Dvorak, Chopin and Schmidt Friday 23rd at 7.30pm

[John Shelton]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUI90rbdUBU

Interesting, thank you . I shall endeavour to approach this according to best reviewer practice. Obviously that means whatever I say is right and what anyone else thinks is just ... well, dear oh dear.

So. Does he cut his own hair? That bothered me during the meditation before he got down to business. Or is it fashionable to look like you've cut your own hair?

Just possibly I digress.

I know the work rather well, and it's something of a favourite of mine. But I must admit I kept getting lost in the Allegro maestoso first movement. Chopin knew where he was going, I reckon I know Chopin knew where he was going, but Trifonov seemed - like the Situationists who walked round Brussels using a map of Milan - to have other ideas. The Scherzo: Molto vivace settled one question (I love the comments under YouTube videos. Except when I don't). He can assuredly play the piano better than it's likely people watching him on YouTube can. The third movement Largo had the same effect on me as the 1st movement; I just felt lost, but not in the turned a corner and walked into a pleasant park full of songbirds and a warm gentle breeze lost. Just: where are we exactly? Or even inexactly? Presto non tanto; Agitato. The Agitato bit was there alright.

Sorry to be a misery, but on the basis of that I won't be searching him out.

Speaking of great YouTube comments, the discussion about what is the most expensive piano in the world is marvelous. Tempting to add a comment about which sinks quickest if you chuck it in a lake. YouTube sound is problematic, but I'm not keen on Fazioli pianos (but I've no idea how quickly they sink).

Many thanks for posting the link, and it's only my view so ... so what?

[amateur51]

Interesting, thank you . I shall endeavour to approach this according to best reviewer practice. Obviously that means whatever I say is right and what anyone else thinks is just ... well, dear oh dear.

So. Does he cut his own hair? That bothered me during the meditation before he got down to business. Or is it fashionable to look like you've cut your own hair?

Just possibly I digress.

I know the work rather well, and it's something of a favourite of mine. But I must admit I kept getting lost in the Allegro maestoso first movement. Chopin knew where he was going, I reckon I know Chopin knew where he was going, but Trifonov seemed - like the Situationists who walked round Brussels using a map of Milan - to have other ideas. The Scherzo: Molto vivace settled one question (I love the comments under YouTube videos. Except when I don't). He can assuredly play the piano better than it's likely people watching him on YouTube can. The third movement Largo had the same effect on me as the 1st movement; I just felt lost, but not in the turned a corner and walked into a pleasant park full of songbirds and a warm gentle breeze lost. Just: where are we exactly? Or even inexactly? Presto non tanto; Agitato. The Agitato bit was there alright.

Sorry to be a misery, but on the basis of that I won't be searching him out.

Speaking of great YouTube comments, the discussion about what is the most expensive piano in the world is marvelous. Tempting to add a comment about which sinks quickest if you chuck it in a lake. YouTube sound is problematic, but I'm not keen on Fazioli pianos (but I've no idea how quickly they sink).

Many thanks for posting the link, and it's only my view so ... so what?

I started to listen to the clip as I was posting & I kept wondering if he'd lost his place, some of it sounded like doodling

I'll post his Études op25 if I can find them. He's been doing the meditation schtick since he was eight (8!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imGD8UsZxu8

Oh lor' he has to towel himself down before he can start the Études!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLZ4WJiDldU

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

frankly, this was duff programming and Mancunians deserve better.

A little harsh, Pet?

Considering the number of complaints posted on these Boards about the repeats of "safe" repertoire, I'd've thought a Live performance of the Schmidt Fourth would've been more enthusiastically welcomed. As much a part of the Austrian repertoire as the Elgar Symphonies are here, it's a work that deserves far more broadcasts than it receives. Sinaisky presumably agrees, hence his inclusion of the work in his season, and, to attract a wider audience, included works by better-known composers in the programme. Why is that "duff"? Surely it's the London audiences who deserve this sort of programming: more adventurous than they've had to get used to?

