I'm also not a big fan of Jansons either and have heard things by Fisher that did please me and some that did not.

I would find it difficult to pick a top conductor for a top orchestra these days.

I feel we're sort in between, the older top-class generation is dying out and there is no top-class follow up ready yet. I feel there are some young ones 'in the make', but will have to wait and see if they will succeed.

Do you know someone suitable? I might pass it on :-() LOL.

Cheers

Aleg

My wife and I went to see the Gareth Malone "Voices" concert in Blackpool last Friday.

Gareth plus a 16-voice mixed choir, age range probably 18-30 ish.

Absolutely fabulous entertainment with songs spanning 6 centuries right up to date.

Quite simply, some of the best singing you will ever hear, with just the right amount of audience participation.

Very highly recommended if it is on anywhere near you.

Steve D

Aleg,

My friend and I were just talking about that today over the dinner after the Feltsman recital.

He mentioned Sir. Neville Marriner is touring in Germany at the age of 90!, Boulez is 89?, Haitink at 85 wondering who'd be the next wave of talented, charismatic and memorable conductors?

Noone. Even in Europe he said. He shares the same sentiment as you.

He has attended many concerts all over the world from the 60's and up so he has seen many good ones. 

I am not too keen on our current Music Director ( Muti ) and he has renewed another contract so he'll be here for a while. I would have loved to see someone younger and energetic ( incidentally, BSO signed Andris Nelson as their next Director.) 

There will be another talented conductors in this century I just don't know if I live long enough to see it happens.

Anybody go to Gary Clark Jr last night?  I was pretty disappointed - sound was awful where I was sat (level1) and the band was rather loose.  Though that could have been the sound.  Interested to know if others had a better experience.

Saturday night I went to the Barbican to see Sun Ra Arkestra performing with a liquid light show created by ex-Floyd lights bod Peter Wynne-Wilson.

It was a darned fine show - two and a half hours of prime interstellar swing to celebrate what would have been Sun's 100th birthday. I saw the Arkestra last year at Cafe Oto and was worried that the venue's huge size and more formal nature would swamp the group, but in fact the large stage and wide aisles allowed to musicians to wander into the audience, perform blackflips and somersaults etc. Wonderful stuff!

Good review from the Graun, here: http://www.theguardian.com/mus...rbican-london-review

On another note, I cannot believe that bandleader Marshall Allen is 90 - he is so sprightly and energetic!

Just ordered tickets today to see King Crimson on September 9th right here in Albany.

Arcade Fire - Earls Court London - last night  

I'm doing the sublime to the ridiculous.

Melanie Safka this month

.... and Veruca Salt in September.

http://www.verucasalt.com

Pat Metheny Unity Project- The Lowry Manchester - 10.6.14

Absolutely fantastic concert, playing a beautifully constructed set of songs covering his vast catalogue - from Bright Sized Life to the new album Kin, Pat and the band are absolutely outstanding. I'd missed seeing him in the UK on previous occasions, but I'm so pleased I didn't miss this - one to remember for a long time. Only negative point was the merchandise stall which was selling vinyl copies of Kin at £40 per copy - ouch!

If anyone other forum members have seen him playing live recently 'd be interested in their opinions re this tour.

I can confirm your findings. Tonight's show in London was outstanding. I saw one of the early shows on this tour in Miami and as good as that was I really connected with tonight's show a lot more. I think they have refined the set beautifully and play so well together. The contrasts between first set and the full Unity Group set were more noticeable this time and I really enjoyed all the duos too. I have seen him numerous times over the years and this was him on top of his game.

I had the great pleasure of listening to the Antonio Forcione Quartet at the Stables Milton Keynes last night... Wow what a show. He was accompanied by:

Jenny Adejayan - Cello
Anselmo Netto - Percussion/Mandolin
Matheus Nova - Acoustic Bass

And between them they produced a real acoustic feast. African and Latin rhythms with virtuoso guitar and cello. Really imaginative genre busting material and a great fun night out. Well worth booking tickets if they visit your town.

I downloaded an earlier concert offf Naim Label this morning and am enjoying it now. A different line up of musicians with only Jenny in common, but still very good indeed.

Dave

Saw the ENO Cillini last night. A mad, vibrant, exciting, wild, fantastical production by Terry Gilliam. Several wonderful leads and the superb orchestra and conductor. Go and see it if you can. 

Vashti Bunyan St Pancras Old Church Oct 9th.

Had realy been looking forward to be at North Sea Jazz festival - until i found out that all tickets had been sold out, a very big dissappointment 

Saw Bella Hardy live last night. Excellent performance in a small intimate venue. She's a very talented young woman just turned 30, so many years of great music ahead of her.

Dave

Wynton Marsalis & LCJO at The Anvil, Basingstoke on Sun 22 June 2014.

Their third visit to this venue. A rare treat.

Dave

CSO/Muti concludes the Season finale with two contrasting programs. Mozartian Schubert's Symphony 5 & bombastic Mahler's 1st.

My ears are still ringing from sitting directly above the fleet of Brass section and percussion section. ( 8 Kettle drums!, bass drum, assortment of gongs, cymbals, chimes and a kitchen sink ) :/

Somewhat of a sluggish set for my taste but it was really interesting to see how each instrument section adds up to the layering effects of the 1st movement. Slow movements were handled with sweetness and passion juxtaposed with garish noisy bits creating an interesting dichotomy. I am glad that Muti did not water down too much tho perhaps the CSO musicians are still a bit uptight. Finale felt too staged but it was a real crowd pleaser for the season finale.

Does opera count? If it does, then we saw a great performance of Fidelio performed by Garsington Opera at Wormsley last night. A breathtaking venue with the opportunity to explore the gardens sipping champagne before the performance and enjoy a picnic between acts. One of my most memorable mid-summer nights...

Nice!

A very enthusiastic audience heard the Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra celebrate The Best of Blue Note Records. The band played arrangements, mainly by band members, of music from major Blue Note artists of the 50's and 60's such as McCoy Tyner, Art Blakey, Thelonious Monk, Horace Silver, Bobby Hutcherson and Bud Powell. Clearly the star player Wynton Marsalis allowed the band, and it's players, to shine during the main programme but did allow himself a solo encore, with the rhythm section only, which received a standing ovation. The concert was the start of a short UK tour so if you are within travelling distance I recommend you get along to hear this fantastic band.

Dave

Eric Clapton - Leeds - last night

Richard

Opera North’s semi-staged Gotterdammerung at Symphony Hall Birmingham on Saturday night. No weak links in the cast & the orchestra was magnificent. There is to be a complete Ring in 2016.

I have previously heard Alwyn Mellor, Mati Turi  & Lee Bisset sing at Longborough Opera, which seems to have a real knack of finding future stars.

We are looking forward to hearing Lee Bisset sing Tosca there in a couple of weeks.

Kings Of Leon at the Milton Keynes Bowl Sunday evening, brilliant night of great music and a lovely summer evening 

Robert Plant Ulster Hall Belfast. in November.