In concert 16.09.24: Schoenberg - Piano concerto

[edashtav]

My word the strings of the RSNO are giving the Lutoslawki their all ….superb

what a piece this is ..

an absolute full on masterpiece

Spot on!
ARNOLD SCHOENBERG PIANO CONCERTO (1942)
"Life was so easy
Suddenly hatred broke out
A grave situation was created
But life goes on "
The pianist drew nourishment from these lines: are they autobiographical or a world history for the first half of the 20th century?
Pianist and conductor saw the ppening of the first movement through a neo-classical prism with piano and Orchestra in concert.
The two parties were in opposition in the slow movement with the piano leading the lyrical conflict and the orchestra resorting to percussive artillery.
Pierre-Laurent Aimard ensured that the third movement sparkled and glittered and the varied relaxed moods of the finale were projected with wit and clarity.
I was shocked to hear that the Royal Scottish National Orchestra had not played the Schoenberg during
most of its 82 years since it was written. That lack of acquaintance did not affect their crisp and well-projected contributions. I really enjoyed the performance

WITOLD LUTOSLAWSKI CONCERTO FOR ORCHESTRA (1950 -1954)
Lutoslawski was still finding his compositional identity when he wrote this work which became an attractive mash-up of BB, DSCH and Polish folk music. The brilliance of Lutoslawski's orchestration was innate so the concerto structural element provided a firm core. The orchestra under Elim Chan were both disciplined and having real fun. A winning climax to the second half of the evening's curate's egg.

[smittims]

Going back to your #23, S-A, I've always felt it significant, if disturbing, that the Israelites in Schoenberg's opera refer to Moses as 'Der Fuhrer'. It's all to do with the longing for a strong leader. I don't press the point; as a mere Goy I feel it presumptuous. But Politics were a mess in the inter-war years and there were many in Britain who, frustrated by apparent inability to cope with crises, admired Hitler for a while.

Certainly, where I feel puzzled by a remark of Schoenberg's I always try to look into the context.

I thought that a very fine performance last night. Plemty of 'bite' to it. Along with the Proms performance of the Violin Concerto it's good to see these works are now being played as fluently as Brahms , and this should encourage listeners. For anyone looking for some background reading I recommend two essays: Mitsuko Uchida in the notes to her 2000 recording, and chapter 25 of Allen Shawn's Arnold Schoenberg's Journey (Harvard, 2002).