Live concerts

[Dave2002]

Not sure whether I mentioned this already, but given the sudden gushing and enthusiasm for sport (or lack of enthusiasm by some) - see the thread on Platform 3, I thought I'd comment that we actually went to a live string quartet concert last week - and we appear to have survived so far. Very reduced audience - maybe 30, but it was good to hear. Haydn, Puccini and Ravel.

Has anyone else here been able to go to any concerts or operas - and braved the experience?

[Simon B]

Yes, after what was the longest gap in decades without hearing or playing in a live orchestra I've recently managed to attend a few select events.

On May/30 there was the rather surreal experience of being one of just 50 people who were able to attend a concert at St Luke's in London given by no less a combination than a slightly cut-down LSO, Michael Tilson Thomas and Yuja Wang. Quite a thing to hear that sound in Copland, Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky after such a time.

A few days ago I was also part of a somewhat larger "crowd" (but massively spread out in the vast space of Birmingham's Symphony Hall) when the CBSO played Malcolm Arnold's 5th Symphony. Similarly a while back for Shostakovich 5.

Wearing a mask for the duration in warm weather and as a glasses wearer is constantly uncomfortable and visually hazy to say the least, but it is what it is. My conclusion is that it is worth tolerating in order to obtain some experiences which bridge the divide between mere drudging existence and actual living. That these events must be financial madness for the organisations involved can only be dealt with by giving this worry a vigorous ignoring for now. What's the alternative? Give up entirely?

My gut feeling was that it's barely credible that there could be a significant risk from such events with the measures in place and current prevalence of the pox. This tallies with my "number person" attempts to put an order of magnitude figure on my personal risk. The rapid rise of the Indian variant may quickly skew all this of course...

Were it not for it being clearly financially calamitous, I'd quite like social distancing of audiences to go on for ever. Zero coughing and sniffling, nobody adjacent fidgeting or jigging about or thinking it is ok to tap and stamp (behind the beat or in the wrong metre as it always is), no programme agitating, sweet unwrapping, talking, no heavy breathers or people with watches making a racket like a grandfather clock strapped to their wrist. Just those who are sufficiently motivated to be there despite everything, actually intently focussed on the music and with plenty of personal space. Completely unsustainable bliss.

[LMcD]

We're going to a live string quartet concert on Sunday afternoon - Haydn, Brahms and 'a surprise item'.

[Bryn]

We're going to a live string quartet concert on Sunday afternoon - Haydn, Brahms and 'a surprise item'.

Mine, if it is allowed to go ahead with an audience in attendance, will be on July 2nd at Iklectik: https://iklectikartlab.com/improvise...e-electronics/

[Ein Heldenleben]

Yes, after what was the longest gap in decades without hearing or playing in a live orchestra I've recently managed to attend a few select events.

On May/30 there was the rather surreal experience of being one of just 50 people who were able to attend a concert at St Luke's in London given by no less a combination than a slightly cut-down LSO, Michael Tilson Thomas and Yuja Wang. Quite a thing to hear that sound in Copland, Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky after such a time.

A few days ago I was also part of a somewhat larger "crowd" (but massively spread out in the vast space of Birmingham's Symphony Hall) when the CBSO played Malcolm Arnold's 5th Symphony. Similarly a while back for Shostakovich 5.

Wearing a mask for the duration in warm weather and as a glasses wearer is constantly uncomfortable and visually hazy to say the least, but it is what it is. My conclusion is that it is worth tolerating in order to obtain some experiences which bridge the divide between mere drudging existence and actual living. That these events must be financial madness for the organisations involved can only be dealt with by giving this worry a vigorous ignoring for now. What's the alternative? Give up entirely?

My gut feeling was that it's barely credible that there could be a significant risk from such events with the measures in place and current prevalence of the pox. This tallies with my "number person" attempts to put an order of magnitude figure on my personal risk. The rapid rise of the Indian variant may quickly skew all this of course...

Were it not for it being clearly financially calamitous, I'd quite like social distancing of audiences to go on for ever. Zero coughing and sniffling, nobody adjacent fidgeting or jigging about or thinking it is ok to tap and stamp (behind the beat or in the wrong metre as it always is), no programme agitating, sweet unwrapping, talking, no heavy breathers or people with watches making a racket like a grandfather clock strapped to their wrist. Just those who are sufficiently motivated to be there despite everything, actually intently focussed on the music and with plenty of personal space. Completely unsustainable bliss.

