This was a bit of a mixed bag of a concert in terms of repertoire.
Two concerts, a film and an opera.
This was a bit of a mixed bag of a concert in terms of repertoire.
The unknown quantity was Elena Kats-Chernin's Ancient Letters a concerto for amplified harpsichord and orchestra with Mahan Esfahani putting in another stalwart performance. This was pleasant enough but did not make me want to hear more.
Ravel's Mother Goose is, for me, a delight from beginning to end with its Gallic grace and impish harmonies.
Mihhail Gerts is a conductor to keep an eye out for on future occasions. The two works by Stravinsky were the meat of the concert and they were both well done.
Pulcinella is rasping good fun but demonstrates an immaculate control of timbre and balance with the five string sections whose leaders form a separate string quintet plus flutes, oboes, bassoons, horns, trumpet and, importantly, trombone. It's a pared down baroque sound but with pazzaz. The Symphony in Three Movements was fab.
I was to delighted to catch Filmstars Don't Die In Liverpool. However, I wasn't expecting the emotional depth played out in a very low key manner.
I felt shredded and wept buckets by the end.
It must be my age.
The Royal Opera's new production of Verdi's La forza del destino got an outing in cinemas. Big story, big tunes, big scenery. What's not to like?
I can't say much about the production as, once again, the cinema version did not give a true record.
We heard the redemptive second version and, by God, in the moment it worked - powerfully, emotionally and cleansingly.
Pappano was in his element and the orchestra sang for him. The chorus were astonishing throughout.
One of those experiences to treasure.
For once, I believed that the singing matched the hype though I obviously can't state that that's how it felt in the house. And, even though the voices will have been enhanced in the mixing room...
- I didn't know Kaufmann had a head voice.
- I didn't know Netrebko had a supported chest register.
- I wasn't prepared for how immense Tésier sounded in full flow.
- I felt that Furlanetto was luxury casting as Padre Guardiano but how his presence changed the opera.
- I have never heard anyone actually sing Preziosilla's music before but Veronica Simeoni did.
Roland took me to hear the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain at the Philharmonic Hall. It was a belting programme with Revueltas's Sensemayá, Chávez's Symphony No2, Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F and Copland's Symphony No3. A packed programme by any standards. Carlos Miguel Prieto conducted the 164 musicians on stage and they proved that they are not just the future of our orchestras but a fine orchestra themselves. Big thumbs up!!