Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Tonight live from the Lighthouse Poole

[Hornspieler]

An unusual percussion concerto and good old Tchaikovsky 5th Symphony.

Kiril Karabits conducts.

Tonight, 31st October at 7.30pm

Time to set up your recorders .

HS

[salymap]

Thanks HS. Already set.

[jayne lee wilson]

I dislike being critical of new works after one hearing, but Frozen in Time (such a cliched title...) sounded rather as you'd expect an accessible percussion concerto of the early 21st Century to sound, and didn't seem to go beyond the description of it in the programme note. Rhythms and timbres from round the world - tick; dreamy, filmic soundscapes - tick; "spectacular" battering-ram finale to a cheering audience - tick... I found nothing to disturb the easy-listening ear, no challenge to harmonic or structural expectations. It seemed merely an entertainment, a vehicle for a virtuoso (which Martin Grubinger certainly is!)

Not many percussion concertos succeed in transcending the inherent problem of integration - the orchestra presenting a frame for a display which never seems to find greater emotional depths. Macmillan's Veni Veni and Rautavaara's more conventionally-shaped Incantations may be exceptions... of all recent composers, I suggest Maxwell Davies as creating the most profound emotional narratives with percussion and orchestra (or ensemble), and the best integrated - but never in a percussion concerto, of course!

[Hornspieler]

I dislike being critical of new works after one hearing, but Frozen in Time (such a cliched title...) sounded rather as you'd expect an accessible percussion concerto of the early 21st Century to sound, and didn't seem to go beyond the description of it in the programme note. Rhythms and timbres from round the world - tick; dreamy, filmic soundscapes - tick; "spectacular" battering-ram finale to a cheering audience - tick... I found nothing to disturb the easy-listening ear, no challenge to harmonic or structural expectations. It seemed merely an entertainment, a vehicle for a virtuoso (which Martin Grubinger certainly is!)

Not many percussion concertos succeed in transcending the inherent problem of integration - the orchestra presenting a frame for a display which never seems to find greater emotional depths. Macmillan's Veni Veni and Rautavaara's more conventionally-shaped Incantations may be exceptions... of all recent composers, I suggest Maxwell Davies as creating the most profound emotional narratives with percussion and orchestra (or ensemble), and the best integrated - but never in a percussion concerto, of course!

I have to agree, Jayne. Technically impressive, but musically disappointing

I'm now listening to the symphony. Oh dear! That dreadful horn solo! Oowha, oowha, oowha. What we used to call "pear-shaped notes".

I spent half my life teaching pupils not to play like that. I wonder what our friend waldhorn thinks of that sort of playing?

I'm sure that Maestro Karabits must have needed a lot of rehearsal time for the percussion concerto, but this Tchaikovsky is simply meaningless in shape and form to my ears - and there's some dodgy playing in the double basses, which the overweight balance does nothing to help.

Some nice bassoon playing in the third movement; spoiled by the basses who sound more like timpani than stringed instruments tonight.

Trick or Treat? Sorry folks, but this is no treat for me.

HS

[Alison]

Yes totally uninvolving Tchaikovsky. Very poor.

[jayne lee wilson]

I think that's just a little harsh, HS and Alison... there was at the very least the makings of a thoughtful interpretation in there, dark-toned and gritted out perhaps - the drama not fully played out tonight. That horn solo was, er, well-rounded, yes... but I liked the near-attacca Karabits made between the andante and the waltz, making the most of that harmonic contrast, and thought the reading well-paced overall, with a genuine vivace for the finale. But concertgoers in the BSO's tour cities may hear a rather better defined and polished conception!

And once again, fine 3-dimensional spaciousness on R3 HD. I didn't have any balance problems on that source.

[salymap]

The percussion work was played with brio but what was it about.? A better title would have been 'The Binman Cometh' in my VHO. Didn't stay for the Tchaik 5.

[Pabmusic]

...an accessible percussion concerto of the early 21st Century...

Which opens up the subject of what might an inaccessible percussion concerto sound like?

