This is a Journal entry by h5ringer

Mahler at the Barbican

Post 1

h5ringer

smiley - biro Off to the Barbican now smiley - biggrin Will report back tomorrow smiley - run


Mahler at the Barbican

Post 2

Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor

smiley - magicHave fun!smiley - ok


Mahler at the Barbican

Post 3

h5ringer

Last night, Gustav Mahler was murdered on the platform of the Barbican smiley - wah. Not by the BBC SO, who performed to their usual very high standard, but by their Chief Conductor, Jiri Belohlavek.

In the first movement, Pan awoke to be barely conscious; when it was time for Summer to march in, it didn't so much march in as stroll on, peer around and look bewildered. The middle movements came off better with the little lads of the Westminister Cathederal School, framed on three sides by the excellent ladies of the BBC Symphony Chorus, singing beautifully.

Once again we had this dreadful practice or the soloist not coming onto the platform until needed. Alto Jane Irwin crept on at the close of the third movement, almost apologetic for being late. I had no complaints about her singing, but her voice lacked the liquid flow of say Maureen Forrester or Dame Jane Baker.

The final injustice was reserved for last. The sixth movement Adagio was taken so slowly that Pan was in danger of lapsing back into unconsciousness. Such gross self-indulgence would have had poor Gustav turning in his Vienna grave.

It seems unfair to single out a single performer from the orchestra, who as I said, played faultlessly, but the 'Man of the Match' award must go to the BBS SO's principal trombone, Helen Vollam. Her terrifyingly exposed part was a treasure, and she rightly received a huge cheer from the audience when presented to us by Belohlavek.

I had great expectations of this concert, but was ill-rewarded. smiley - sadface


Mahler at the Barbican

Post 4

Also Ran1-hope springs eternal



Oh dear h5ringer,

I am so sorry tht you were disappointed. But that is the penalty of knowing so much about the MasterĀ¬`.

Apparenly the gentleman next to my friend also said that it was played too slowly. as I had no idea at what tempto it should be played I was perfectly happy with what I heard.

I am pleased that we at least agree on the trombone. To me it was quite the most beautiful sound I had ever heard from this instrument which is generally given such poor presentation by most composers.
I did not know it was in fact a lady playing the trombone. But whoever was playing it played it so mellifluously and cadenced and totally beautifull that I was totally mesmerised.

I have a whole lot of other questions which I would like to ask you, but now must go and attend to the gardener who has come.

As a Phiulistine I loved it; and thank you again for guiding me to it. I am so sorry that you were disappoiknted. There are some works that I prefer when played by one orchestra or conductor, but I have to know the work very well before I can notice the difference in interpretation. So as far as I am concerned my first impression is the one that is going to remain .!!!

Look forward to seeing you on the 28th. I hope that I have time to discuss the problems I had before then!!

Kind regards

ChristiantAR1 smiley - schooloffish


Mahler at the Barbican

Post 5

Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor

Oh I'm so sorry you were disappointed Maestrosmiley - cuddle

I hope to cheer you up personally on the 28thsmiley - winkeye


Mahler at the Barbican

Post 6

h5ringer

Oh I'm not down-hearted. It was just one of many performances and we have to accept that it's not going to be an earth-moving experience on every occasion.smiley - cheers


Mahler at the Barbican

Post 7

Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor

Not many things aresmiley - laugh


Mahler at the Barbican

Post 8

Also Ran1-hope springs eternal

Hi5ringer,

Just a few questions whilst I still remember them!1

1.I found the arrangement of the strings very strange. They were even stranger in the fact that for practically the first hour they never played a note except for a few melodies from the principal violinist. Is this arrangement of the strings de rigeur now or is it an idiosynchrisy of your "favourite" conductor?

2. The stage seeme to be very small for the large number of members of the orchestra. Everyone was so crowded together that it seemed strange when one heard an instrument and I had problems identifying where it was coming from.

3. Were all the solo brass players all crowded together on one side (right) of the stage? I still shiver when I think of that marvellous trombone. I wonder if there is any publicity written about her.?

Thanks if you have the time.

