What was the First Orchestral Concert that you Attended?

[EdgeleyRob]

Details a bit vague.
The Halle at the Free Trade Hall,Manchester,James Loughran conducting.
1973 I think,I would have been 14 or 15,would it have been an Opus One concert ?(formerly the Industrial Concert Series) EA will know.
I think the concert included Brahms 1,or maybe Schubert 9,it was on a Thursday IIRC.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

...would it have been an Opus One concert ?(formerly the Industrial Concert Series) EA will know.
.

That's quite correct.

[visualnickmos]

My first concert was probably in about 1948, when we went from school to the People's Palace in the Mile End Road to take part in a performance of the St Matthew Passion which featured a man called Eric Green ( I think) who was a noted Evangelist. I say to take part because the performance was in English, and the audience stood to join in the chorales.

A little later on, in 1949, I started going to the Proms in the summer holidays, up in the old RAH gallery with its hissing gas mantles. The echo up there wasn't so bad as in the Arena. I have lots of slightly blurred memories of performances, notably the Sibelius symphonies conducted by Basil Cameron, and a lovely performance of the London Symphony with RVW shuffling onto the platform to acknowledge the loving reception.

I can very clearly remember my first visit to the Royal Festival Hall in 1952. It was the LSO and Josef Krips, and included the Emperor Concerto played by Friedrich Wuhrer, and the Eighth Symphony. I thought it was a marvellous building, and still do.

That's a priceless gem of a story - the RVW appearance. Wonderful......

and......

I agree - it's a marvellous building. It's where I always arrange to meet friends that I haven't seen for many ages, for drinks while deciding what to do for the day. The building certainly has a warmth and a strong sense of the 'feelgood' factor - I love it. For its time of conception, an architectural modernist masterpiece.

[Petrushka]

My first orchestral concert took place on May 19 1972 in the Victoria Hall, Hanley, Stoke on Trent just a little over two weeks before my 18th birthday.

Strauss: Don Juan
Bruch: Scottish Fantasia
Beethoven: Symphony No 4

Kyung Wha Chung (violin)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Erich Gruenberg (leader)

Rudolf Kempe

What a start to a concert-going career! I still can't believe that the very first piece I heard was Kempe conducting Strauss!

[Hornspieler]

Hmmmm!

Reminds me of one of my horn teachers who, although a northerner born and bred, was 2nd horn in the Bournemouth S.O. for a couple of years. He told me a story of how they were doing Sibelius 5 on a live BBC broadcast from the Winter Gardens and had played the first of those final chords. They watched Charles Groves intently to make sure that nobody came in 'spare' when the announcer's voice rang round the hall - "that was the Symphony no 5 by Sibelius played by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Charles Groves".

That sounds like Ken Monks. Came from Wigan and swore to us that Wigan did have a pier. (and the best Rugby League side in the UK).

Lovely chap!
He left us to join the BBC Northern Orchestra (Now the BBC Philharmonic) and stayed with them until his retirement.

If he is still around, please give him my best wishes!

HS

[kernelbogey]

As there were orchestras involved (especially in those days), it probably counts to say that I attended at least one St Matthew Passion and one B Minor Mass from within the ranks of the contraltos during the months immediately preceding my birth. It was no doubt a visceral experience though with a ... restricted view.

A case of Gloria in Utero, then...?

[Hornspieler]

I'm sure it was. A month or so before miss m put in an appearance, the then mrs m was singing as a choir member in a concert with the BBC SSO. "Highland Cathedral" was on the programme, and when the bagpipes started there was visible movement, which caused great amusement, and no doubt some consternation, amongst the soprano section.

My wife and I were seated behind the Bournemouth orchestra in the Poole Arts Centre at one of those popular Ron Goodwin Concerts.

Halfway through, a Scottish piper in full Highland dress came marching down the centre aisle, playing "Amazing Grace"

My wife leaned over and whispered to me "Now I know what the Irish mean, when they describe something as 'desperate'

HS

[clive heath]

In my mind's eye my first concert not in school was a Prom with VW Sinfonia Antarctica, whish-whish from the wind machine and Schubert " The Great C Major", Boult standing ramrod straight with minimal gestures and the music utterly gripping especially in the sequence with the four repeated notes phrase,"dah,dah,dah,dah; dah di di di di di di di". However I have found two ticket stubs for the RAH and here are the links

Prom 8th August 1957

http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/e329mb

Prom 6th September 1961

http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/e5q4fx

My first Choral Concert ( another thread? sorry) was The Christmas Oratorio given by the City of Bath Bach Choir ( President Dr. RVW) in Bath Abbey, also late 50s, Joan Fullerton, Jean Allister, David Price, John Carol Case with the Paragon Orchestra conducted by Cuthbert Bates. I guess the party from school went because we were about to do Part 1 ( "Let the loud drum beat!" doesn't quite hack it; too many soft consonants.)

[Nick Armstrong]

My first Choral Concert ( another thread? sorry)

Nah... see my #25 above

[Stillhomewardbound]

Fairfield Halls, Croydon - 1973?

RTE Symphony Orchestra. Now Ireland's national orchestra, they were on a European tour and my parents were invited as guests of the sponsor.

Programme: Dvorak's 9th Symphony, 'New World' and Beethoven's Fourth Piano Concerto.

The soloist was Moura Lympany and when she came to a rest after her first passage, she roared into the front rows ... 'BE QUIET!!'



I loved the whole experience and shortly after was signed up for Robert Meyer Concerts for Children at the RFH.

[Stillhomewardbound]

My wife and I were seated behind the Bournemouth orchestra in the Poole Arts Centre at one of those popular Ron Goodwin Concerts.

Halfway through, a Scottish piper in full Highland dress came marching down the centre aisle, playing "Amazing Grace"

My wife leaned over and whispered to me "Now I know what the Irish mean, when they describe something as 'desperate'

HS

Hilarious, HS!!

I've always felt that bagpipes are best heard at a distance. My particular preference being far away enough not to hear them at all.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I've always felt that bagpipes are best heard at a distance. My particular preference being far away enough not to hear them at all.

A piper was practising on Filey Brigg. I was interested in having a chat with him about the instrument, but as soon as he saw me approaching, he packed his instrument away and left hastily. He probably thought I was going to complain.

[Ferretfancy]

Apparently the ancient Egyptians has bagpipes, yet another case against the afterlife!

[Mary Chambers]

I think my first orchestral concert was probably one of Fritz Spiegl's April Fool's Concerts at the Liverpool Phil, in the early 1950s when I was a kid. Does that count? Seriously funny. The first concert that left me really smitten was Messiah with Jennifer Vyvyan, the same year (I think) that she sang the Governess in the premiere of The Turn of the Screw.

Well before that I had heard live orchestras in ballet performances. I can't remember a time when I didn't know what an orchestra sounded like.

[MrGongGong]

A piper was practising on Filey Brigg. I was interested in having a chat with him about the instrument, but as soon as he saw me approaching, he packed his instrument away and left hastily. He probably thought I was going to complain.

Have you been to the bagpipe museum in Morpeth?
Excellent stuff IMV