East Anglia Chamber Orchestra. Venue was West Road Concert Hall. An ambitious program:
Haydn, symphony #44
Mozart, Symphonia Concertante, conductor was the soloist for Violin. Not a flawless performance, but still a treat
Beethoven, Coriolan overture
Mendelssohn, Symphony #4
Leonard Slatkin and the Triple Dames in Lyon's Auditorium. Program included Beethoven's Triple Concerto and Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky.
Slatkin was celebrating his 70th birthday.
Slatkin was celebrating his 70th birthday.
At the TSO last night:
Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, with Daniil Trifonov on piano. Trifonov gave one of the best piano performances I've ever seen, at times mesmerizing, at times incredibly powerful. Tremendous expression at high speeds at times.
Beethoven's 9th Symphony. Sadly, resident conductor Peter Oundjian butchered this amazing piece of music. The instruments were laid out in an unconventional arrangement on the stage, with the result that all the voices and notes where there but the total sound was somewhat off throughout
. The choir had it's sections all mixed together instead of separate. The result there was that the sound was powerful when everyone sang at full volume all at once, but it always is anyway. The rest of the time, the separate voices were not as distinct. The performance was sloppy at times and unbalanced. Worst performance of the 9th I've ever seen. Oundjian should have stuck to playing it the way Beethoven intended, rather than being arrogant enough to think he could improve on Beethoven. What a tool!
This guy shouldn't be in charge of a high school band, let alone a symphony orchestra.
Time for the Toronto Symphony to find a new conductor.
Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, with Daniil Trifonov on piano. Trifonov gave one of the best piano performances I've ever seen, at times mesmerizing, at times incredibly powerful. Tremendous expression at high speeds at times.
Beethoven's 9th Symphony. Sadly, resident conductor Peter Oundjian butchered this amazing piece of music. The instruments were laid out in an unconventional arrangement on the stage, with the result that all the voices and notes where there but the total sound was somewhat off throughout
. The choir had it's sections all mixed together instead of separate. The result there was that the sound was powerful when everyone sang at full volume all at once, but it always is anyway. The rest of the time, the separate voices were not as distinct. The performance was sloppy at times and unbalanced. Worst performance of the 9th I've ever seen. Oundjian should have stuck to playing it the way Beethoven intended, rather than being arrogant enough to think he could improve on Beethoven. What a tool!This guy shouldn't be in charge of a high school band, let alone a symphony orchestra.
Time for the Toronto Symphony to find a new conductor.
VinC, what do you think about the upcoming change at NACO, with Alexander Shelley replacing Pinchas Zukerman?
quote:Originally posted by sunnylea57:
VinC, what do you think about the upcoming change at NACO, with Alexander Shelley replacing Pinchas Zukerman?
Does this mean that we'll have to fly to Berlin to hear Beethoven played as Beethoven wrote and intended it, and for that matter, the rest of Baroque, Classic and Romantic period music. Well at least you can hear Baroque in Toronto from time to time.
It would be refreshing if some of these musical directors simply announced special nights for all their new wave, modernist interpretations and applications of the classics, and see if anyone will pay to listen. For regular performances, they could then focus on playing the music well with good expression. There is lots for them to work on to simply perform the music as intended, and with great expression, and mastering the nuances that make the music great. That is what separates the greats from the rest - not quirky nouveau presentations of classics. Think Horowitz.
Boz Scaggs at Massey Hall
Going in, I wasn't sure about this. Figured it could either be extreme cheese or a showcase of great musicianship.
It ended up landing somewhere inbetween. Thankfully there was no cheese, and he had a crack band, but it all felt a bit perfunctory. Highlight for me was a brilliant take on Loan Me A Dime. Highlights for the crowd were Lowdown and Lido Shuffle.
Going in, I wasn't sure about this. Figured it could either be extreme cheese or a showcase of great musicianship.
It ended up landing somewhere inbetween. Thankfully there was no cheese, and he had a crack band, but it all felt a bit perfunctory. Highlight for me was a brilliant take on Loan Me A Dime. Highlights for the crowd were Lowdown and Lido Shuffle.
On Saturday we attended a performance of the Seattle Symphony, with a very striking soloist: a beautiful young pianist named Khatia Buniatishvili, who played Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43. She received a well-deserved standing ovation; not one of those ovations where a few people stand and then others grudgingly join them, but rather, the entire audience rose in unison as soon as the last note faded away.
I have been fortunate to have heard some great young musicians during their ascendency-- Nigel Kennedy and Nadia Solerno-Sonnenburg come to mind-- and Khatia Buniatishvili is cut from the same cloth. Her fingers move unbelievably quickly, and her passion and control are both obvious. She is a child prodigy from Georgia (not the one with Peachtree Avenue; the one in the former Soviet Union) with great credentials, awards and credits.
I believe she is currently touring North America. If she's doing a recital in your area, she is absolutely worth seeing.
And hearing, too.
I have been fortunate to have heard some great young musicians during their ascendency-- Nigel Kennedy and Nadia Solerno-Sonnenburg come to mind-- and Khatia Buniatishvili is cut from the same cloth. Her fingers move unbelievably quickly, and her passion and control are both obvious. She is a child prodigy from Georgia (not the one with Peachtree Avenue; the one in the former Soviet Union) with great credentials, awards and credits.
