What was your last concert you went to ?
Posted by: sjust on 18 October 2004
Just returning from one of the Enjoy Jazz Festival concerts currently happening in my area. The old man and the younger lady burnt the house down ! Let's put the cover of forgiving and forgetting over the sound of the P.A. but fortunately you were able to hear both the piano and the saxes through the amplifiers, and that was a pleasure to do ! Shepp (whom I saw before, when he was much younger) still has so much energy that flows directly into his horn (and voice !!!), that it's breath taking. May he still live long and produce music, music, music !
Best regards, freundliche Grüße
Stefan
Beth Orton - The Junction, Cambridge
Over an hour to drive there from Buckingham but that's our fault for living in a musical desert 
This was the second night of her latest tour and I think she said the second gig for the current band but I may have mis-heard that - no matter she & they were great. We last saw her at the Byron Bay Blues and Roots Festival in (I think 2007) but that was a much bigger crowd and so not as intimate and I think that makes a huge difference for her music. Can't say I was taken by the venue but it did the job.
<Rant>
Shame the NCP car park has decided to install tank traps at their entrance and exit points - I managed to kerb my left front wheel - and to refurb it will cost me more than the price of the gig for two of us ... grrr. And it wasn't just me. Every car I saw leaving as we queued up to pay the exit fee managed to scrape their front as they approached the exit barrier.
</Rant>
Cheers
Scott
Last night, Ruby Turner and her band at Pocklington Arts Centre.
A small venue of about 200 people, very intimate and friendly.
Ruby and the band in excellent form singing some great soul, gospel, blues and jazz/funk.
More than compensated for being without my Hi-Fi over the weekend whilst part of it is at Naim.
Richard
My wife is dragging me out to see Mick Hucknall tonight in York 
Not really my cup of tea, so I will find out and let you know.
Anyway, my black boxes are still at Naim so at least it should be better than the TV.
Richard
My wife is dragging me out to see Mick Hucknall tonight in York
Not really my cup of tea, so I will find out and let you know.
Anyway, my black boxes are still at Naim so at least it should be better than the TV.
Richard
Well I have to admit that after being a bit unsure we had a great evening with Mick Hucknall at York Barbican.
He was on fine form, talking with audience, smiling and having fun. His band was very tight and the sound quality was excellent – so well done to the man at the mixing desk as well.
Mick’s vocals were on good form as he sang a collection of songs not only from his American Soul album and back catalogue but also those of Ray Charles and Etta James. He also sang songs from The Beatles (Anna), The Animals (Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood) and The Who (The Seeker) as well as a couple of tracks from his old band!
A good evening and I am glad I went!
Richard
Staatskapelle Dresden/Christian Thielemann
Lisa Batiashvili (Violin)
- Brahms Academic Festival Overture
- Brahms Violin Concerto
- Brahms Symphony No. 4
I got to listen to the famed Staatskapelle Dresden. I have heard of the conductor and the violinist but I have not heard any of their work. They put on a terrific show last Sunday at the Orchestra Hall.
Straight away I have noticed that the orchestra have bigger, bolder presence than the CSO. Sort of like adding an extra VTF on a cartridge. The frequency emphasis is lowered. Thielemann's direction was also big-boned and animated but he got the entire orchestra on their toes! Almost like a cross between Toscanini and Karajan!
Academic Festival Overture sort of set the mood for the rest of the program.
I've read elsewhere that Lisa uses Jochum's 1715 Strads, so I was curious to hear what it sounds like. Her tone was fine-lined which gave an odd contrast from the weighty orchestra and at times I missed a bit of weight and substance ( particularly at the entrance ) but she had an excellent finesse and rhythmic flair that I found refreshing. And somehow this *odd* paring worked.
She was a tiny thing, too looking like a stunning waif.
I have been listening to older recordings of this tune and definitely Lisa's interpretation is modern and a bit cool than what I'm used to.
I was curious how she deals with the slow movement ( one of the prettiest ) but she remained calm and collected. There was no Hollywood schmultz. Szerying's Adagio is certainly more personal and pleading in that his playing made me realise Brahms was hopelessly romantic as Schumann.
The best bits was the final movement where Lisa and orchestra were playing extremely tight and close together. This lively dance tunes were bursting with joyous mingling between them. Each musician was much more animated than dead-pan CSO personels.
I am still a bit struggling with the Brahm's 4th symphonies, but Thielemann's direction riled up both the audience and from the orchestra. Big dynamics and iron fisted control but maintained the stature and a degree of sophistication. ( no cheezy triangles in the 3rd movement ). Then he ends it with a crowd pleasing big bang for the finale. It was like a burly version of Böhm with an added gut level impact.
It did not have the depth of say, Giulini/CSO, but this was a nice change from the sound of CSO and what a fun ride it was!
The concert was a huge success. It was one of the longest standing ovation i have seen and they even performed Prelude to Act III of Lohengrin as the encore. What a showman ship.
They are travelling to Washington DC then on to Carnegie Hall. Lucky New Yorkers will get to see them perform Bruckner's 8th as well as Brahms programs.
Muti/CSO
- Bach Mass in B Minor
Tonight's performance was dedicated to the victims of Boston bombing. Before the program Muti had asked the audience for a moment of silence. One could hear a needle drop.
The stars of the concert were the Chicago Symphony Chorus made up by 86 singers lead by Duain Wolfe. I was awestruck with their power and grace.
Willie Nelson at Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin just before they tore it down. I also was at the first filming of "Austin City Limits". Two guys were sniffing paint openly on the first row. When the guy who pumped up the audience said: "When the music starts, we want you to welcome the performers like any other night in Austin, Texas," some guy in the back yelled: "Dope! We need more narcotics! As to the long lapse since my last concer, let's just say I prefer recordings. 
Best regards,
Russ
Muti and Pollini/CSO
- Beethoven Consecration of the House Overture
- Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21
- Mendelssohn Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage Overture
- Schumann Symphony No. 3 (Rhenish)
This was a program packed concert but to me, the star of the show was Pollini. Interesting note that the piano usually sounds muffled and distant from the Terrace, but from the first note he played there was this familiar crystal clear Pollini *signature tone* I hear from all of his records. Apparently he travels with his own Steinway.
He changed the play list 2 times. He was originally to play Beethoven's 3rd Concerto. Then I got the notice he was going to play Brahms Piano Concerto No.2 instead. ( this would have been really cool! ) then another notice came a few weeks later. He now is going to play Mozart No.21 Piano Concerto.
He looked very old and frail. He cancelled last CSO appearance due to his ill-health. But he retains his precision and clarity a minute he started to play. There was a beauty and absolute mastery in this familiar tune.
Muti's orchestration was rather bland and he took somewhat of a slow tempo but provided good backdrop for Pollini I think. The placid 2nd movement was just gorgeous. Heavenly clam but a touch of melancholy. The final movement can be a bit gutsier but he pulled off his favourite Salvatore Sciarrino's Cadenza with poise and polish.
He was totally into it, too grunting and singing along a la Glenn Gould.
I hope I get to hear him play again.