When was the last concert you went in 2017

Bear's Den at Nottingham Rock City last Friday with my two daughters. Good but had to move a couple of times to avoid the talkers! Before that bi-annual Marillion weekend in Port Zelande Holland - three great night of music again, full new album Saturday night was particularly magnificent but the surprise of the weekend was how much I enjoyed Marillion.com live on Sunday night as have never rated that album much until now, albeit scary moments when Hogarth fell of stage and we had quite a wait before we knew he was ok and the evening could continue.

James Conlon /CSO
Sarah Connolly mezzo-soprano
Stephen Gould tenor

Program
Schubert Symphony No. 8 (Unfinished)

Mahler Das Lied von der Erde (Song of the Earth)

Originally this concert was to be conducted by Haitink, but he could not make it this year due to stomach flu. ( yikes ) James Conlon, a long time Ravinia Festival musical director stepped in at a last minute. The house also warned the patrons just before the program to begin, tenor Stephen Gould is suffering from cold. So the band started with a bit of a handicap. Not to mention there was a lot of coughing and hacking amongst the audience.

The main Mahler program did not change but Haydn's Symphony No.60 was changed to Schubert's Unfinished. It was uneventful as this was not the most suspenseful or brooding reading. Conlon sort of breathed through it.

2nd half : On to the Mahler. Cold suffering tenor was indeed struggling at high register. His voice was stressed and dry and did not have a kind of reach that tenor should have. But the British soprano Sarah Connolly single-handedly made Das Lid vonder Erde emotionally compelling listening, particularly the last tune 'The Farewell'.  Conlon's orchestra was fluid giving a nice natural canvas for the soloist to do her stuff. Her voice was not the creamiest but I was moved and impressed by her rendition of the lyrics and how she captured audience attention. Not a single cough at the long pause after the last tune. Conlon held unusually long pause after but the golden silence was observed by everyone.

Surprisingly it was an enjoyable concert altho, I was really looking forward to Haitink's Mahler.

Here's an interview I found Sarah Connolly on Mahler: Apparently she's a Mahler specialist.

Charles Dutoit/CSO
Truls Mørk -  Cello

Program
Stravinsky Chant Funèbre [United States Premiere]

Dvořák Cello Concerto

Prokofiev Symphony No. 5

Dutoit/CSO premiered a long lost Stravinsky's Funeral Song at the Orchestra Hall.  This was written in 1908 by young Igor in memory of his mentor Rimsky-Korsakov but the score was left behind after it was played once in 1909.  It's a short elegy like tune ( about 12min. ) and at first, I could not detect composer's familiar *riffs* but towards the end I could hear some interesting harmonisations. Not as polished or truly original as his Firebird, Petrushka or Rite of Spring but historically interesting. Dutoit/CSO set lacked a bit of menace and weight. ( too light should have been heavier and much more grave )

Mørk's Cello Concerto was not as nimble as Yo Yo Ma but tonally much warmer and bottom weighted had a burnished bronzy colours. Must be that antique cello he was playing. ( it looked like it has been around the block ) Technically also his was slightly *behind* the orchestra whereas Yo Yo Ma was more springy and delicate and nimbler. He had a great stage presence and Dutoit kept the rhythmic pulse throughout. Perhaps aetherial vapor like hushed segment in the 3rd movement didn't have a quite a delicate touch but live orchestra finale was hard to beat.

Prokfiev Symphony 5 was served up with Dutoit's great energy and the band dlievered with an exact precision. Good sense of humour and jazzy feel, not at all stiff and boring. ( interestingly many people left after the Cello Concerto! ) I suppose Dvorak's Cello Concerto is much easier on ears than Prok's 5th.

Chicago Brass section was just excellent on all program today.

The Who - Manchester - 05/04/17. Saw them in 2003 at The Kentish Town Forum and I'd forgotten just how great they were. Sounded so good. Every classic track played differently with plenty of jam sessions thrown in. Superb.

Fink: Fink's Sunday Night Blues Club : Cully Jazz Festival - Friday 07.04.2017

1st live peformance of his new project. Since I hadn't listened yet to his new recording a full new discovery for me.

Some uncertainty at the beginning of the concert. Obviously needed some warm up with 2-3 first songs prior finding the "pace".

I suppose it's a bit of the prophet never been recognised in their hometown, but this was the first time I was at a Mary Black concert and I have obviously missed many fine nights down through the years. Wonderful live renditions of songs that I had presumed were dead to me from over exposure on the airwaves, as well as some songs that we are new to me including a beautiful old one about her late mother. The band were phenomenal all virtuosos on their particular instruments all having a good time with fantastic interplay.

