h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Early on this year I had a chance to hear an iconic classical guitar concerto performed live at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester as part of their guitar weekend programming. Now I'm very familiar with Rodrigo's guitar concerto and I own a couple of recordings of it, but being present in a fabulous concert hall and having it performed in front of me was a wholly different experience. I enjoyed listening to the music of course, but really found myself appreciating the arrangement, carefully done so that the guitar, essentially a quiet instrument, can be easily heard during the solos when the orchestral arrangement leaves space for it to shine through.

The rest of the programme included other well known pieces but the one I remember clearly was Ravel's Bolero. Now this can be something of a cheesy piece when heard on the radio, but the live experience was thrilling. There was an enormous dynamic contrast between the gentle opening with the theme played softly by just a few musicians, compared to the multiforte climax with the full orchestra blasting out until the room seemed to shake. The power of an orchestra at maximum volume just has to be heard and felt to be believed. Finally, I think I get what Ravel was trying to achieve.

[Amy P]

I have only just found you. I should have been following Amy, she seems to be getting everywhere