Stravinsky Barber and Dvorak Wed 6th Feb at 7.30

[Hornspieler]

Stravinsky: Pulcinella Suite
Barber: Cello Concerto
8.25 INTERVAL: Discovering Music - Dvorak's Symphony No 8
8.45 Dvorak: Symphony No 8David Cohen (cello)
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Joshua Weilerstein (conductor)

A nice programme. I'm looking forward to it.

HS

[Rupert P Matley]

Switched on R3 in the car and caught the first two movements of Dvorak 8, and not knowing at the time who was playing. Two movements were as much as I could take of the most turgid, lifeless rendition of them I've ever heard. First movement laboured and to my ears (and I don't claim to be an expert) seemed to regularly lose momentum, 2nd movement just kept stopping and starting from a dreadfully slow tempo and didn't seem to know where it was going. It got to a point where I was pleading it would come to an end, and the brass were seemingly encouraged to strip the paint off the walls in places.

[Tony Halstead]

Aha...!
So, I guess Mr Weilerstein will be the next principal conductor of the BBCNOW...:
they seem to have a knack for appointing non-entities...
(excepting the late, much-lamented Richard Hickox)

[salymap]

It is a nice programme and I was hoping to hear a good performance of one of my two favourite Dvorak symphonies later. It doesn't look promising so far though

[Nick Armstrong]

It is a nice programme and I was hoping to hear a good performance of one of my two favourite Dvorak symphonies later. It doesn't look promising so far though

I happen to know that one of our brethren from hereabouts was there, so I am hoping for an eye-witness account in early course!

[Hornspieler]

I happen to know that one of our brethren from hereabouts was there, so I am hoping for an eye-witness account in early course!

Decide for yourself, Sally.

The limitations of a car radio, whilst concentrating on not hitting something rather than the music, is not the best way to judge a performance.

Good morning to you all.

HS

[Nick Armstrong]

Decide for yourself, Sally.

I somehow think that the gracious Lady Map hardly needs prompting to do just that!

What did you make of it yourself, HS? I only heard the Barber live - not a piece I know very well, I've tried a few times and frankly think old Sam failed hit the 'total success' button with that one. The soloist seemed v good though and well accompanied. I was on the move too so can't really say anything more.

I've got the Dvorak recorded and shall give it a listen on the h/phones

[Tony Halstead]

Decide for yourself, Sally.

The limitations of a car radio, whilst concentrating on not hitting something rather than the music, is not the best way to judge a performance.

Good morning to you all.

HS

I'm a bit confused.... surely it was Rupert P Matley who heard it on the car radio, not Salymap?

[salymap]

Hello waldhorn, I haven't heard anything yet, being beset by household repairs and roofing work.

I think HS knows who was in the car ,listening.

best wishes.

[Hornspieler]

I somehow think that the gracious Lady Map hardly needs prompting to do just that!

What did you make of it yourself, HS? I only heard the Barber live - not a piece I know very well, I've tried a few times and frankly think old Sam failed hit the 'total success' button with that one. The soloist seemed v good though and well accompanied. I was on the move too so can't really say anything more.

I've got the Dvorak recorded and shall give it a listen on the h/phones

I had a special reason for listening to this live broadcast from Maida Vale studios.

62 years ago, I walked into Maida Vale Studio One to play for the first time with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Walton's 1st Symphony conducted by Sir Eugene Goosens. A baptism of fire for an eighteen year old, but it was the first of a long association with the BBC and its various orchestras.

So I listened with interest, wondering whether there were any young newcomers experiencing the thrill (and foreboding) of those. early years.

So, to last night:

I thought Pulcinella was excellent, except for some rather wayward intonation in the double bass department.

The Barber concerto did nothing for me. I'm sure the soloist was very good, but there was nothing in the piece to retain my interest.

Dvorak 8 was predictable but in no way inspiring. Mr Weilerstein did not impress me with his personal reading of the work - I couldn't help feeling that I could have conducted it like that.

BTW Not for the first time, I've had a few doubts about the trumpet section. Not the Principal - I thought he was terrific in the Stravinsky - but the others? Well someone flipped over in the beginning of the finale of the Dvorak.

Never mind, overall, I enjoyed my little journey into the past.

HS

[salymap]

Our in-house reviewer Seems to be missing. Ilistened to the Dvorak but, due to tinnitus and my little headphones perhaps, the Dvorak magic seemed to be missing. There were long pauses in the middle two movements but got better on the home straight, to use a racing simile.

Brought upon Neumann and Talich it didn't compete.

Congratulationms HS. I first visited the Maida Vale Studio about 62 years ago, just a mere listener

[Nick Armstrong]

any young newcomers experiencing the thrill (and foreboding) of those early years.

I imagine young Joshua himself, he's only a few years older making his début there than you were, HS.

Great to imagine you, tremulous, horncase in hand, entering the rather unusual portals of the former "Maida Vale Roller Skating Palace" & ice rink (as it was in the '10s and '20s). Perhaps the youthful HS was metaphorically skating on thin ice in Walton 1 - or did you nail it? (I expect you did! ).

someone flipped over in the beginning of the finale of the Dvorak.

Is that a technical term, HS?

[Rupert P Matley]

I'm a bit confused.... surely it was Rupert P Matley who heard it on the car radio, not Salymap?

It was, I thought. ;-) in any case, whilst I was in the car, I wasn't driving it. Can't claim expertise as I said but I was fully able to concentrate on listening.

[Rupert P Matley]

And in case anyone thinks my hearing may have been impaired by traffic noise, I live on a quiet Scottish island,

[cloughie]

Aha...!
So, I guess Mr Weilerstein will be the next principal conductor of the BBCNOW...:
they seem to have a knack for appointing non-entities...
(excepting the late, much-lamented Richard Hickox)

I presume you are not going as far back as Tadaaki Otaka and a Chief Guest in Mariss Jansons wasn't a bad appointment! Was Therry Fischer that bad - he certainly turned in some good performances of French music.