It's something of a miracle that the Halle survived as a going concern after the Nagano years, in particular - Nagano himself was VERY expensive and all sorts of management gaffes ensued under that regime (a mooted concert performance of Tosca which 'forgot' to budget for singers). The Halle had a helluva long time (30 years!) without the 'right' kind of leader until they happened on Elder, who is just perfect for them.
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Not to mention flying in foreign players for auditions at great expense; then refusing to hear them because their planes had been late meaning that they arrived late.
Interesting about the National Anthem; the ability to busk "Queen in G" was part of your toolkit when I was freelancing between 1970 and 1978. One of the regional orchestras played it in Bflat. Any bumptious young player who committed one of the cardinal sins (e.g., not buying the teas at the break or putting his/her belongings in the bandroom in the space where the 1st horn always put his) was soon brought down to size - they 'forgot' to warn you to play a minor third higher than usual.
But when the Queen Mother died the instruction went round the pit when the show was about to go up: "start with the National Anthem" but a lot of the players did not know what to do and just stood in respectful silence. It was then that I knew that I was becoming one of the 'old guys!'Comment
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Not just concerts, the cinema always ended with the Queen too but we always tried to run out before it started so we didn't need to stand to attention, seems so recent!!!!Comment
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I remember it well - and I'm not sure we were quite such poor judges. Among the concerts that stood out were Hallé evenings conducted by Boult and Efrem Kurtz (both superb, as was the orchestra), several oustanding BBC NSO "Master" concerts (including Messiaen played in the presence of the composer conducted by Georges Tzipine, and Kurt Sanderling's Heldenleben), Haitink bringing the LPO for Bruckner 8, and a sNew World from the Czech Philharmonic on tour (conducted by Zdenek Kosler, who'd never been so interesting on records but conducted a terrific performance on that evening). Another Hallé concert, conducted by Pritchard, had Wanda Wilkomirska giving a marvellous performance of Szymanowski's 1st Concerto. These were all concerts that have stayed firmly in my musical memory. The numerous Loughran concerts from the same period were usually decent, but they what they didn't do (for me at least) was leave any sort of lasting impression.Originally posted by mikealdren View PostComment
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Oh. Well, perhaps they played better away from Manchester? The Hallé/Loughran performances in Blackburn (my first Eroica and Elgar #2) and Leeds (Schönberg Variations, Beethoven "Triple", Brahms' #2, Lutoslawski Double concerto, Bruckner #6) are seared in my memory with the greatest affection, admiration, and gratitude. They (and their recordings) were a significant contribution to my education and to my lifelong dedication and commitment to this repertoire.[FONT=Comic Sans MS][I][B]Numquam Satis![/B][/I][/FONT]Comment
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Yes I remember many fine concerts and the Wanda Wilkomirska Szymanowski was a highlight, I still rate her recording as the best performance although I have the Danczowska on order!Comment
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Have received copies of the Lill/Loughran Brahms concertos . Very much enjoyed No 1 not an over massive conception but very musical playing from Lill and a real sense of narrative throughout the whole piece and a joyful finale.
Not so sure about No 2 on first hearing again some lovely ( especially quiet )playing but it does not seem to ever really catch fire and the first movement is a bit sluggish.Comment
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Clearing out the attic, I've just found the programme for Wilkomirska's Szymanowski. The concert was dedicated to the memory of the late Sir Neville Cardus and included the overture to Beatrice and Benedict and Mahler 1.Originally posted by makropulos View Post
MikeComment
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It is very good - very much a flowing account no heavy point making . The acoustic is a bit of a problem the brass sometimes sound as if they are coming out of the mist . The second movement is particularly lovely . Recommended .Originally posted by Barbirollians View PostComment
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Coincidentally ordered a set of the Brahms Symphonies this week before reading through this. I heard Loughran live only twice - a Bartok Concerto for Orchestra and a Bruckner 4. That was the Hallé on tour in North Wales.
Regarding some other names mentioned - I heard Handford several times in Liverpool in the 1980s - a fabulous Enigma Variations, a rather ordinary Shostakovich 5, and an at times painful (cellos...) Verdi Requiem.
It was 20 years last week since the Bridgewater Hall opened. Nagano had been in post four years. He got the orchestra playing far better very early on, in the Free Trade Hall days - there had been times when Skrowaczewski seemed to be in charge of almost amateur performances (and yet there were the occasional memorable performances too - a Mahler 2 in 1984, and a recording of Shostakovich Symphonies spring to mind). Nagano's programmes seemed to keep audiences away - even his Mahler Das Klagende Lied (also issued on CD by Erato) played to a largely empty hall; ditto his Billy Budd with Thomas Hampson. He certainly didn't have the charisma of Yan Pascal Tortelier who was leading the BBC Phil at the same time. There have been several occasions when Skrowaczewski has returned and produced exactly the sort of gripping performance he didn't give as principal conductor - a mind-blowing Tchaik 5 around 1994 in particular. I suspect that some of the older Hallé players were thinking 'We didn't know how well off we were...' Maybe Skrow. was not interested in training up an orchestra, and when he returned during the Nagano reign (eight years, so not insignificant) found a much better orchestra and was able to demand more.
Without a doubt though, Mark Elder has transformed the orchestra into a flexible - and happy - ensemble. And is there another UK orchestra who has had such a long (and fruitful) relationship with a conductor in recent years?Comment
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I think you make a very good point in the mid 1980s they were not an impressive orchestra I recall the odd concert where Martin Milner looked as if he wished he was anywhere else and that they went through the motions . perhaps Skrowacewski has given better performances with a much improved ensemble .Originally posted by Roslynmuse View Post
returning to Loughran I have very much enjoyed his Rachmaninov Second Symphony Once again very direct passionate stuff Ok they cannot match the LSO string playing and bloom of the Previn recording but the real tension in the playing and heart on the sleeve approach is very enjoyable.Comment
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[QUOTE=Hornspieler;577547]I was at school with Maurice Handford.
I remember a very well known amateur horn player around Manchester who, in his day job, was a powerful businessman and moved in circles including the Godlees - one of whom was Chairman of the Halle board. He told me that Richard Godlee remarked that "this solves our horn problem" when Handford moved up to 1st. They also had the late Arthur Bevan, a lovely man and fine player, on 3rd; Arthur was always open about the fact that it was a very unhappy section with Maurice. This may all seem to be getting off the point but it does show that there are many human troubles 'behind the bow ties' - it is not a job for people who want an easy life!Comment
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