Greater than the sum of their parts....
Posted by: Tam on 28 July 2006
When talking recently about a rather wonderful cd of Schubert's 8th and 9th symphonies I observed two things. First, that so well do these musicians play for Mackerras that they seem to punch well above their chamber orchestra weight and second, that Mackerras and the SCO really are an extraordinary combination. In recent years, many, if not most of his Edinburgh festival concerts have been with them (and he comes up twice a year during their season, not to mention they're many recordings) so I've had the chance to sample them extensively first had. This had given me the feeling that the SCO really were one of the finest chamber orchestras I had ever heard. And, for the most part, I still hold to that view.
However, two concerts I attended this last year have caused me to alter this slightly. The first was a largely Bach programme where the playing was merely fine (with the exception of Haydn's clock, played without a concductor, which was excellent). The second was Mozart's requiem (among other things) conducted by Andrew Manze (which I discussed at the time here). Now the latter concert really surprised me because there was some decidedly shoddy playing in places.
Anyway, I think my point is that Mackerras/SCO is one of those combinations were the ensemble is able to achieve far more than it might otherwise. Now doubtless, you might argue that I would apply this to Mackerras/anyone, and you would probably be right, except that I get the feeling this is a conductor and orchestra who both know each other well and love working together, and their game is raised accordingly (no doubt my theory will be put to the test this summer as I compare Mackerras's live Beethoven readings to those on CD with the RLPO).
However, this got me thinking, what other special musical relationships (no need to confine oneself to classical) are there where the combination achieves something really special?
regards, Tam
However, two concerts I attended this last year have caused me to alter this slightly. The first was a largely Bach programme where the playing was merely fine (with the exception of Haydn's clock, played without a concductor, which was excellent). The second was Mozart's requiem (among other things) conducted by Andrew Manze (which I discussed at the time here). Now the latter concert really surprised me because there was some decidedly shoddy playing in places.
Anyway, I think my point is that Mackerras/SCO is one of those combinations were the ensemble is able to achieve far more than it might otherwise. Now doubtless, you might argue that I would apply this to Mackerras/anyone, and you would probably be right, except that I get the feeling this is a conductor and orchestra who both know each other well and love working together, and their game is raised accordingly (no doubt my theory will be put to the test this summer as I compare Mackerras's live Beethoven readings to those on CD with the RLPO).
However, this got me thinking, what other special musical relationships (no need to confine oneself to classical) are there where the combination achieves something really special?
regards, Tam