Super sounds of a diverse performance

The programme for Angela Hewitt's latest NAC concert on 3rd November started with a difference: Hewitt's recital was after the interval and not before. In addition, the first auditory experience was the supposedly least-accessible of Sibelius' symphonies, Symphony No. 4 in A minor, Op. 63. Prior to the performance I was completely unfamiliar with this piece, but no less interested in hearing the NACO's premiere performance.

The programme notes describe the piece as both severe and stern. After hearing even the first few minutes of the symphony, I beg to differ: these terms seem to be excessively negative. I prefer 'spare elegance', especially in relation to the first and third movements. The piece may have its bleak moments but, especially in the hands of the NACO, the resulting sound is smooth, measured and very beautiful. Having heard quite a bit of more recent Nordic music, Sibelius' influence on modern bands is clear. Unfortunately, a fair few concert-goers didn't seem to hear the beauty, as there were rather more coughs going round than in the 2nd half of the concert.

The attention was almost visible after the interval, awaiting the 'crack' that starts Ravel's Piano Concerto in G. In her pre-concert chat, Hewitt described the balance between Ravel's implicit rather than explicit emotions and keeping to a 'medium' between insistent score-following and schmaltz. The peformance was superb - no schmaltz anywhere, and the mix from the orchestra and Fazioli was one of level, mellow, warm sound. The audience received the brilliant performance they have clearly come to expect from Hewitt, and showed their appreciation, which was rewarded by an encore of Debussy's Golliwog's Cakewalk.

The final part, dances 1, 2 and 7 from Dvořák's Op. 72 Slavonic Dances, clearly brought to mind the New Year's Concerts from Vienna. Over to Mariss Jansons, then.

Comments

Music, Poetry and Cake (Gateshead and Lanchester)

Piano at the ready! (by M) After a good few months prep, the concert Piano Music and Poetry (organised through the Gateshead Piano Workshop folks) came around pretty quickly. As one of the participants, I was excited and also a little nervous about the prospect of a Paying Audience. The work paid off, as all the performers were excellent! Well appreciated by the compact audience. The format was in relation to National Poetry Day which was on 2nd October. Each performer chose a poem either in direct or indirect relation to their piece. A summary of the programme: Alan - Liszt Consolation No 4 and Mozart Adagio in B minor Graeme - Chopin Nocturne Op. 62 No. 2 with 'Uncertainty' by Adam Mickiewicz me - Clara Schumann, andante con sentimento with 'Clara Wieck und Beethoven' by Franz Grillparzer Jim - R Schumann Kinderszenen 1 and 7 with 'My child, we were just children' by Heinrich Heine Ernie - Debussy Clair de lune with excerpt from 'Fêtes g...

Sounds of JUNOfest

Classical JUNOs performers Something of a musical melange weekend but an excellent set of events! Eschewing some of the bands and artists we knew, we chose less familiar sounds for our JUNOfest experience. First up was the Classical JUNOs in Concert event at the National Arts Centre , featuring both nominated performers and composers. The mix of contemporary music was brilliantly played by Christina Petrowska Quilico , Susan Hoeppner , Heather Schmidt and the New Orford String Quartet . Quilico amazed the almost 100-strong audience with her performance of Derek Charke's Sepia Fragments in a reduction for piano; I found this piece a really captivating mix of earthly and ethereal elements. Quilico's second performance was of Ann Southam's Glass Houses No. 5 , an hypnotic piece which sounded both fiendishly difficult to play but also very clean and unembellished. Susan Hoeppner's excellent performance of Eldin Burton's Sonatina for Flute and Piano got the po...

Hidden Witness

Moving house completed - for now - and we are back in the Vale of Evesham. The wonders of Facebook unearthed a live gig and St Richard's Hospice fundraiser by slow-burning band Hidden Witness so off we went for an evening out in Worcester. I honestly can't remember the last time either of us did that.... cue pleasant surprise at our venue for the evening, Keystones Cafe Bar . Quite open and spacious in terms of standing room, reasonably large stage and a bar ensconced in the remaining medieval walls - much more atmosphere than many other small bars... A busy few weeks meant I hadn't had time to check out Hidden Witness' SoundCloud page so I had fresh ears and no expectation. The support band, The Miffs , were ok, with a few engaging covers, but sadly (for my ears) nothing memorable. After a short break - in which the background music made me feel both young and old simultaneously - Dan, Chris, Neil and Dan took the stage for an interesting set. A few ...

PrettyInScarlett

Search This Blog