Mahler Symphony no.7/Philharmonia/Gustavo Dudamel/RFH/live/R3/14 Nov 2013/19:30hrs

[Barbirollians]

Still some tickets available at Symphony Hall tomorrow (Fri 15 Nov)

Lucky brummies - unfortunately my schedule tomorrow means I wouldn't make it in time from Yorkshire.

[Alison]

Surely you're in Cheltenham tomorrow!

Anyway, I'm a Dudamel convert now. No question.

Jayne is right. From the perfectly judged introduction, taut and rhythmically precise, nothing was missing.

Things were just going off everywhere and yet the music was allowed to speak naturally.

Outstanding full toned playing from the Philharmonia.

[Barbirollians]

Surely you're in Cheltenham tomorrow

Saturday and Sunday hopefully !!!

I was inspired to order Dudamel's LAPO Mahler 9 after that performance. It would be splendid if DG let him take the Philharmonia into the studio with that reading of the Seventh .

[Petrushka]

I've never really bought into all the Dude hype so approached this performance with some trepidation. In the event, I needn't have worried as it was indeed an exceptional performance, riveting from first note to last and played with terrific panache by the Philharmonia.

As I was listening as a slightly deferred relay (via my DVD recorder) I've decided to keep the recording and it's already gone to disc. No problems with the sound on Freeview: it was first rate in every respect, though I do have to set the volume level very high to get the full impact.

Make no mistake, this was a great performance and I rather think that my recording will receive more than a few airings.

[Hornspieler]

I've never really bought into all the Dude hype so approached this performance with some trepidation. In the event, I needn't have worried as it was indeed an exceptional performance, riveting from first note to last and played with terrific panache by the Philharmonia.

As I was listening as a slightly deferred relay (via my DVD recorder) I've decided to keep the recording and it's already gone to disc. No problems with the sound on Freeview: it was first rate in every respect, though I do have to set the volume level very high to get the full impact.

Make no mistake, this was a great performance and I rather think that my recording will receive more than a few airings.

Yes. I did find the opening a little too quiet for comfort (balance from the RFH has always been a problem) but the Philharmonia were magnificent in their response to Dudamel's conducting and I must make special mention of the magnificent horn playing by Nigel Black (and his colleagues in the horn section were not entirely outshone).

The best performance that I have ever heard of Mahler's Seventh Symphony; which can be a terrible bore in the wrong hands.

HS

[Sir Velo]

I suspect a director was telling him to !

I'm afraid that's too charitable an assessment Barbs. For starters, there would only have been a producer with him. Most BBC producers are youngish men and women who would defer to an experienced presenter on matters of presentation. Skelly should have had more sensitivity to the moment.

[marvin]

Well, I also listened on my crystal set fitted with an extra sensitive Cat's Whisker and that, too made for quite an excellent listening experience. I love M's 7th and wonder why it's not played more often.

[amateur51]

Well, I also listened on my crystal set fitted with an extra sensitive Cat's Whisker and that, too made for quite an excellent listening experience. I love M's 7th and wonder why it's not played more often.

It suffers from its previous reputation I fear marvin.

Perhaps this and other recent performances will result in others taking it on and delivering as Dudamel and the Philharmonia did last night.

I enjoyed it hugely and so did a friend who was in the Hall and texted me his impressions on his way home. I particularly enjoyed the final movement which can see the strangest movement of all but when played with conviction as it was by the Philharmonia it's a brilliant ending.

i've heard Dudamel conducting the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra, the LPO, the Gothenberg SO and now the Philharmonia and they've all given top notch performances with him. Dare I suggest that the jury is no longer out on his talent as a musician and as a conductor?

[BBMmk2]

There is no other conductor that can make a success of this symphony than Claudio Abbado.

[Alison]

There is no other conductor that can make a success of this symphony than Claudio Abbado.

Don't agree with that at all BBM. Abbado is fine but doesn't have the last word for me.

[pastoralguy]

Tennstedt for me...

[Petrushka]

I suggest you listen to the newly issued Gielen live performance on Testament as promoted by Caliban. It would be great if this Dudamel performance was issued on CD as it truly cracked this symphony as the Gielen and Bernstein do.

[Bryn]

Very unlikely to make it to a commercial CD issue, I would have thought. Grab it off the iPlayer in HD Sound while you can.

[Barbirollians]

There is no other conductor that can make a success of this symphony than Claudio Abbado.

I couldn't disagree more - excellent as Abbado is - Bernstein's DG recording is magnificent and Barbirolli's BBC Legends account is marvellous albeit the recording is ropey and some of the playing a bit scrappy.

[Mahler's3rd]

An Idea I'm going to try Bryn, is to record onto a DVD the Radio Broadcast when I play it back from my Sky Box. Not ideal I know as there's no picture but at least the sound track should record onto disc, would be a nice keep sake from a wonderful evening