What a concert! NSO 13 May 2011

[Ciaran]

Haydn Symphony No. 86 in D*
*Replacing the previously advertised new work by Andrew Hamilton
Sibelius Violin Concerto, Op. 47 [31']
Nielsen Symphony No. 5, Op. 50 [34']

Stefan Jackiw violin
Hannu Lintu conductor

What a great concert!! It started well with the contemporary work being replaced by some music in the form of a Haydn symphony.

Then the Sibelius Violin Concerto, a work I've learned to love in recent years. The soloist looked about seventeen, he's actually 26, American of Korean and German parents. The Finnish conductor Hannu Lintu has been doing great work with the NSO this season (I think he's their Chief Guest Conductor). He looks elfin, and has quite jerky gestures with a balletic quality to them. This concert showed that he's a very powerful interpreter of Nordic music. The Sibelius started with the shuddering quiet tremolo on the strings and already the spell was cast, it was gripping. Lintu gets the orchestra to play louder accents than I've heard and the whole was boiling with poetry and life. Stefan Jackiw was stunning, the Sibelius is full of technical difficulty, but he was more than equal to it. The NCH audience is fairly ready to give a standing ovation (some ancient regulars want to standing-ovate virtually everything) but I've never seen the whole audience rise to its feet so quick, why I even did!

Then Nielsen 5 (I noticed Stefan Jackiw sitting a few rows behind me to hear this), a work that I have adored for decades. Lintu conveyed perfectly the vigour, the violence, all the themes bubbling up and disputing with each other. Overwhelming!

From the audio point of view, the opening of the Sibelius gave me the strongest sense that it is pointless to hope for anything remotely like that from my system at home, it's worlds away and, highly enjoyable though it is, can only ever be worlds away!

[DaveF]

Great write up Ciaran. Thanks. I havent been to the NCH in ages. I really must fix that soon!

I agree with you on your comments on a hifi vs live performance. No matter how good a system or recording you have, it just cannot compare to a live performance, certainly that of a large orchestra.

[Jared]

wow, that is a programme to be truly envious about... what a fantastic evening you must have had!!

[Seán]

Oh there's nothing that packs a punch quite like a symphony orchestra in full flow, thanks for the post Ciaran I really enjoyed reading it.

I am going to the NCH on Friday evening, I am bringing my niece too as she picked the Mozart Concertos when I suggested a number of concerts to her she choose to go on Friday.

I am having serious eardrums problems of late and I am hoping that they will have settled down before Friday, fingers crossed.

[cybot]

I am having serious eardrums problems of late and I am hoping that they will have settled down before Friday, fingers crossed.

That's not nice. Is it a buzzing feeling in the ears? Anyway hopefully it's nothing too serious but do let us know how you get on.....

[fergus]

I am having serious eardrums problems of late and I am hoping that they will have settled down before Friday, fingers crossed.

Stay away from the headphones as well....I hope that all will be well!

[Ciaran]

I am having serious eardrums problems of late and I am hoping that they will have settled down before Friday, fingers crossed.

That's worrying! I hope you get better soon.

[Jared]

I am having serious eardrums problems of late and I am hoping that they will have settled down before Friday, fingers crossed.

my considerable sympathies Sean... ;-(

I do hope it wasn't the Brahms Piano Quintet which caused this...

[Seán]

I am having serious eardrums problems of late and I am hoping that they will have settled down before Friday, fingers crossed.

That's not nice. Is it a buzzing feeling in the ears? Anyway hopefully it's nothing too serious but do let us know how you get on.....

Stay away from the headphones as well....I hope that all will be well!

That's worrying! I hope you get better soon.

my considerable sympathies Sean... ;-(

I do hope it wasn't the Brahms Piano Quintet which caused this...

Thanks very much to one and all for your kind words, it was really good to read them. What I had and still have is Tympanic Barotrauma, where the eardrum is literally turned inside out, it was very severe in my left ear and very mild in my right. Any low pitch sound would echo violently in my head and there was a constant fluttering noise too so when people spoke it sounded like they were in a tunnel speaking behind a strong gust of wind, it was deeply unpleasant, but I am on the mend now.

Jared, the Brahms was a life saver, I have been listening to music using headphones of late and that worked a treat -- sorry Fergus -- I am really enjoying the Harnoncourt and Levine sets, and the Brahms Piano Quintet is a real treasure. I have to say that I love Brahms music and I have you to thank for that.

Thanks again everyone.

Oh and Ciaran, I'm sorry for hijacking your very fine thread.

[cybot]

Glad to hear everything is on the mend again Seán :-) Enjoy Friday nights concert....
BTW what caused the ear problem in the first place?