If there were ever a "What neglected Austro-German or similar composer are you listening to now?" Thread, the Schmidt Symphonies and Franz Schreker would be at the top of my contributions.

[Roehre]

A little harsh, Pet?

Considering the number of complaints posted on these Boards about the repeats of "safe" repertoire, I'd've thought a Live performance of the Schmidt Fourth would've been more enthusiastically welcomed. As much a part of the Austrian repertoire as the Elgar Symphonies are here, it's a work that deserves far more broadcasts than it receives. Sinaisky presumably agrees, hence his inclusion of the work in his season, and, to attract a wider audience, included works by better-known composers in the programme. Why is that "duff"? Surely it's the London audiences who deserve this sort of programming: more adventurous than they've had to get used to?

If there were ever a "What neglected Austro-German or similar composer are you listening to now?" Thread, the Schmidt Symphonies and Franz Schreker would be at the top of my contributions.

I couldn't have written this better myself

[Barbirollians]

A little harsh, Pet?

Considering the number of complaints posted on these Boards about the repeats of "safe" repertoire, I'd've thought a Live performance of the Schmidt Fourth would've been more enthusiastically welcomed. As much a part of the Austrian repertoire as the Elgar Symphonies are here, it's a work that deserves far more broadcasts than it receives. Sinaisky presumably agrees, hence his inclusion of the work in his season, and, to attract a wider audience, included works by better-known composers in the programme. Why is that "duff"? Surely it's the London audiences who deserve this sort of programming: more adventurous than they've had to get used to?

If there were ever a "What neglected Austro-German or similar composer are you listening to now?" Thread, the Schmidt Symphonies and Franz Schreker would be at the top of my contributions.

I tend to agree - albeit I think Chopin and Schmidt are rather strange bedfellows . Liszt might have been a more suitable choice.

[Petrushka]

A little harsh, Pet?

Considering the number of complaints posted on these Boards about the repeats of "safe" repertoire, I'd've thought a Live performance of the Schmidt Fourth would've been more enthusiastically welcomed. As much a part of the Austrian repertoire as the Elgar Symphonies are here, it's a work that deserves far more broadcasts than it receives. Sinaisky presumably agrees, hence his inclusion of the work in his season, and, to attract a wider audience, included works by better-known composers in the programme. Why is that "duff"? Surely it's the London audiences who deserve this sort of programming: more adventurous than they've had to get used to?

If there were ever a "What neglected Austro-German or similar composer are you listening to now?" Thread, the Schmidt Symphonies and Franz Schreker would be at the top of my contributions.

Probably was a bit harsh in retrospect but I didn't mean the Schmidt symphony on its own but rather as a consideration of the programme as a whole. I'm afraid that Chopin is a total blind spot, nay a strong aversion, for me so I suppose it prejudiced me against the programme from the outset. I haven't heard the Schmidt for many years so a trip to the i-player is called for. Perhaps it will make it on to a BBCMM CD?

Interesting point about 'safe' programming and I broadly agree. Perhaps I just had a touch of the Sunday night 'blues'.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Interesting point about 'safe' programming and I broadly agree. Perhaps I just had a touch of the Sunday night 'blues'.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

The Chopin for me is a total blind spot too - both of his concerti seem like piano-twiddling with orchestra added as an afterthought. Carnival overture - well, there are two other overtures in that triptych that deserve a hearing now and again, rather more than Carnival to my mind.

Schmidt 4, then. Not lazy programming by the usual standards, but not the Schmidt symphony I'd want to hear; it is an extremely dark work. It does have its beauties but there are three others that deserve an outing and it's a shame that we never hear them in UK concert halls.

[Richard Tarleton]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUI90rbdUBU

Good grief, ams - has anyone ever shouted "Get on with it"?

I'm with Petrushka and Enemy on the piano concertos I'm afraid.