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Post by julesd68 on May 1, 2023 17:21:52 GMT
Well it happened for sure, the story is everywhere having been reported originally by those who were at the "performance" ...
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Post by julesd68 on May 5, 2023 20:59:20 GMT
At the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester last night, what a wonderful venue and home to the Halle Orchestra.
It "only" cost 42 million which you appreciate is something of a bargain when you visit. The only thing they seem to have forgotten was a big enough restaurant area, a strange oversight. Everything else is top notch indeed and I always enjoy visiting. They serve very good wine at not exorbitant prices compared to many London venues.
The design of the hall is pleasing on the eye but more importantly the acoustic is wonderful - the clarity and sense of resolution is just excellent. It's a stark reminder of what is required in London!  |
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Post by MartinT on May 5, 2023 21:06:29 GMT
What we need in London is a politician who cares deeply about the arts to promote a new London venue.
Not going to happen.
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Post by julesd68 on May 5, 2023 22:17:38 GMT
Yes that's a fact.
Incidentally it's Sir Mark Elder's final season with the Halle - next year he is bowing out with Mahler 5 so I've booked already for what should rightly be a sell out and night to remember.
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Post by julesd68 on May 6, 2023 17:12:21 GMT
Some wonderful music at the Coronation today. Pappano was in charge of the most excellent Coronation Orchestra -
"The Orchestra is composed of musicians drawn from the orchestras of The former Prince of Wales’s Patronages including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House."
So no surprise that the performance was of an elite standard!
South African soprano Pretty Yende gave a moving and technically superb solo performance and in a pre-service concert Sir John Eliot Gardiner led the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists, nuff said.
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Post by julesd68 on May 9, 2023 14:54:00 GMT
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Post by julesd68 on May 20, 2023 17:58:45 GMT
I read that The Dude got a 7 minute standing ovation for his Mahler 9 @ NY Phil - his first performance since becoming Music Director.
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Post by MartinT on May 20, 2023 18:10:26 GMT
The Dude?
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Post by MartinT on May 20, 2023 18:11:43 GMT
Oh, Gustavo Dudamel. Good for him.
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Post by julesd68 on May 20, 2023 18:22:13 GMT
It will be interesting to see if he has staying power in NY or if it's all that glitters is not gold ...
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Post by julesd68 on May 29, 2023 16:34:46 GMT
On my way to Wigmore Hall today I noticed that Bechstein are opening up shop and are building a compact new concert hall too. We can only guess what their "different approach" will be to the concerts - eye watering ticket prices perhaps? "The new C. Bechstein Centre London building is located at 22 Wigmore Street and includes a two-story flagship showroom, 13 practice rooms and a selection room for concert hire pianos in the basement, as well as 8 apartments on the upper floors for private rentals. The crown jewel of this project is a 100-seat concert venue, to be named 'Bechstein Hall'. Terence Lewis, managing director of Jaques Samuel Pianos, the U.K. arm of C. Bechstein, will be artistic director and plans to "take a new and completely different approach to the way concerts are structured" |
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Post by julesd68 on May 29, 2023 21:27:26 GMT
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Post by Slinger on May 29, 2023 22:18:03 GMT
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Post by julesd68 on May 29, 2023 23:33:43 GMT
Yes he is one of those conductors who has the knack of polarising opinion.
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Post by julesd68 on Jun 1, 2023 21:04:17 GMT
A little update on my Mahler cycle concert tour - from 22-23 I have seen 1,3,7,9,10.
I've already booked to see 4 - Bayerische Staatsorchester/Jurowski and 5 - Halle / Elder.
So just looking to find 2, 6 + 8 now, will get onto bachtrack.com and see what's on.  |
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Post by MartinT on Jun 2, 2023 8:46:34 GMT
You need a great conductor for 2. It was the best Rattle concert I ever went to and the best 2nd I've ever heard.
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Post by julesd68 on Jun 2, 2023 11:45:32 GMT
Exactly, I want to find the right one. Not much on offer at present.
And in a shocking volt-face I have booked to see Rattle / LSO next year!
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Post by julesd68 on Jun 7, 2023 20:48:38 GMT
Looking forward to seeing this new film about Chevalier de Saint-Georges on Sunday - looks fascinating!
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Post by Slinger on Jun 7, 2023 21:49:49 GMT
I look forward to hearing what you think of it, Jules.
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Post by julesd68 on Jun 10, 2023 19:40:27 GMT
An interesting fact for you.
I learnt in a programme about Roberta Flack that she majored in classical piano at college. Given the right encouragement it seems she could have had a career as a concert pianist but given the times, she was advised against trying ... An incredibly talented woman.
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