What was the last concert you went in 2015?

Just booked the next seasons Piano Series (15/16) with: Radu Lupu, Murray Perahia, Behzod Abduraimov, Khatia Buniatishvili, Lang Lang and Daniil Trifonov........ I am excited.

Sounds terrific Bert.

I am going to hear Trifonov play Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No.1 next week!

What will he be playing in your neck of the woods next season? 

It will be Rachmaninov nr 2

Mahler Symphony 7: CSO/Haitink

Haitink is a familiar face at the CSO as a frequent guest conductor.

The frail conductor who just turned 86, got through the grueling score with no intermission giving us a hell of a memorable performance.

It seems that he always get more out of the orchestra via his skilful command, expression and finesse. Respect and affection he gets out of the musicians were very obvious and they gave him 120%.

I still have a bit of trouble with outer movements but two Nightmusik and Scherzo were the best I have heard filled with varying moods, colours and wit. 

Enthusiastic audience applauded after every movement last night in spite the maestro turned around just after the 3rd movement saying 'you don't have to applaud every movement, you know. Keep your energy till the end!'

There was a slightly risky moment that the orchestra was a bit awkward together in the final movement but Haitink held everything together with the max impact. 

One thing I can say is that 'Need more cowbells!"

Incidentally, CSO performed the US premier of the 7th on 15 April 1921 with Frederick Stock conducting.

I can't wait his return to the Orchestra Hall next season with Strauss and Mozart PIano Concerto with Emanuel Ax. 

Amazing - that's only possible in music to be 86 and still be somewhat on top the game.

Bert,

The rest of his 2015 concert schedule is mind boggling. He complets CSO Mahler program this week and off to Boston: 

Schumann: Manfred Overture

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 23 In A, K.488 

Brahms: Symphony No. 1

 

Maria João Pires, Piano <--------- Sorry to miss her performance!

 

Then off to Switzerland:

Tonhalle Orchestra
Mahler: Symphony No. 7

 

Then off to Germany:

Berliner Philharmoniker

Schubert: Symphony No. 5 in B flat major

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 15 in A major

 

Then off to UK: Barbican with LSO

London Symphony Orchestra 

Mozart: Violin Concerto no. 3, G major

Mahler: Symphony No. 1

 

Then off to Paris:

 

Back to London: 

BEETHOVEN: Overture, Leonore No 2
BEETHOVEN: Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No 9

 

Not a bad life at 86 globe trotting conducting world's best orchestras.

 

 

Originally Posted by Bert Schurink:

Amazing - that's only possible in music to be 86 and still be somewhat on top the game.

Bert,

 

The rest of his 2015 concert schedule is mind boggling. He complets CSO Mahler program this week and off to Boston: 

 

Boston Symphony Orchestra

Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Piano

 

Ravel: Ma Mere l’Oye 

Ravel: Piano Concerto in G 

Adès: Three Studies From Couperin

Mozart: Symphony No. 36

 

Schumann: Manfred Overture

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 23 In A, K.488 

Brahms: Symphony No. 1

 

Maria João Pires, Piano <--------- Sorry to miss her performance!

 

Then off to Switzerland:

Tonhalle Orchestra
Mahler: Symphony No. 7

 

Then off to Germany:

Berliner Philharmoniker

Schubert: Symphony No. 5 in B flat major

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 15 in A major

 

Then off to UK: Barbican with LSO

London Symphony Orchestra 

Mozart: Violin Concerto no. 3, G major

Mahler: Symphony No. 1

 

Then off to Paris:

 

Back to London: 

BEETHOVEN: Overture, Leonore No 2
BEETHOVEN: Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No 9 (‘Choral&rsquo

 

Not a bad life at 86 globe trotting conducting world's best orchestras.

 

Wow, that's something - I think it's one of the remedies to stay alive longer.

Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club, Birmingham Symphony Hall, last night.

Absolutely fantastic show. 14 members in total.

It was already great, but when the 85 year old diva Omara Portuondo took to the stage, the party moved into full swing.

What a great advert for active ageing she is.

Happy music. Had me and Mrs H smiling from start to finish, a mean feat for a Monday night after a day at work!

Paul Simon and Sting last night at the O2 in London. 3 hours of continuous playing together and separately. Surprisingly good sound most of the time and all the hits. Hugely enjoyable, both of them.

Saw the same at Birmingham on Sunday - superb gig.

