As part of their Bartok survey, the Philharmonis and Salonen were on terrific form at the RFH last night. Did anybody here attend, or hear the broadcast?
In the first half, Yefim Bronfman gave a superb account of the 3rd piano Concerto, but the highlight was the magnificent performance of Bluebeard;s Castle after the interval, with Sir John Tomlinson and Michelle Deyoung.
This was a semi-staged performance, and I wonder if the sound balance on air was different in any way. I ask because there were high walls of scenery behind and at the side of the orchestra which completely concealed the seating and organ. During the performance this functioned as a complex screen for the projected visuals for the opening of the seven doors. The work opened in complete darkness before the entry of the narrator, Juliet Stevenson, so that those wonderful opening chords arose out of the gloom as a grey landscape appeared. We were sitting in a box, the first time I have done so for many years, and the sound was excellent, the best I have heard so far in the refurbished hall.
This was a memorable experience, I doubt if I have ever heard a better performance. Sir Jiohn Tomlinson assumed the part completely, still in amazing voice, and Michelle Deyoung was a perfect partner.
Perhaps I'm gushing a bit, but the whole presentation was as good as any that I've seen in the opera house. Incidentally, although the organ was invisible, it was not missing at the opening of the 5th door. At the moment in the score with that huge crash as it opens, a brilliant lamp snapped on, filling the auditorium with blinding light, a great moment, and they didn't pussyfoot with the sighs either.but all the audiovisual effects did not detract from the inward argument in this wonderful opera.
I would really like to know how this sounded on R3, I walked across the bridge afterwards with its imagery still burning in my head, but I won't be upset if there are dissenting voices, surprised perhaps.
In the first half, Yefim Bronfman gave a superb account of the 3rd piano Concerto, but the highlight was the magnificent performance of Bluebeard;s Castle after the interval, with Sir John Tomlinson and Michelle Deyoung.
This was a semi-staged performance, and I wonder if the sound balance on air was different in any way. I ask because there were high walls of scenery behind and at the side of the orchestra which completely concealed the seating and organ. During the performance this functioned as a complex screen for the projected visuals for the opening of the seven doors. The work opened in complete darkness before the entry of the narrator, Juliet Stevenson, so that those wonderful opening chords arose out of the gloom as a grey landscape appeared. We were sitting in a box, the first time I have done so for many years, and the sound was excellent, the best I have heard so far in the refurbished hall.
This was a memorable experience, I doubt if I have ever heard a better performance. Sir Jiohn Tomlinson assumed the part completely, still in amazing voice, and Michelle Deyoung was a perfect partner.
Perhaps I'm gushing a bit, but the whole presentation was as good as any that I've seen in the opera house. Incidentally, although the organ was invisible, it was not missing at the opening of the 5th door. At the moment in the score with that huge crash as it opens, a brilliant lamp snapped on, filling the auditorium with blinding light, a great moment, and they didn't pussyfoot with the sighs either.but all the audiovisual effects did not detract from the inward argument in this wonderful opera.
I would really like to know how this sounded on R3, I walked across the bridge afterwards with its imagery still burning in my head, but I won't be upset if there are dissenting voices, surprised perhaps.
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