[Hornspieler]

I think that's just a little harsh, HS and Alison... there was at the very least the makings of a thoughtful interpretation in there, dark-toned and gritted out perhaps - the drama not fully played out tonight. That horn solo was, er, well-rounded, yes... but I liked the near-attacca Karabits made between the andante and the waltz, making the most of that harmonic contrast, and thought the reading well-paced overall, with a genuine vivace for the finale. But concertgoers in the BSO's tour cities may hear a rather better defined and polished conception!

More than a vivace, Jayne. Sounded like a mad rush to get home. Why such a hurry? The Bus Station is straight across the road from the "Lighthouse"

Yes, I agree about the "makings of a thoughtful interpretation". My problem is that this should have been a polished final result; not a "work in progress" exercise.

One word of praise, though. I think the upper string sections were sounding very good last night. Credit to the Leader?

HS

[Hornspieler]

The percussion work was played with brio but what was it about.? A better title would have been 'The Binman Cometh' in my VHO. Didn't stay for the Tchaik 5.

The local binmen woke me up at 6.20 this morning. I thought I was having a walpurgis nightmare.

"Didn't stay for the Tchaik 5", Sally? It certainly sounded as if the orchestra were anxious to get away in the finale!

A very good morning to an old friend!

HS

BTW ... and "Good morning" to everyone else.

[Tony Halstead]

These are some topical postings on a 'horn anorak' MB:

http://horncups.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&p=4874&sid=f46fe70569e4967da90c165994f8393c#p4874

[Hornspieler]

An unusual percussion concerto and good old Tchaikovsky 5th Symphony.

Kiril Karabits conducts.

Tonight, 31st October at 7.30pm

Time to set up your recorders .

HS

Only 4 contributors took the trouble to post their reactions. I really don't know why I bother.

Performance? Who listens to performances when there are matters of world significance to discuss and resolve?

Platform 3 is in danger of collapsing under the weight.

HS

[Sir Velo]

Only 4 contributors took the trouble to post their reactions. I really don't know why I bother.

Of course, the other way to look at it is that over 250 people (and counting) have viewed the thread which suggests that your opinions are highly respected. I hope you won't be offended if I say that I frequently use your concert reflections as a supplement to the concert reviews in the national press; as an aid in deciding which to seek out on the iplayer. In this instance, and in many others, I frequently listen to concerts several days, if not weeks (no names, no packdrill!) after the actual performance. I suspect others do likewise, which means that many of us haven't as yet got round to listening to this one. Having said that, noone who has posted on this concert has appeared to have much enthusiasm for it, which may be another reason why few other responses have been elicited.

[amateur51]

Of course, the other way to look at it is that over 250 people (and counting) have viewed the thread which suggests that your opinions are highly respected. I hope you won't be offended if I say that I frequently use your concert reflections as a supplement to the concert reviews in the national press; as an aid in deciding which to seek out on the iplayer. In this instance, and in many others, I frequently listen to concerts several days, if not weeks (no names, no packdrill!) after the actual performance. I suspect others do likewise, which means that many of us haven't as yet got round to listening to this one. Having said that, noone who has posted on this concert has appeared to have much enthusiasm for it, which may be another reason why few other responses have been elicited.

Thanks Sir Velo

[Hornspieler]

Of course, the other way to look at it is that over 250 people (and counting) have viewed the thread which suggests that your opinions are highly respected. I hope you won't be offended if I say that I frequently use your concert reflections as a supplement to the concert reviews in the national press; as an aid in deciding which to seek out on the iplayer. In this instance, and in many others, I frequently listen to concerts several days, if not weeks (no names, no packdrill!) after the actual performance. I suspect others do likewise, which means that many of us haven't as yet got round to listening to this one. Having said that, noone who has posted on this concert has appeared to have much enthusiasm for it, which may be another reason why few other responses have been elicited.

Thank you for that little morale boost, Sir Velo. However, I am aware that what I write is only my personal reaction at the time and if there are other views then I, for one, am very interested to read them. Maybe it is I who should hang back a bit in order to learn the reactions of others before diving in (with either praise or criticism)

HS