What was your last concert?

[Beef Oven!]

Excellent report Beefers......

[Beef Oven!]

Great review Beef! Sounds like a classic evening

It's amazing - I vividly recall the Sibelius - Philharmonia - Ashkenazy combo as a key musical event of my University years: heard/saw them do Sibelius 5 in Cambridge in 1981/2 ... so (over) 30 years ago!

A wonderful constant in this shifting world, Mr Oven...

And I have tickets for the May gig too

I'm envious! Would have loved to have seen Vlad & the Philharmonia in 1981/2 in Cambridge, but I didn't have the UCCA points it was all Joy Divisionin the students union bar for me back then, anyway

[Beef Oven!]

Fantastic review Beefy, brilliant read.


I always enjoy seeing Vlad conduct, he really projects the love of his work, and carries it all off with great energy. very flexible for a man of 78. I imagine he pops into the Criterion after, rather than before the concerts .

Your excellent report has reminded me to get on and order a ticket for Sibelius #2 , which VA and the PO are playing at Basingstoke in June, along with the Glazunov VC.

Thanks, ts.

Yes, get that Sibelius2 ticket without any further delay!

A year or two ago, IIRC, Esa-Pekka Salonen was commenting on the unhealthy lifestyle that can accompany an orchestral musician's occupation. He cited late, post-concert meals as one of the negatives.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Excellent report Beefers......

[Nick Armstrong]

I'm envious! Would have loved to have seen Vlad & the Philharmonia in 1981/2 in Cambridge, but I didn't have the UCCA points it was all Joy Divisionin the students union bar for me back then, anyway

[EdgeleyRob]

Super reviews there ts and Beefy.
If you could listen to live in concert this evening and do my review for me that would be appreciated

[teamsaint]

Super reviews there ts and Beefy.
If you could listen to live in concert this evening and do my review for me that would be appreciated

Have a great evening ER.
I'll ask them to put R3 on in the pub.
I imagine Beefy will be down the Frog and Calculator.

remember to give us a shout out.

[Beef Oven!]

Have a great evening ER.
I'll ask them to put R3 on in the pub.
I imagine Beefy will be down the Frog and Calculator.

remember to give us a shout out.

Kebab and Calculator, actually.

[teamsaint]

Kebab and Calculator, actually.

Doh !! close but no cigar, specially not indoors these days......

[Nick Armstrong]

Kebab and Calculator, actually.

[HighlandDougie]

I was at the Royal Festival this evening (19/03/15) to see the Philharmonia perform Sibelius. They were conducted by the sensational, underrated and now neglected Vladimir Ashkenazy.

Finlandia
Violin Concerto
Lemminkainen Legends

Fast approaching his 78th birthday, Vlad moves like a man half his age. Speedily on and off the stage and strong and animated on the podium - straight backbone, making shapes like a new-age mime-dancer! A full mop of hair, with the only concession to Cronus being that it is now entirely silver. Haven't seen Vlad in the flesh for almost 30 years, so excuse my gushings!

OMG! I was there too. Had I known that Beefy was going, I would have attempted at least to glimpse this legend in our own lifetime (well, you know what I mean). I absolutely love the Lemminkainen Legends - and the Vlad/Philharmonia combination was, as Cap'n Beef says, pretty amazing. I last heard Vadim Repin glide his way through the Beethoven VC with Gergiev conducting the Santa Cecilia Orchestra in Rome so I had no great expectations of him in the Sibelius VC. But, fortunately, I was confounded as he clearly loves the work and played it accordingly. Supremely virtuosic but without being flash, he brought out the humour as well as the passion. A great performance. A great concert, even from my less-than-wonderful position down the front of the stalls at the side. Alas, no Barnsley Chop for me: I had to make do with a sandwich from Pret.

[Beef Oven!]

OMG! I was there too. Had I known that Beefy was going, I would have attempted at least to glimpse this legend in our own lifetime (well, you know what I mean). I absolutely love the Lemminkainen Legends - and the Vlad/Philharmonia combination was, as Cap'n Beef says, pretty amazing. I last heard Vadim Repin glide his way through the Beethoven VC with Gergiev conducting the Santa Cecilia Orchestra in Rome so I had no great expectations of him in the Sibelius VC. But, fortunately, I was confounded as he clearly loves the work and played it accordingly. Supremely virtuosic but without being flash, he brought out the humour as well as the passion. A great performance. A great concert, even from my less-than-wonderful position down the front of the stalls at the side. Alas, no Barnsley Chop for me: I had to make do with a sandwich from Pret.

Better luck next time

Great gig

[Nick Armstrong]

Had I known that Beefy was going, I would have attempted at least to glimpse this legend in our own lifetime (well, you know what I mean).

Yes - I presume you mean lunchtime (feel free to correct the typo)

[Beef Oven!]

Yes - I presume you mean lunchtime (feel free to correct the typo)

No, he meant what he said, and he's right

You have a problem with this?

[Nick Armstrong]

No, he meant what he said, and he's right

You have a problem with this?

No, I'm enjoying myself, cheers!