Grime, Mozart and Mahler - Hallé/Paul Lewis/Mark Elder

[Hornspieler]

I'm diving in early here, to get this thread started.

So far, I've only heard The Helen Grime work but I will comment later on the Concerto and the symphony.

Helen Grime? Could I be wrong in thinking that this music could be derived from "Peter Grimes"? Certainly there are shades of Britten in the writing.

Very extreme demands on the brass, but I think they coped very well.

Did I enjoy it? No. "Admired" would be a better word - but then I've never been overwhelmed by BB's music either.

More tasks coming up for the principal horn. I shall listen with fingers crossed.

Good luch, Pal

HS

[french frank]

Just a slight emendation to the title, if I may. The composer is Helen Grime not Grimes.

[Petrushka]

Annoyingly missed the first half. Just about to listen to the Mahler coming up now.

[Hornspieler]

Just a slight emendation to the title, if I may. The composer is Helen Grime not Grimes.

Thanks, FF.

HS

[Alison]

Thought I'd avoid Mark Elder in Mahler. Most likely mannered and manicured.

[Hornspieler]

Thought I'd avoid Mark Elder in Mahler. Most likely mannered and manicured.

Well I think you missed a great performance, Alison. The best live performance of Mahler 1st symphony that I've heard in 60 years.
(I was playing in the last one under the great Bruno Walter)

Neat and Tidy. The whole orchestra responded magnificently to Mark Elder's reading of the work - exciting in some places, sweet and tender in others. Do listen on iPlayer if you can. I'm sure you will be amazed.

Speaking from a hornplayer's point of view, I would find it difficult to think up a more difficult programme for have to face: Strange noises in the Grime, cruelly exposed high notes in the Mozart (no hiding place there!) and almost non-stop playing for an hour in the Mahler.

So well done to whoever it was.

Paul Lewis gave a sparkling performance of my favourite Mozart piano concerto and I shall retire for the night in a very happy frame of mind.

HS

BTW: Hornplayers are not exactly renowned for their prudishness, but I found the Interval feature unneccesary and offensive.

[Petrushka]

Thought I'd avoid Mark Elder in Mahler. Most likely mannered and manicured.

Actually, I rather enjoyed this. The audience in the hall certainly seemed to. The engineers have got the measure of the Bridgewater Hall now, with Mahler's characteristic woodwind writing nicely too the fore. Horns seemed to acquit themselves well but we await the expert view on that!

My first live Mahler 1 was with the Halle under Sir John Pritchard in March 1975. Wanda Wilkomirska (mentioned on another thread) played the Mendelssohn VC in part 1.

[Hornspieler]

Message #7:

Actually, I rather enjoyed this. The audience in the hall certainly seemed to. The engineers have got the measure of the Bridgewater Hall now, with Mahler's characteristic woodwind writing nicely too the fore. Horns seemed to acquit themselves well but we await the expert view on that!

My first live Mahler 1 was with the Halle under Sir John Pritchard in March 1975. Wanda Wilkomirska (mentioned on another thread) played the Mendelssohn VC in part 1.

Yes. The orchestra were obviously enjoying their work. You may hear many immaculate recordings by the most famous orchestras under distinguished conductors, but you will never hear playing with this level of joy and exuberance from a CD.

HS

[salymap]

Earlier I heard the rather joyous perfornmance of Mozart K488 with Paul Lewis. I shall try to access the Mahler sym 1 later - I have more recordings of that than any other Mahler - a favourite of mine.

I triedto see what the interval talk that worried HS was about but it said I wssn't old enough and would have to get parents' permission. I shan't bother then.

[BBMmk2]

Well, the aqnnouncer did warn nusn about the content of the interval talk, beforehand. So radio 3 done their part. it's not often that i like the way mo0zart isnplayed, but I certainly enjoyed PL's and the Halle's last night. I havnt heard the Mahler yet. BTW, HS, are brass players known for their prudishness!?!?!?:)

[salymap]

Well, the aqnnouncer did warn nusn about the content of the interval talk, beforehand. So radio 3 done their part. it's not often that i like the way mo0zart isnplayed, but I certainly enjoyed PL's and the Halle's last night. I havnt heard the Mahler yet. BTW, HS, are brass players known for their prudishness!?!?!?:)

I don't think so Bbm. I'm not talking about MBers but in my work the brass and percussion players seemed to be the most, err outgoing. orchestral librarians, who often played the viola first, were
apt to write books, percussion people started discontents -perhapsthey had too much time on their hands.

We'll see what HS and Waldhorn think.

Back on topic - I really enjoyed the MAHLER symphony no 1.

[Andrew Slater]

I was there. I'll have to listen to the Grime piece a few more times. At the moment, the impression I've come away with is of 'bubbling' clarinets.

I am a bit ambivalent towards Mahler, but with more performances like this one, I will probably become a convert. I haven't listened to the recording yet: I wonder how the three remote trumpets came over on the broadcast - they were in the corridor at the back of the gallery, with the door into the gallery held open. I suppose for the broadcast, they were locally mic'd and mixed in. In the hall, they sounded very remote. Later, the players crept back onto the platform.

[Petrushka]

Later, the players crept back onto the platform.

This always looks faintly embarrassing. The uninitiated in the audience think it's those ill-disciplined trumpet players turning up late again from the bar.

[Tevot]

Hello there,

I thought this was a really enjoyable concert. Thanks Hornspieler for the alert. Otherwise I'd probably have missed it.


Kind Regards,

Tevot

[marvin]

Just a slight emendation to the title, if I may. The composer is Helen Grime not Grimes.

Even Hélene Grimaud, perhaps? Sounds far more exotique c'est ne pas?