That’s very interesting . I’ve always like the sound of those King Ludwig Wagner performances where he was the only one in the audience. One consequence in the future is that people will much more of an effort to suppress coughs which are , according to some research I’ve read , largely a symptom of boredom or simply not go out if they feel unwell. I am worried though that some in their later years might still be frightened to go out at all and that will mean a reduced demand for classical tickets. The new pricing policy at Covent Garden is not very enticing with all the stalls seats at some perfs set to the same high price of £230. New season looks enticing though ....might even start a thread on it...

[ostuni]

I've been to quite a lot this month: Sophie Bevan at the Wigmore (and Peter Donohoe & Sacconi Quartet there this coming Sunday morning), Cavalli's L'Egisto at the Cockpit Theatre (tenor Kieran White is a name to look out for), Messiaen's Quatuor (all-star lineup: Osborne, Mark Simpson (best clarinettist I've heard in this piece), Ibragimova, Gerhardt), and at St. John’s Waterloo the Doric Quartet and (coming up later tonight) Ibragimova & Tsoy playing Beethoven Spring & Kreutzer. Finally, on Sunday night at the Barbican, the premiere (with audience) of Mark Simpson's extraordinary Violin Concerto, which I saw on video from St Luke's a few weeks back. Nicky Benedetti again; this time the LSO is conducted by Ryan Wigglesworth (who I last saw as piano accompanist to his wife Sophie B on Monday).

I'm not sure my bank balance can sustain this level of concert-going, but at the moment it feels wonderful to be back in an audience. And, fingers crossed for a few last-minute details, by the end of this month I'll be back to rehearsing and performing with colleagues, and an audience, too.

[muzzer]

Off to the Barbican this evening to hear Nicola Benedetti and the LSO, and cannot wait, even in the likely heat.

[Old Grumpy]

Excellent concert of lute, viols and voice in Grinton Church as part of the more spaced out (literally and temporally) Swaledale Festival this year. (https://www.swalefest.org/Whats-On/P...400-9-jun-2021 )

Followed by a lovely walk through the meadows at Muker.



OG

[gurnemanz]

Lovely day out yesterday with family on my wife's birthday. Six of us met up at Mottisfont, Hants. Beautiful walled garden with roses in full splendour. Pub meal. In the evening first concert since Covid in the wonderful setting of Romsey Abbey. Southampton Concert Orchestra. Nicely programmed without an interval, masked and distanced.
Copland - Quiet City
Holst - St Paul's Suite
Shostakovich - 1st Piano Concerto
Elgar - Cello Concerto

[muzzer]

Early yesterday evening to St James Piccadilly to hear Joanna Macgregor play the Goldberg Variations. Magnificent. One good thing about social distancing at concerts is how close you can get to the action and I was all of 10 feet from the piano, keyboard side, and I will never forget the experience. I’m not sure how I feel about this overall, as the venue (and all venues for that matter) deserve to be packed to the rafters for something like this. Seating 3 people maximum in every other pew makes for an eerie scene and I really hope audiences are going to return in numbers sooner rather than later. I felt unduly privileged but am still most grateful for the most absorbing hour of magic.

[HighlandDougie]

First live music since last February at La Roque d’Anthéron this evening. ‘Pass Sanitaire’ obligatory, ditto mask-wearing. Some social distancing of the seating. Some deity (Thor would be my guess) decided that Messiaen’s ‘Visions de l’Amen’ needed a response so unleashed a thunderstorm near the end. Alas, as the audience sit in the open air, Emmanuel Strosser (page-turning for one of his protégés) was forced to tell the pianists to abandon the performance as the heavens opened. Not quite what I had imagined for my first concert but it was wonderful to hear music in the flesh again. I did feel for the two young pianists, though. Firmly “in the zone” and playing this wonderful music as if it meant everything to them then to be told, “Stop!”. A great shame but great while it lasted.

[kernelbogey]

....it was wonderful to hear music in the flesh again...

Indeed it is: my such experience was hearing The Sixteen in Winchester Cathedral at the beginning of their Choral Pilgrimage. There were tears in my eyes some of the time.