Tír Na HiFi

Friday night...

Haydn - Symphony 104 London
R. Strauss - Eine Alpensinfonie

Bernard Haitink, Wiener Philharmoniker

My concert experience of Haydn is limited and after hearing this gem of a performance I cannot understand why we so rarely hear Haydn's symphonies at the Proms. Of course there are unlikely to be more accomplished interpreters, but this was a complete delight.

The Strauss epic was certainly worth the wait; as much as a visual treat seeing as the orchestra is so massive, wind machine et al. The reading by Haitink made sense of the work as a symphony in a way that is often elusive and there was some impressive playing all around - despite some fluffs in the brass. Although the strings to a lot of 'colour' work in this piece, they once again showed their worth.

More bad behaviour from audience and a token waltz encore

Note: On the first night I spotted 2 women in the orchestra (violin and viola). One night two I spotted 4 (violin, viola, harp, oboe?)

Jared wrote:will you be off to wave your Union Jack tonight, Darren?

No, I'm afraid not Jared.

Three reasons: I have seen the ticket allocation 'process' in operation, and I do NOT want to be a part of it. Also, I don't really like the nationalist set-up of the thing (it's VERY long too!). And, thirdly, I am busy volunteering at the local arthouse cinema....

bombasticDarren wrote: And, thirdly, I am busy volunteering at the local arthouse cinema....

oh, good for you! sometimes I wish I had two lives running parallel, Darren... one for Classical Music and the other to enjoy World & Indie cinema. Unfortunately, I find that whenever I am actively listening to new music material, films unfortunately take a back seat....

bombasticDarren wrote: Bruckner's 9th bought out the best in the VPO. The strings sound like no-one else on the planet and the reading by Haitink really made sense of the symphony as a complete (?) entity. I don't feel it needs a fourth movement, especially when it's played like this. An immensely muscular performance with the scherzo sounding like icebergs tumbling into each other

I envy you having heard that performance live Darren!

Jared wrote:

bombasticDarren wrote: And, thirdly, I am busy volunteering at the local arthouse cinema....

oh, good for you! sometimes I wish I had two lives running parallel, Darren... one for Classical Music and the other to enjoy World & Indie cinema. Unfortunately, I find that whenever I am actively listening to new music material, films unfortunately take a back seat....

I like to keep abreast of the cinema scene too Jared. By volunteering I do a pitifully small amount of work and get to watch a film for free. Last night was Shadow Dancer

fergus wrote:

bombasticDarren wrote: Bruckner's 9th bought out the best in the VPO. The strings sound like no-one else on the planet and the reading by Haitink really made sense of the symphony as a complete (?) entity. I don't feel it needs a fourth movement, especially when it's played like this. An immensely muscular performance with the scherzo sounding like icebergs tumbling into each other

I envy you having heard that performance live Darren!

Tbh, you're right to be so Fergus. I wish you could have had the experience.

I have pondered over the 11 Proms I went to and I think that, despite the brilliance of the BPO, VPO and Gewandhausorchester, the Gustav Mahler Jugenorchester provided the best experience this summer.

bombasticDarren wrote:I have pondered over the 11 Proms I went to and I think that, despite the brilliance of the BPO, VPO and Gewandhausorchester, the Gustav Mahler Jugenorchester provided the best experience this summer.

I think we all really admire the way you are able to maximise your time, money and opportunities to such positive effect, Darren.

Jared wrote:

bombasticDarren wrote:I have pondered over the 11 Proms I went to and I think that, despite the brilliance of the BPO, VPO and Gewandhausorchester, the Gustav Mahler Jugenorchester provided the best experience this summer.

I think we all really admire the way you are able to maximise your time, money and opportunities to such positive effect, Darren.

It's my hope that, what with your new working hours, I will bump into you there next year!