.sjb

The next day (8 April) was time for something completely different. 

The Jesus and Mary Chain. Didn't particularly do it for me but certainly the crowd seemed to lap it all up. One for the über fans I think. 

.sjb

Only two booked so far for 2017, Antonio Forcione (5th time) and Judie Zuke (1st time). I will probably get at least one more in but not sure who or what but John Wilson and his orchestra never disappoints. 

Blondie and the magnificent Cyndi Lauper. April 6th I think.

Good Friday, Wilco Johnson at The Ark, Bury St. Edmunds. just fabulous entertainment. his guitar just drifted off tune a couple of songs before the end, a quick re-tune (by ear) "good enough for rock" :-) no electronic tuners or FX pedals needed in this mans rig and once again the fantastic pub rock trio were back to it.

Wilco still has the killer stare, the erratic moves and pin sharp timing, how he makes one guitar sound like two I will never know.

Great to see him in good health.

Went with more than a little trepidation to see John Prine at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall last night.

My trepidation was because firstly, I have loved his music ever since I was a student in the 70s (I have around 10 or so of his albums in my collection) but have never had a chance up to see him live until now, and secondly, because he is getting on a little bit, and has been undergoing treatment recently for a serious illness.

However, I needn't have worried. John played more or less all of the standout tracks I would have selected myself in a fantastic 2 hour show. His guitar playing and vocal performances were exemplary, and he had a really tight band backing him for most of the set. Some great solo tracks as well plus a stunning surprise guest duet with Sturgill Simpson on "The speed of the sound of loneliness". I confess to not knowing a great deal about Sturgill Simpson, but his acoustic guitar playing on the song was superb.

So glad to have finally managed to see John Prine, and even more glad that he did not disappoint in the slightest. In fact, quite the contrary. To me he sounded much better live than on CD, and I guess this is the way it should be.

I think he only has one date left in the UK on his short tour (Manchester), but he will apparently be heading out to Canada after a sort break. If you are a fan of Prine and based in Canada, I would strongly recommend that you catch him while you can.

Next for me over the next few months: Al Stewart then Jackson Browne.

Bob Dylan
Palladium, London, Sunday 30th April 2017:

 1. Things Have Changed (single)
 2. To Ramona (Another Side of Bob Dylan)
 3. Highway 61 Revisited (Highway 61 Revisited)
 4. Beyond Here Lies Nothin' (Together Through Life)
 5. I Could Have Told You (Triplicate)
 6. Pay In Blood (Tempest)
 7. Melancholy Mood (Fallen Angels)
 8. Duquesne Whistle (Tempest)
 9. Stormy Weather (Triplicate)
 10 Tangled Up in Blue (Blood on the Tracks)
 11. Early Roman Kings (Tempest)
 12. Spirit on the Water (Together Through Life)
 13. Love Sick (Time Out of Mind)
 14. All or Nothing at All (Fallen Angels)
 15. Desolation Row (Highway 61 Revisited)
 16. Soon After Midnight (Shadows in the Night)
 17. That Old Black Magic (Fallen Angels)
 18. Long and Wasted Years (Tempest)
 19. Autumn Leaves (Shadows in the Night)
 20. Blowin' in the Wind (The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan)
 21. Ballad of a Thin Man (Highway 61 Revisited)

So glad I went, I was very lucky in row C with a great view of the stage and great sound.

Bob was in great form, the best for years, and his band just right for what was a great evening.

it was worth it just for Desolation Row.

Richard

I do not have the Highway 61 album.  I am glad you enjoyed the concert.

Paul.

Opera North's Turandot, LEDs Town Hall, 30th April.

Another semi-staged large scale opera from Opera North, using the large space of the Town Hall while their home venue is being renovated.

I thought it was a wonderful production. The principals all did a great job, Ping, Pang, Ping managed to be both weird and scary, Turandot was fantastic, Calaf sang beautifully and nailed Nessun Dorma wonderfully, and Liu's singing was heartbreakingly beautiful. Even so, the orchestra and even more the chorus stole the show for me.  The chorus were genuinely terrifying in the mob scenes in the early acts, and the choral finale was glorious. 

Went to see and hear The Robert Cray Band at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall last night (30th). While Robert gave a good set, I thought his backing band lacked lustre with not enough verve to last the evening. I felt I was drifting away after a half hour or so which is a pity given their huge back catalogue of rich laid-back rock. Perhaps I am just a little spoilt as the last backing group I heard (if I can call them that) was with a similar line-up accompanying John McClaughlin at Ronnie Scotts. Perhaps I'm just getting fussy in my later years. One thing is for sure, it's getting increasing more difficult to expect perfection, but when it happens...my goodness you know it.

