Classical Music Mayhem!!

I've just spent a pleasant afternoon listening to the string section of the Fremantle Chamber Orchestra. The performance was in the following order (which is different from the program on their website).

1.Crisantemi by Puccini
2.Concertino No. 1 in G by Pergolesi
3. Quatettsatz in C Minor D. 703 by Schbert (Pinnacle Quartet)
4. String Quartet No. 12 in F, Op 96 "American" by Dvorak (Pinnacle Quartet)
5. Brandenberg Concerto No. 3 in G Major by Bach.

Playing was of a high standard throughout, the "American" Quartet was applauded twice, once at the end of the first movement and again at the conclusion of the piece and the Brandenberg made a wonderful striding finale.

Was this due a particularly astounding performance of the first movement or audience unfamiliarity with the piece!?

It was IMHO a very, very good performance, but I suspect that it was the second reason, all the previous items had effectively been one movement.

I'm hoping to hear more from them in the future.

Hello All,

Went to an outdoor concert last night! It was great! The orchestra played "Beethoven's 5th" and Mozart's overtures "Don Giovanni" and "Marriage of Figaro" the weather was beautiful for outdoors except the mosquitos
The Orchestra was based out of London, very unique indeed...

Sonjia

Sounds great, Sonjia - except for the mosquitoes!

Could you hear the band ok outdoors?

The strings sounded a little light, but the Park was quaint and secluded, away from traffic, so you could hear from the front row of chairs, I was in the front rows of course, it sounded beautiful to me

Irish Baroque Orchestra

Monica Huggett, Violin and Director
Sarah McMahon, Violoncello

Programme

Haydn: Symphony 44 in E Minor, Trauer (Mourning) Symphony
Haydn: Cello Concert in C Major
Mozart: Symphony 40 in G minor KV550

Just been to this concert last friday.This is one decent band let me tell you.
Foot perfect and as good as anything out there.
Believe me Haydn does not need large orchestras.
This programme was well chosen and kept my interest from first note to last.
Made me want to jump straight into my Haydn collection when i got home.
I bought a cd of the I.B.O. featuring music from J.S.,J.B. and W.F. Bach.I will upload a couple of tracks later.

That C Major Cello Concerto is real fun, isn't it? Gotta love it!

Interesting. I'm looking forward to their Febuary concert series which will feature Brahms' violin concerto. I"m hoping that they'll then release a recording of that so I can have the concerto on period instruments.

My wife and I attended the 2nd night of the Ft. Worth Symphonies Beethoven Festival last night. They performed the following pieces:

1. Overture to the Creatures of Prometheus, OP. 43
2. The Violin Concert in D. Major, OP. 61
3. Symphony No. 6 in F Major, OP. 68 "Pastoral"

The violin concerto was superbly performed by a 33 year old Canadian, James Ehnes. He played a Stradivarius made in 1715 known as the "Marsick" Stradivarius. Formerly owned by violinist Martin Pierre Marsick (1847-1924). Not to be confused with the 1705 Marsick owned by David Oistrakh. The sound and timbre was just so sweet it is really hard to describe.

The performance by the FWSO was overall superb through the evening. The temp of the 1st movement of the symphony seemed a little slow to me but still enjoyable. The final movement was full of vitality and was brilliantly conducted with great emotional impact.

I had never heard of James Ehnes before but apparently he has made several recordings and has quite a healthy repertoire. Here is his website for those of you interested:

http://www.jamesehnes.com/

Kevin

Looks a nice lengthy programme Kevin. Of course a too slow rendition of the first movement of the 6th is par for the course with this piece. If you want to hear a more 'on the ball' performance go the the topic we have on the 6th here. The violin concerto can often be slothfully dispatched too, I presume the tempo here met with your approval? (Check out some great extracts in the VC topic too).

You might be interested in this concert Rod. Apparently Gardiner will be having a performance of Israel in Egypt on the 11th of Sept

http://www.monteverdi.co.uk/whats_on/performances.cfm

Yes looks very intersting, if they are playing the original version that includes the Funeral Anthem. The problem is Mrs TMT finds this music very scary, disturbing even, so I'll have to get her sedated to attend.

Anyway thanks for that Smiley, I'll have to consult with the boss tonight about it!

I've just come back from a truly wonderful concert by the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) conducted by Paul Daniel.

It comprised two premier pieces and the 1947 version of Petrushka.

The first premier item was a world premier by the WASO's composer in residence James Ledger and was entitled 'Chronicles - Diptych for Orchestra'. It was an enjoyable piece, the first movement ('In the Clouds') put me in mind of Vaughn-Williams in places, the second movment ('Here Comes the Dawn') was nicely raucous.

The second (Australian) premier was Magnus Lindbergs Clarinet Concerto, it's a jazz infused piece that had the soloist (Kari Kriikku) producing the most incredible sounds from his clarinet, at one point I could have sworn he was playing a didgeridoo rather than a clarinet.

The performance of Petrushka was magnificent. Especially the trumpeter and flute soloist.

Paul Daniel was a most entertaining conductor, he almost seemed to be dancing at points, though some of his actions almost caused me to laugh, especially during the Petrushka.