What was the last concert you went in 2015?

Kuma

The public reacted well, there was a thunder of applause. I guess the issue lies with the fact that it's a decision reminescent of Hamelin's débuts, when  he was playing insanely difficult pieces with ease, each time demonstrating his amazing technical abilities.

Lately he's been playing more famous pieces of the repertoire, showing emotion and artistic abilities in addition to technical mastering. Rudepoema in that sense belongs more to Hamelin's younger days.

Based on an Marc-André Hamelin's comments before playing it and on an article I read in Le Devoir about the show, it seems that Rubinstein was very surprised that Redepoema was intended as a portrait - apparently he only played it a couple times. If so, it's amazing tht you were able to find that recording on Youtube.

So as you point out not an interesting piece - but not Schubert's D.960!

Claude

ClaudP, I did find the RudePoema interesting. It's just that I preferred Rubinstein playing over Hamelins rendition. It feels a bit more light hearted and rhythmic to my ears.

I think that the D960 is more difficult piece of the two in terms of communicating the undertow. Plus as a concert pianist, it is an easier piece to be judged against many other renditions over the years so the competition is tougher than rare piece like RudePoema.

Anyway now you have a fall concert you can look forward to!

He'll be at the CSO next season, playing the following pieces.

• Mozart Sonata in D Major, K. 576
• Debussy Images, Book 2
• Hamelin Pavane variée
• Hamelin Variations on a theme by Paganini
• Schubert Four Impromptus, D. 935

Steven Wilson, The Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA, 13 June 2015

unfortunately not in person,  available online for 24 hours

https://screen.yahoo.com/live/event/steven-wilson

david

No Medtner (or Godowsky's Chopin's Etudes for that matter), no go for me. Hamelin played his Variations on a theme by Paganini in his previous concert in Chicago which didn't do much for me. I am glad to hear that he is infusing more passion into his playing now.

I might go if I could get a good seat. 

but yeah. Hamelin doing the Medtner pieces would be lovely.

Mozart, Debussy, Schubert.. these are all recital war horses to keep the patron attending.

For sure, I am going to Pollini recital, in spite I am bummed he's NOT playing Beethoven or Schoenberg. ( that's his NY concert program, but not for Chicago )

Kuma,

You would think that even the patrons would get tired of the old stuff and ask for something fresh..

If I could have Hamelin a la carte I would have ordered Medtner (Forgotten Melodies, Gowdowski (Studies on Chopin's Etudes),  and Albeniz (Iberia). For encores I could have Catoire and Alkan.

What will Pollini be playing?

Haim,

Pollini will be playing Chopin and Schumann for Chicago. 

Traditionally is that CSO is all about German composers as you can see on the face of the Orchestra Hall building. Always heavy on Mozart and Beethoven.

Haim

Don't get me wrong, I like new music too. However in this case I really was looking forward to hearing Hamelin play Schubert's 960 and I didn't really care for the Villa Lobos piece he decided to play instead.

And yes, I really like his interpretation of Iberia, it's one of my favorite records.

Claude

Paul Weller last evening. Finally got the chance to see the modfather live. Great show.

Claude,

The 960 is a great piece of music and I understand your disappointment. Last year I saw it performed (with another two Schubert sonatas) by Paul Lewis.

The problem I had with Hamelin's concert was that he was playing six pieces by six different composers and it felt a little like going through the yellow pages. Too many shifting moods and styles.

Haim

Which Iberia would you recommend? I had this one many years ago, and am looking to replace it.

Larry Carlton, Birmingham Glee Club last night.

Played to an audience which appeared to be mainly the seriously keen guitar-playing population of the Midlands. Crystal clear sound and probably the tightest or most "together" four piece I have witnessed for years - a bit like a finely rehearsed session but these guys all had ear to ear grins most of the night because they were having a great time as were we.

I was expecting his son on bass but he was on tour elsewhere. Anyone know who the bass player is - he was as good as I have seen for a very long time but my Googling this morning has not given me the answer.

Ron

Ron, Facebook or Twitter pages maybe?

Thanks BigH,

His official website and FB still list his son Travis as his bass player but I will find the answer somewhere!

Ron

Tristan und Isolde at Longborough Opera yesterday afternoon.

First the positives; the orchestra, singers & conductor were simply amazing by any standards, let alone for such a small opera company with no public subsidy. The orchestra pit has been enlarged over the last few years by extending it under the stage, as at Bayreuth, which means the audience remain very close to the stage.

I wish I could be as positive about the production.

Someone had the bright idea that a couple of dancers coming on at critical moments & supposedly conveying Tristan and Isolde’s subconscious would add something. Well, I don’t think it did, for me it was just a massive distraction from the music.

Anyway next year there will be Tannhauser, Marriage of Figaro & Jenufa by Janacek, so plenty to look forward to. 

2 weeks ago LA Phil at Disney Hall, 2 young contemporaries and then Glass' premier 2 piano Concerto which was quite ravishing and romantic for him. LeBeque' sisters played, incredible concert, I'm going to buy that piece.

I'm out in my new Palm Springs house and last night a few whiskeys and listened to early Glass Photographer, Salonen Out of Nowhere his Violin Concerto/Nyx, Feldman,  and Arvo Part Sym #4 conducted by salonen and LA Phil, THE concert I missed 2 months ago. I was way out in the  cosmos by the time I shut down and went to bed.

Rega CDP, LFD, Audience 1+1 speakers

This evening having 5 friends over for wine, light food, and show off the place. Sad my handyman can't show up for this, he's really done an incredible job.

I'm not very qualified to answer, I know only one version! It is however a CD I really like:

Anybody with better recommendations?

That's a name from the past!

I used to follow him and bought most of his album up till this one.

Good god this is 20 years ago already. :0

Sorry now with the answer - something went wrong. I wouldn't know a better option for the orchestration. But piano while you have a good version give Alicia Larrocha a try and I personally also like Lang Lang's pieces on the Live in Vienna album.....while I know a lot of people don't like his overemphasized way of playing, so give Alicia a try - there is a great box of her with a lot of interesting work including fabolous Mozart Sonatas.

Just up after last night's Suzanne Vega's gig in Bristol last night, spellbinding throughout. She is accompanyed by an amazing guitarist called Gerry Leonard, who has done quite a bit with Bowie, he plays a custom made 'electric' guitar which is also an acoustic and has some synth capabilities too. Can't recommend enough, believe theres a few more UK dates before they move on to Europe. Get there if you can, it's a real treat

FWIW the bass player in Larry Carlton's current touring band is Claus Fischer and he is very solid. So good that I will track down some of his recorded stuff before I venture into the recent Larry output.

Ron

Ron, where did you find the info then?

BigH

Just Googling various combinations - think it was "Larry Carlton current touring band" and this popped up at:-

http://thejazzbreakfast.com

Regards & have a great weekend

Ron

Strong endorsement from me too.  I saw her last night at the Union Chapel, Islington.

First time I've to the Union Chapel. Very impressive. An octagonal shape on the inside with very high roof and fabulous acoustics. Suzanne couldn't resist delivering some songs from the pulpit.  Only gripe with the venue was, being an active church, you sit on hard-wood pews which can be pretty uncomfortable after a couple of hours for those us without well-padded derriers. But 10 out-of 10 for authenticity. 

Anyway SV was superb, as was the Gerry Leonard.  With two encores the two of them must have played for a couple of hours so the audience really got its monies worth.  She sang a mix of old and new, included Undertow, Luca and, of course, Tom's Diner.  A fabulous concert.

Mike