In concert 16.09.24: Schoenberg - Piano concerto

[edashtav]

Schoenberg is not renowned for enthusiasm for programme music. He softened his view in old age and suggested to the dedicatee of his Piano Concerto these thoughts:
A.S. suggested that he was not against programme music.
He hinted a background for this concerto' four movements:

1. Life was so easy
2. Suddenly hatred broke out
3. A grave situation was created
4. But life goes on [wikipedia]

Written around 1942, Basil.Cameron introduced it to Britain in 1945 with the young virtuoso Kyla Betty Greenbaum as soloist.

"A concerto twice over

Before playing Schoenberg's Piano Concerto with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Third Programme), Peter Stadlen [Remember him?] said it was difficult at first, but believed it would in time become the cherished possession of every musician.

The performance. In honour of the composer's 75th birthday, was given second time, after some discerning impressions by Alan Frank.

I confess that repetition did not bring understanding or liking for the 12-note system, or for this example of it in which, as Mr. Frank said, there was too much going on. As to the way it was composed, Mr. Stadien did help by his illustration of the basic row of the notes. They go forward and backward and upside down, but apparently, like the celebrated Leeds Roundhay tram, not sideways!
Radio Review, Yorkshire Post 23.09.1949"

Edinburgh International Festival.
Pierre-Laurent Aimard, piano, Alison Balsom, trumpet, and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Elim Chan.


Wynton MARSALIS: Concerto for Trumpet.
interval
Arnold SCHÖNBERG: Piano Concerto.
Witold LUTOSLAWKI : Concerto for Orchestra

I find the structure of this concert to be odd with is micro first half containing a trivial Concerto whilst two masterpieces populate substantial second half. I need help from other Forumistas, please to identity the golden thread that connects these disparate Concerti.
Whatever , I'm very much looking forward to
Pierre-Laurent Aimard tackle the formerly recondite Schoenberg Concerto.

[edashtav]

Thanks for your proof-reading, Police.

[Pulcinella]

Thanks for your proof-reading, Police.

I'm not really the police! I'm guessing that that was an autocorrect for Pulcie.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I'm not really the police! I'm guessing that that was an autocorrect for Pulcie.

Brilliant !
Proof reading police would be so useful of course

[edashtav]

Oh dear I do need a proofreader as I'm partially blind due to a clot. After suffering polio ,I could not pronounce my forename : Ed came out as Ded which was a good pet name for a cripple as generically we were called !

So now I can justly claim to be Ded Deadeye!

I type fast but rarely catch up with that malefactor: Mr. AUTO CORRECT.
1001 apologies, Pulcinella

[teamsaint]

Ed, the programme isn’t that lopsided is it ? The Marsalis is 35 mins apparently, and the second half will clock in at about 50 mins of actual music I think.

And as for the golden thread, who knows ?
anyway, interesting looking programme.

(Pulcers, please , don’t bother proofing my comments, unless there are legal issues, obvs…..)

[edashtav]

Ed, the programme isn’t that lopsided is it ? The Marsalis is 35 mins apparently, and the second half will clock in at about 50 mins of actual music I think.

And as for the golden thread, who knows ?
anyway, interesting looking programme.

(Pulcers, please , don’t bother proofing my comments, unless there are legal issues, obvs…..)

Well, well ts: I do hope you are correct re the extended length of the trumpet concerto. Part of my estimate was based on BBC' s WEBSITE"

:Marsalis: Concerto for Trumpet

Interval at c.7.40pm : Donald Macleod introduces Wynton Marsalis' first string quartet 'At the Octoroon Balls'"

It appears the BBC expect the Concert to start at 19.30. That's why I assumed the Marsalis work was super short.
I also stand by my implication that I did not expect the Marsalis concerto to have the stature of the two Concerti in the 2nd half. I find Wynton Marsalis to be a brilliant executant
but a trivial composer.

Thanks for your fact-checking, ts.

[teamsaint]

Well, well ts: I do hope you are correct re the extended length of the trumpet concerto. Part of my estimate was based on BBC' s WEBSITE"

:Marsalis: Concerto for Trumpet

Interval at c.7.40pm : Donald Macleod introduces Wynton Marsalis' first string quartet 'At the Octoroon Balls'"

It appears the BBC expect the Concert to start at 19.30. That's why I assumed the Marsalis work was super short.
I also stand by my implication that I did not expect the Marsalis concerto to have the statute of the two Concerti in the 2nd half. I find Wynton Marsalis to be a brilliant executing,
but a trivial composer.

Thanks for your fact-checking, ts.

I do, of course take your point about the possible quality of the Marsalis, Ed.
incidentally, on holiday recently I made a little cricket pilgrimage to Darley Dale……which was well worth the effort.

[Pulcinella]

Ed, the programme isn’t that lopsided is it ? The Marsalis is 35 mins apparently, and the second half will clock in at about 50 mins of actual music I think.

And as for the golden thread, who knows ?
anyway, interesting looking programme.

