When was the last concert you went in 2017
Posted by: kuma on 05 January 2017
Ok, my scheduled next concert isn't till Feb but I'll start a new thread for 2017!
One part of the Classical Season is the Pianissimo Program in Munchen:
Konzerte des Abonnements
Wow. That is very sad but understandable after the Manchester incident. 
Air: Twenty Years Tour
Set list:
1. Intro
2. Venus
3. Don't Be Light
4. Cherry Blossom Girl
5. J'ai dormi sous l'eau
6. Remember
7. Playground Love
8. People in the City
9. Radian
10. Alpha Beta Gaga
11. Run
12. Talisman
13. How Does It Make You Feel?
14. Kelly Watch the Stars
15. Alone in Kyoto
16. Sexy Boy
17. La Femme d'Argent
I stopped following them after the Pocket Symphony release but for old time sake, I couldn't miss this gig. In spite jacked up bass EQ overload, I enjoyed my favourite La feeme d'Arget. ( had to wait till very last, however ) LIght show was nice and I was definitely the oldest attendee there. It's been 7 years since I've attended a popular music event and this time, security indeed was tighter than I remember and had to go through a security check.
The venue was at historic Chicago Auditorium Theatre ( CSO played its very first season here in 1891 before the current Orchestra Hall was built ) Built in 1889, designed by Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan, much of the architectural details have been preserved to the original glory. 
Actually the fifth time I've now seen them. The 3D seemed even better this time. A good show!
Tchaikovsky Gala - Royal Albert Hall - 20 June 2017
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Teo Gheorghiu (piano)
Grzegorz Nowak (conductor)
Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture - Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No 1 in B flat minor Op 23 - Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Polonaise, from Eugene Onegin - Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Excerpts, from The Nutcracker Op 71 - Pyotr Tchaikovsky
1812 Overture Op 49 - Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Was expecting the RAH to be very hot in a heat wave, but very pleasant actually. Walked from Waterloo via Westminster Bridge, Victoria, Hyde Park Corner, the park and the Serpentine. Stopped at Jamie Oliver's Pizzeria near Westminster City Hall and had Papapa Pizza (£5 special offer) which was half price at 5pm and very enjoyable.
We went to compare live concert with my Hifi. Hifi won even though the acoustics of RAH are thought to be very good. The balance between the piano and orchestra at times did not work well and missed some piano notes at times. The tambourine stood out amazingly as did the woodwind, percussion and brass. Towards the end of the evening the orchestra got its timing together. The real fireworks at the end of the 1812 were very impressive.
I think if we had been closer and in the Round it would have been better, but we had the visual feeling that we were distant even in Stall row 9 seats 94 and 95. When we closed our eyes the music sounded closer.
Any views on where it is best to sit from experience? Very pleased to get feedback.
I added SL speaker cable yesterday and although we were very pleased with the Chord Odessey 2 and the tweaking particularly the PL Lites on the 282s SCDR and NAPSC, the SL is already giving better separation, detail and soundstage.
Nice as a trip to London is, it is hard to beat having the best recordings reproduced in the comfort of ones own home effectively from the best listening position.
Phil
So as mentioned a very good concert of Marco Borsato. A lot of guests during the concert and an only hits program. Marco and the band were in great form......, so it was a memorable concert....
Muti/CSO: Italian Opera Masterworks
Riccardo Zanellato - bass
Program:
Verdi Overture to Nabucco
Verdi Gli arredi festivi from Nabucco
Verdi Va, pensiero from Nabucco
Verdi Anvil Chorus from Il trovatore
Verdi Patria oppressa from Macbeth
Verdi Overture to I vespri siciliani
Puccini Intermezzo to Act 3 from Manon Lescaut
Mascagni Intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana
Boito Prologue to Mefistofele
I still have not had much inkling of attending a full blown opera performance, ( unless Lyric Opera does Tristan, I'm there! ) digesting a small bits of various Italian work is quite enjoyable. Particularly Muti does exceptionally well with operatic work with the CSO. Two Intermezzos were rendered with great emotions yet he made sure they don't get too corny or sappy. Just a tinge of blue, which made the scores more poignant.
My main attraction, however, was Boito's Mefistofele. Having heard various performances, I was expecting spectacular season finale with 100+ chorus complete with Children's choir as Heavenly Cherubs.
Muti+CSO certainly did not disappoint. A sheer dynamics and power of massed chorus were overwhelmingly beautiful. Literally a wall of sound that is moving towards me like tsunami. The bass was unknown (to me) Italian named Riccado Zanellato ( said to be Maestro's fave ). Perhaps he did not have the devilish smug of Samuel Ramey, his deep resonant voice carried a sinister bent. Muti's operatic work is much more rhythmic and intune with singers/lyrics in that the whole music just comes alive. This is a ultra disciplined style which is not dissimilar to how Toscanini gets his sound.
Hard to believe Boito was only 26 years old when he wrote the scores.
UB 40 at Scarborough Open Air Theatre, last night.
Reggae lite, I know, but the boys turned out a solid , tight set of all the big hits, which had the entire audience up dancing.
As I've mentioned before, the sound quality at this venue is exceptionally good, so it's well worth the visit if you're not too far away.
And ............ it didn't rain ............. well, not much, .............. anyway, nobody cared! 
Vadim Repin, Violin & Istambul Symph. / Milan Turkovic
Nevit Kodalli (Telli Turna Suite), Jan Sibelius (Violin Concerto), Antonin Dvorak (Symph. #8)
When I ordered two tickets for my dad and me in the beginning of february, we did not expect to get the two best seats in the house with Chick Corea and The Electric Band this wednesday. First row, centre 
Dad has been listening to Mr Corea since the 60s and was over the moon. I believe this was his first consert with the maestro.
A great concert!
