Radio3 Live in Concert

[salymap]

At least five LIVE concerts tomorrow on this special BBC weekend.

The one that caught my eye is the historic co-operation at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast of the Ulster Orchestra and the Dublin based RTE Concert Orchestra for the first time. 1pm on Sunday.

Details from the Radio Times or your paper. Too much to type tonight.

[EdgeleyRob]

Brahms string sextets with extracts from letters by the composer.Do catch it if you can (Radio 3 music nation today)

[Hornspieler]

At least five LIVE concerts tomorrow on this special BBC weekend.

The one that caught my eye is the historic co-operation at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast of the Ulster Orchestra and the Dublin based RTE Concert Orchestra for the first time. 1pm on Sunday.

Details from the Radio Times or your paper. Too much to type tonight.

The RTE Concert Orchestra is the development of the Radio Eireann Light Orchestra, which was conducted in the 1950s by Dermot O'Hara, who was the former Bandmaster of the Irish Army Military Band and it was a mixture of ex-bandsmen, young Irish musicians and German imports.

Names that I can remember are:

Jack Cheatle (leader)
Aileen Cheatle (Cello)
Charlie Maguire (Viola - brother of Hugh Maguire)
Elias Maguire (Violin - another brother)
Audrey Parke (Violin)
Archie Collins (Viola)
Eileen Braid (Harp)
Jim Bolger (Bassoon)
Liam McGuiness (Horn)

The ex Military bandsmen:
Tommy King (Trumpet)
Charlie Parkes(Trumpet)
Paddy Potts) (Trombone)
Raymond Flynn (Oboe)
Dan Riley (Clarinet)
Tommy Warren (Clarinet)

... and the "foreigners":
Heinz Ritweiger (Violin)
George Popp (Violin)
Egon Rausch (Cello)

Not bad recollection after a lapse of 56 years!

Yes, I played with them for a few weeks in the summer of that year and it was a nice holiday after three years of drudgery in the Royal Artillery Band.

Delightful people to work with and on this rain-soaked morning (reminding me of the Emerald Isle) I cannot resist reproducing a conversation which took place one morning before rehearsal between Raymond and Dan:

Dan Raymond, did you take my Evening Paper last night?

Raymond I did not!

Dan Well, it's a funny thing. I had it in my raincoat pocket. When I got home, I took it out to read it and there it was - gone!

You couldn't make it up! Such happy days! Such a wonderful contrast from "That man! Pull your shoulders up! You're S*** order, do you you know that? I'll have you marching round this square until ..."
... no need to go on.

HS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RT%C3%89_Concert_Orchestra

[salymap]

lovely reminiscences HS. Ahem, for details of the concert at 1pm and numerous other live concerts today from across the UK, buy the RT or a paper

[Osborn]

...it does seem mighty difficult to get anyone to talk about today's many LIVE concerts.

You're so right Salymap; people moan day after day about R3 going to ruin but don't seem to want to listen to or engage in discussion about the daily live concerts - just want to play CDs. Roger W would be quite justified in saying 'This is high quality programming - try it, you might like it - if not, I can't help you.'

[salymap]

I wish I could say something sensible about the music I've heard whilst pottering around, doing jobs. A lot of rather noisy percussive items, doubtless to show the paces of the various orchestras.

I am actually quite glad to recognise something, even Tchaikovsky overture 1812. Some welcome Bach due after 10pm with the OAE, Orchestral Suite no 3 and Brandenburg no 5.

[Panjandrum]

You're so right Salymap; people moan day after day about R3 going to ruin but don't seem to want to listen to or engage in discussion about the daily live concerts - just want to play CDs. Roger W would be quite justified in saying 'This is high quality programming - try it, you might like it - if not, I can't help you.'

So where's the second viennese school and contemporary music being programmed then? It really is a very limited set menu we are being dished up day after day.

[cloughie]

So where's the second viennese school and contemporary music being programmed then? It really is a very limited set menu we are being dished up day after day.

...and mostly in bits!

[salymap]

...and mostly in bits!

Well today we've had lots of complete works

[french frank]

Anyway, getting back - I meant to go down to St George's this afternoon for the Aurora Orchestra concert, but forgot. 'Highlights' tonight on 3 at 9.15. I wonder what they'll drop ...

[Osborn]

So where's the second viennese school and contemporary music being programmed then? It really is a very limited set menu we are being dished up day after day.

I agree & it annoys me very much. The content of Live concerts is limited to what's available on the day, overriding which is a Buggins Turn attitude to selecting 'today's orchestra' (stupidly, Hough was broadcast with different orchestras twice within a few weeks playing Rach PC 1 & Maria Pires twice with Mozart PC 27) & our mainstream orchestras are disgracefully lazy & conservative in their programming. I give Simon Rattle great credit for trying to include a contemporary piece in almost every programme & giants like Barenboim & Mutter who have the clout & charisma to perform Schoenberg, Boulez, Carter, Rihm, new commissions etc - take it or leave it - & still have people queuing for returns. I'm afraid British audiences are way behind much of Europe in musical curiosity & sensitive assessment & appreciation. R3 should have some leverage with the BBC orchestras but RW & Co would have to be in discussions now to have any influence on the 2012/2013 seasons.

[salymap]

Let's move on HS. Did you hear any interesting works today? I found it a bit noisy and percussive but couldn't listen all day.

Best wishes, saly

[Roehre]

Joubert: Cello concerto op.171 (2010/'11)

in the Music nation programme from Shrewsbury's St.Mary's Church (18.30h), recorded this afternoon.
Nice concerto, never knew that Shostakovich recently composed a third cello concerto :) .

In the broadcast the orchestra was too much at the background, but I think the performance was more than adequate for a premiere.

[DracoM]

Did anyone hear the new Karl Jenkins piece?

[Bryn]

Did anyone hear the new Karl Jenkins piece?

I expect so.