Jonathan's back in town - with Messiaen

[Pianorak]

Messiaen: Vingt regards sur l'enfant Jesus
Jonathan Powell

Sunday 21 October, 4.30pm
Schott, 48 Gt Marlborough St

tickets £10/7 on door

Also performances in Oxford (19th), Brighton (20th).

[french frank]

Lucky for some!

Joanna MacGregor performed it a few years ago in Bristol - I didn't have any interpretations to compare it with but the work was enough. (Was johnb there?)

[Serial_Apologist]

Woweee!!!

£10/7 seems pretty reasonable to me. But I shan't be going. 135 minutes in one sitting, and probably without a break's fine for concentrated home listening.

[amateur51]

Woweee!!!

£10/7 seems pretty reasonable to me. But I shan't be going. 135 minutes in one sitting, and probably without a break's fine for concentrated home listening.

I've not been to this venue - taking up S_A's point, does anyone know if it's a) reasonably comfortable and b) reasonably well-ventilated? If so I'm definitely tempted

[Serial_Apologist]

I've not been to this venue - taking up S_A's point, does anyone know if it's a) reasonably comfortable and b) reasonably well-ventilated? If so I'm definitely tempted

It's probably OK, except at dawn.

[Bryn]

I've not been to this venue - taking up S_A's point, does anyone know if it's a) reasonably comfortable and b) reasonably well-ventilated? If so I'm definitely tempted

It is a small venue, seating between 50 to 60 at most, I would have thought, so get there early to avoid disappointment. The more reliable of the two recital pianos they have (both baby grands) seems to be the Boston. The seating is nothing special but o.k. A select few sit on more comfortable upright chairs at a table towards the back of the room. I heard the same work played there in the Spring series organized by Jonathan Powell in 2009. On that occasion it was played by Simon Mawhinney I hope to be able to make it this time, but Sunday afternoons are difficult. I am usually working.

[Pianorak]

. . . The more reliable of the two recital pianos they have (both baby grands) seems to be the Boston. . .

Well - at least it's Steinway-designed.
Bryn - Did you have problems recording the Steinway M earlier this year?

[Bryn]

Well - at least it's Steinway-designed.
Bryn - Did you have problems recording the Steinway M earlier this year?

I don't recall a particularly problematic occasion. I was thinking more of the fact that Dave Smith elected to play the Boston recently as it had received some attention to its mechanics and tuning whereas he and other pianists have sometimes found various minor problems with the Steinway, especially regarding its tuning.

[Pianorak]

. . . pianists have sometimes found various minor problems with the Steinway, especially regarding its tuning.

Interesting that. Less manual intervention during the Boston production process seems to have paid off.

[Bryn]

Interesting that. Less manual intervention during the Boston production process seems to have paid off.

Or maybe it's just a matter of relative degrees of wear, tear and maintenance of those two particular instruments?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

135 minutes in one sitting, and probably without a break's fine for concentrated home listening.

Missing out on Feldman's For Philip Guston at this year's HCMF, then, S_A?

Incidentally; does anyone know if JP is still active as a composer? I was impressed by his work, but haven't heard of anything in several years.

[Pianorak]

Or maybe it's just a matter of relative degrees of wear, tear and maintenance of those two particular instruments?

I think you are probably right there!