Hello,

My last concert was in May 2016: Paul McCartney (One On One tour).

It was in Paris (Bercy Arena / I am French) and I went on stage to make a wedding proposal

Great memory!

Leif Ove Andsnes and Marc-André Hamelin

Program:
Mozart: Larghetto and Allegro in E-flat Major for Two Pianos

Stravinsky: Concerto for Two Pianos

Debussy: En blanc et noir

Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring

[ENCORE]

Stravinsky: Madrid for Two Pianos from Four Studies for Orchestra
Stravinsky: Circus Polka for Two Pianos
Stravinsky: Tango for Two Pianos

 By far the star of the afternoon was unforgettable Rite of Spring.

This performance was far more potent than any of live full orchestra sets  I have heard to date. Not only all the notes were played these guys were able to  capture and mimic the sound of each instrument out of two 9 ft. Steinway grands. More nimble than often stodgy rendition of orchestra version, the piano score is much more direct and powerful interestingly closest to Stravinsky's orchestra style.

Andsnes/Hamelin were so in tune like joined at a hip.

About this program, Andsnes explains:

“I first performed The Rite of Spring in 2009, also with Marc-André Hamelin. You really experience different aspects of it on two pianos. The rhythmic patterns become very precise, and the harmonies, which can sometimes be blurred in the larger orchestration, become so clear.

After the final note was played, it was so spectacular that,  the audience roar erupted. ( those guys knew they nailed it, too ) It was just electrifying I was completely absorbed and in awe.  They obliged FOUR encores which is very unusual for a piano recital at the Orchestra Hall.

If they come around in your area, do try catch their show. They won't disappoint!

I've read that, they are going to release it in upcoming CD.

Gigantor posted:

I do not have the Highway 61 album.  I am glad you enjoyed the concert.

Paul.

Hi,

I would highly recommend getting a copy or at least listening to it end to end.

Richard

I have taken your advice Richard and purchased Highway 61 Revisited.  I hope this meets with your approval.

Warm regards,

Paul.

I hope you like it as I have since it's release.

Little Hurricane, Borderline Club, London, 2nd May.

Only the 2nd time they've played in the UK, and this was their only show on their current tour. A bit of a trek for me from Birmingham but well worth the effort.

CC never stopped smiling from start to finish (got to be the happiest drummer ever!) And Tone cranked out the tunes. A really enjoyable gig in a very small and intimate venue. I recommend them to anyone who likes that bluesy guitar sound.

Foto isn't great but gives you an idea of what this 2 piece from San Diego are about!

Have this evening a concert with Hillary Hahn, not sure what to expect. It's the first time I will see her live....program as follows...

Hilary Hahn | Violine
Leonard Slatkin | Dirigent

Orchestre National de Lyon

Franck, Le chasseur maudit (Der wilde Jäger).
Symphonische Dichtung g-Moll FWV 44
Tschaikowsky, Violinkonzert D-Dur op. 35
Berlioz, Symphonie fantastique.
Épisode de la vie d’un artiste op. 14

Excellent performance, and some dry humour, from Al Stewart in Glasgow on 1st May.

He played a pretty good mix of songs, including many from his early albums that I listened to when I was a student.

Very enjoyable, and some spellbinding acoustic guitar accompaniment from David Nachmanoff and the amazing Tim Renwick. I knew of Tim Renwick's appearances with Pink Floyd and Eric Clapton, but I've only just discovered that he was the lead guitarist with Sutherland Brothers and Quiver. If Stewart's tour takes him anywhere near to your location, I would thoroughly recommend that you go to see him.  

Bert Schurink posted:

Have this evening a concert with Hillary Hahn, not sure what to expect. It's the first time I will see her live....program as follows...

 

Hilary Hahn | Violine
Leonard Slatkin | Dirigent

Orchestre National de Lyon

Franck, Le chasseur maudit (Der wilde Jäger).
Symphonische Dichtung g-Moll FWV 44
Tschaikowsky, Violinkonzert D-Dur op. 35
Berlioz, Symphonie fantastique.
Épisode de la vie d’un artiste op. 14

Concert was great, very good performance by Hilary, really enjoyed - nice tone, and special signature playing...... the orchestra was more average in the other pieces but still enjoyable enough....

...and of course the usual signature session......, in a good week Joshua Bell in town....