Christiane AR1 smiley - seniorsmiley - schooloffish


Mahler at the Barbican

Post 9

h5ringer

Good morning Christiane.smiley - smiley I will try to answer your questions in turn:

1. The arrangement we saw on Wednesday, with the 1st violins to the left of the conductor and the 2nd violins to the right has become more common recently. In general terms, the layout of an orchestra is a matter of choice of the conductor. At one time we nearly always saw an arc around the conductor with, from left to right, 1st violins, 2nd violins, violas, cellos and double-basses. The arrangement we saw at the Barbican makes sense with Mahler as he often used his 1st and 2nd violins antiphonally, and this arrangement makes the effect more audible. On this occasion, the lower strings were (unusually) also arranged to the left of the stage. I think you are being more than a little unkind when you say that the strings had little to do for the first hour. Whilst in the first half of the symphony the brass section dominates the perception of what is happening, the strings are in there playing an important part. It is of course in the Adagio finale that they come into their own.

2. The platform of the Barbican is adequate for most performances, and can be extended, as it was on Wednesday, by cancelling the front row of seats and adding to the platform space. The space was constrained by the presence of so many instrumentalists and singers.

3. The brass section were arranged to the right of the platform, apart from the sounds heard in the forest, which represent the presence of Man. I am so glad you enjoyed Helen Vollam's trombone part. She was appointed as the BBC SO's principal trombone in 2004. She has played the instrument from the age of 7, was a finalist in the 1992 BBC's Young Musician of the Year Competition and studied at the Guildhall School of Music. She has played in the National Youth Orchestra of GB, and has been principal trombone of both the European Union Youth Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.

Kind regards smiley - towel


Mahler at the Barbican

Post 10

Also Ran1-hope springs eternal


Thank yoiu so much h5ringer for your explication.

So that was the reason for the 1st and 2nd violins being on either side of him. I must admit that I was not aware of their antiphonal playing. It seems I missed a lot!!. I did hear the harps playing.I had to hunt for the cellos!! I used to sit near to the front when I could. In Birmingham I used to sit in the balcony behind the orchestra which I absolutely loved as one could see the conductor perfectly. They were also the cheapest seats!!

Thank you also for the potted biography of the trombonist. I am surprised that I missed that concert when the Young Musicians of the year play. But I think that it was when I was not very well - getting used to my new disabled state so nothing much iterested me at the time. I think the one last year was won bya guy who played a French horn a marvellous young man who lives in a flat and has to practice there serenading his yourng half brother aged about eighteen months!!.

I shan't bother you again my friend, but look forward to seeing you at Kew. I enjoyed the Oxford and Cambridge boat race this afternoon. There was a wonderful little Cox in the Cambridge boat. I do not think that the commentators gave her as much praise as they could have because she appeared to cox magnificently.

Kind regards to you both.

Christiane AR1 smiley - schooloffish


Mahler at the Barbican

Post 11

h5ringer

It is absolutely no bother at all Christiane, please feel free at any time if there is anything else I can tell you.

Wasn't the Boat Race good this year. Although I'm usually an Oxford man when it comes to the Boat Race, I was secretly glad that Cambridge won - I'm sure the cox made the important difference, not just the greater weight per man, experience etc. etc.

Take care of yourself and see you at Kew smiley - towel


Mahler at the Barbican

Post 12

Also Ran1-hope springs eternal


Hi h5ringer,

Isn't it a beautiful day.

My son and I are going to have a little breakfast and then go to Mass and then cook our beautiful Easter lunch. A leg of lamb a la francaise!.

I have just had a wonderful talk to my French cousin and we aare planning to meet here in July with her daughter and granddaughter and then she will spend some time with K. and I.

Hopefully we will then leave with her for Aix-en-Provence which is where my grandparents lived, and we shall spend a little time with her. Hopefully the Festival of Music will still be on.

I hope you have received some Easter eggs!!

Now I want Tiger to win the Golf. He is just such a super guy!

I think it is the London Marathon tomorrow? I have sponsored someone so hope that they do well.

Kind regards to you both

Christiane AR1 smiley - schooloffish


Mahler at the Barbican

Post 13

h5ringer

Enjoy the day smiley - towel


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