickets around the colleges and schools?

Didn't they try 'every seat a tenner' at the RFH before the move to the Barbican? I believe it was a success, too, so definitely worth trying again.

[BBMmk2]

I will have to hear this on iplayer to!! What a miss!!

[3rd Viennese School]

How comes they are starting with Sibelious 3? Its the start of the austere Sibelious symphonic journey which comes later on. Therefore they should be playing the romantic style no.1 and 2 first !

I heard it anyway. It was good. Refreshing to think this was his last alcoholic symphony for a while!

3VS