(Pulcers, please , don’t bother proofing my comments, unless there are legal issues, obvs…..)

Not so much proofing as hostly (sub)editing to give the composer his capital letter (we've just been doing common and proper nouns with the Year 5s!).

[That's enough about editing Ed's stuff: Ed.]

[richardfinegold]

I had an lp of Brendel in the Schoenberg. It was picked up in a yard sale in the early days of my listening. It bewildered me and I tried several times to get it but it gave me a dislike of the 2nd Viennese School. Over the years I’ve come to appreciate some of it but never got the bad taste completely out of my mouth

[Pulcinella]

The version I have is with Peter Serkin/LSO/Boulez, the coupling to the Violin concerto that didn't particularly appeal (see comments in the Proms concert thread). I would imagine Serkin to be a good exponent, so I ought to give it an airing, especially if I don't get to hear to tonight's transmission.

[LMcD]

Schoenberg is not renowned for enthusiasm for programme music. He softened his view in old age and suggested to the dedicatee of his Piano Concerto these thoughts:
A.S. suggested that he was not against programme music.
He hinted a background for this concerto' four movements:

1. Life was so easy
2. Suddenly hatred broke out
3. A grave situation was created
4. But life goes on [wikipedia]

Written around 1942, Basil.Cameron introduced it to Britain in 1945 with the young virtuoso Kyla Betty Greenbaum as soloist.

"A concerto twice over

Before playing Schoenberg's Piano Concerto with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Third Programme), Peter Stadlen [Remember him?] said it was difficult at first, but believed it would in time become the cherished possession of every musician.

The performance. In honour of the composer's 75th birthday, was given second time, after some discerning impressions by Alan Frank.

I confess that repetition did not bring understanding or liking for the 12-note system, or for this example of it in which, as Mr. Frank said, there was too much going on. As to the way it was composed, Mr. Stadien did help by his illustration of the basic row of the notes. They go forward and backward and upside down, but apparently, like the celebrated Leeds Roundhay tram, not sideways!
Radio Review, Yorkshire Post 23.09.1949"

Edinburgh International Festival.
Pierre-Laurent Aimard, piano, Alison Balsom, trumpet, and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Elim Chan.


Wynton MARSALIS: Concerto for Trumpet.
interval
Arnold SCHÖNBERG: Piano Concerto.
Witold LUTOSLAWKI : Concerto for Orchestra

I find the structure of this concert to be odd with is micro first half containing a trivial Concerto whilst two masterpieces populate substantial second half. I need help from other Forumistas, please to identity the golden thread that connects these disparate Concerti.
Whatever , I'm very much looking forward to
Pierre-Laurent Aimard tackle the formerly recondite Schoenberg Concerto.

'Aspects of the Concerto'? or perhaps 'Concertos (avoiding the elitist 'Concerti') For Everyone'?

[smittims]

Kyla Greenbaum was the sister of Hyam Greenbaum who conducted the 'BBC Television Orchestra' onthe first night of BBC TV from Alexandra Palace in 1936, and I believe died during the war. Her discography is minuscule, consisting of the 1949 Columbia recording of 'The Rio Grande' with Constant Lambert conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra.

Alfred Brendel was the leading interpreter of the Schoenberg concerto, recording it three times,on Vox, Deutsche Grammophon and Philips.He gave a memorable Prom performance of it in 1979, on a rather warm evening, as I recall.

[edashtav]

Kyla Greenbaum was the sister of Hyam Greenbaum who conducted the 'BBC Television Orchestra' onthe first night of BBC TV from Alexandra Palace in 1936, and I believe died during the war. Her discography is minuscule, consisting of the 1949 Columbia recording of 'The Rio Grande' with Constant Lambert conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra.

Alfred Brendel was the leading interpreter of the Schoenberg concerto, recording it three times,on Vox, Deutsche Grammophon and Philips.He gave a memorable Prom performance of it in 1979, on a rather warm evening, as I recall.

Kyla moved away from performing although she introduced.one of the knottier Prokofiev PCs to thre UK. She later concentrated on composing, having an oratorio performed on her 80th birthday. She died as recently as 2017.

Hyam was a tragic figure haunted by alcohol problems. He scored the works of his contemporaries e.g. Walton's films, finished Lambert's Summer's Last Will and Testament. Whilst posted to Bangor in wartime by the BBC, like Bax, he lived in a pub. He must have been a popular guest as he fired his bed on 5 occasions. Cecil Gray wrote: "There is no more tragic figure than the great interpretive artist who has never been given a chance to reveal his powers. Such was Hyam Greenbaum.". Both he and Lambert died young of alcohol-related issues.

.

[edashtav]

I do, of course take your point about the possible quality of the Marsalis, Ed.
incidentally, on holiday recently I made a little cricket pilgrimage to Darley Dale……which was well worth the effort.

I've not visited Darley Dale , ts, but it's name conjures magic. Sorry about your Saints match vs United.