Went to see Brad Mehldau Trio yesterday and was really looking forward to this concert. I was mildly disappointed though. Brad Mehldau seemed a bit tired and uninterested and Jeff Ballard took too much room with the percussion; too loud and dominating. One of my mates described his style as "ompa" which perhaps is a bit harsh, but he certainly lacked finesse. Larry Grenadier on double base was great. His solo playing was awesome. A pity one couldn't hear more from him as the drumming took centre stage. No picture but this which is sans the trio as taking pictures wasn't allowed:

Last Sunday (12th) - Led Bib at the Vortex, Dalston. Their only date this spring. Two sets, with the boys in relaxed, playful mood. Not seen them this chilled before, and it suits them...

the last concert I saw is already more than 2 years ago and it was super, at the beginning I was a bit annoyed by Jeff's dominance as well, but it balanced out throughout the concert...

Hi Bert,

It's interesting that you had an almost similar experience too. I guess yesterday's concert could be because of several things; perhaps the acoustic of the room, the placement of the microphones over the drums, the sound engineer etc. or simply that a great artist such as Brad Mehldau can also have a bad day at work. I'm still glad I went to the concert though!

Semyon Bychkov/CSO + Daniil Trifonov

• Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 1
• Shostakovich Symphony No. 8

Ever since I saw Trifonov earlier this year as an accompanist to Gidon Kremer, I was looking forward to his solo war horse repertoire performance.

Rachmaninoff's PC1 is not as popular but I found it refreshing against over played, over exposed No.2 & 3. Overall I enjoyed his playing but the sound could have been projected *bigger* at opening. He turned to more insightful, lyrical approach where Adagio is well served.

Bychkov kept a tidy and rhythmic backdrop throughout.

CSO musicians and conductor Bychkov giving him an approving nod afterwards. 

He played a Bach piece ( dunno which one ) as a contrasting to Rachmaninoff like a mint after a heavy meal. 

Just as I was telling one of the Russian patron I prefer Trifonov over Kissin, I saw Kissin loitering in the lobby. Oops! ( I guess he is in town for the Sunday concert ) :0 

Anyways, he'll be back for the next season with Prokofiev No.3. He's only 24 and I'll be watching him how he grows and matures.

'He's sooooo cuuuute!'

Bychkov's Shostakovich's 8th was marvelous. And CSO delivered for him. This is still a brooding, dark hard to take symphony, but for the first time I was able to follow what's going on. 

Horror of wars, Shostakovich's anguish and anger are all told in an epic scale. Along with his 7th, this is a must heard live. I have read that unlike the 7th, this is Shostakovich's secret crusade to the anti-war and uncertainty brought on by the war. Bychkov had a Mravinsky like intensity and insistence to make the point.

I remember seeing Bychkov conduct when he was the music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic in the late 1980s. He did an excellent job with that group as well.

matt,

I checked out the BPO and they have a female musical director ( JoAnn Falletta ). 

Is she any good?

CSO posted the finale of Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No.1 by Trifonov/ Bychkov on YouTube. 

This performance is from a night before.

I am by no means an expert at assessing the relative virtues of a music director. Her reputation is good. Since I now live in the eastern part of New York,  I do not see the BPO on a regular basis so I can not offer live reports from the field.

Thanks Matt.

It's nice to see a female conductor in the orchestra.

Hope to see more in a major orchestra around the world.

It seems so good 'ol boys out there. 

Kuma,

I agree 100%. it would be a very good thing.

I guess this post will not lead to many reaction like the one of Yuja Wang before.....

I saw my last piano concert evening of this season, and what an evening. Martha Argerich with Staatskappelle Berlin conducted by Daniel Barienboim. 

Beethoven 1st piano concert and Strauss a Heldenleben. 

I was was very happy to see her at least once in my live. Interesting to see how she dealt with her nerves in the intro. Her playing was superb even while there where two small misses. The level of command she has over all aspects of playing is still at her age remarkable. The interplay with the orchester and the choices of Barenboim also worked out very well. So a remarkable 1st. The encore was a quarte mains with Barenboim. I don't know which piece - but it was highly enjoyable. Ein Heldenleben also kept my attention while it was perhaps not as good as the piano concerto. So a very good closure of this seasons series. Now I still have Sokolov left in June :-)

Just back from Cardiff & an excellent concert performance of Act 3 of Die Walkure, with Bryn Terfel as Wotan & Irene Theroin as a late replacement for Evelyn Herlitzius singing Brunnhilde, both were on top form.

Rachel Nicholls was also a very good as Sieglinde, I am looking forward to hearing her sing Isolde at Longborough in June.