I believe she is currently touring North America. If she's doing a recital in your area, she is absolutely worth seeing.
And hearing, too.
Meat Puppets in 12/14 - SF.
Closest thing to Nirvana available at present.
Closest thing to Nirvana available at present.
Michael Feinstein singing a salute to Frank Sinatra and the great American Songbook at the Green Center on the campus of Sonoma State University. Really fabulous. If you enjoy this music, do not miss Michael Feinstein.
quote:Originally posted by Pippin:
Green Center on the campus of Sonoma State University.
I love that venue.
Robert Plant tonight at Massey Hall. Brilliant band. And I've never seen a Toronto audience so worked up.
Gaslight Anthem. Really crushed it. Super clean sound tonight.
Against Me opened, and for those who know the story, the sound is the same despite the change of lead singer's sex. Pretty awesome actually.
Against Me opened, and for those who know the story, the sound is the same despite the change of lead singer's sex. Pretty awesome actually.
quote:Originally posted by sunnylea57:
Robert Plant tonight at Massey Hall. Brilliant band. And I've never seen a Toronto audience so worked up.
Heard that was good.
Last month, Tom Petty. This month, Fleetwood Mac.
Blake Shelton a couple weeks ago.
Nas - Time is Stillmatic.
Royal Blood at Lee's Palace tonight.
Jarrett/Peacock/DeJohnette at Orchestra Hall in Chicago. I still can't really believe I got to see them live finally. Amazing.
quote:Originally posted by aphilla:
Jarrett/Peacock/DeJohnette at Orchestra Hall in Chicago. I still can't really believe I got to see them live finally. Amazing.
Saw him at Amazing Grace in Evanston in 1974. At that time he was playing with the late, great, Dewey Redman.
Jason Aldean with Florida Georgia line opening.
Little River Band (not sure if any originals left- maybe the bassist).
Last week went to Hall&Oates- they rocked the house.
quote:Originally posted by TPEwinedrinker:
Last week went to Hall&Oates- they rocked the house.
I've always been a fan. Went to a couple of their shows in the 80's and it's good to hear they're still rocking.
My daughter just sent me a short film clip of the concert she attended last night in NY's legendary Apollo Theater. Chaka Khan, Earth Wind & Fire, Herbie Hancock, Ray Parker Jr. , Paul Schafer, Questlove, Bruce Willis, and a bunch of other people are all on stage. Even on a small screen far removed from the event, you can feel the energy in the room. Must have been an incredible evening for her!
I feel so lucky that I can live vicariously through others now.
I feel so lucky that I can live vicariously through others now.
quote:Originally posted by Seaquam:
My daughter just sent me a short film clip of the concert she attended last night in NY's legendary Apollo Theater. Chaka Khan, Earth Wind & Fire, Herbie Hancock, Ray Parker Jr. , Paul Schafer, Questlove, Bruce Willis, and a bunch of other people are all on stage. Even on a small screen far removed from the event, you can feel the energy in the room. Must have been an incredible evening for her!
I feel so lucky that I can live vicariously through others now.
Wow, what a line-up.
Would have been nice to be there!quote:Originally posted by VinT:quote:Originally posted by TPEwinedrinker:
Last week went to Hall&Oates- they rocked the house.
Likewise. Loved Abandoned Luncheonette before it was cool to love Abandoned Luncheonette. And they performed well at their R&R Hall of Fame induction recently.
But nothing beats the Hall & Oates Yacht Rock episode: http://www.channel101.com/episode/322
Dum Dum Girls at Lee's last night.
Chrissie Hynde at Massey Hall
Back to back nights of Judas Priest in Orlando and Hollywood, FL....just amazing!!
got tix for her show next month in Sonoma County.quote:Originally posted by sunnylea57:
Chrissie Hynde at Massey Hall
Secret pop up Prince show tonight at Massey for a tenner. Queue is already 300 deep right now.
He bailed last minute cos he 'wasn't feeling it'. Sucks to be those standing outside for 6+ hours...
Alt-J tonight. Probably my last Kool Haus gig ever. Over 50% of my gigs were there (aka Warehouse).
I have never understood the "Prince" thing. But then again some people don't understand (for instance) Italian wine.
Ryan Adams at Massey Hall
quote:Originally posted by sunnylea57:
Ryan Adams at Massey Hall
A lot of my friends went to that one.
quote:Originally posted by Adam10:quote:Originally posted by sunnylea57:
Ryan Adams at Massey Hall
A lot of my friends went to that one.
Great show as always. Solid band, excellent sound. He dusted off quite a few older songs, and played a new one for the first time.
Sure as hell glad I didn't get Interpol tickets for yesterday. They're still stuck in Buffalo. Been 40 hours now.
Last night, Fleetwood Mack.
This is the second time they've come to town in the last couple of years, but last time Christine McVie was missing, and she was missed. She sounds great, and I think her presence takes some of the strain off Stevie who sounded way better than last time. They did pretty much all their old classics; in fact, offhand I can't think of a song from Rumours that they didn't do. Just a great show if you're an old-time Mac fan, as I am.
This is the second time they've come to town in the last couple of years, but last time Christine McVie was missing, and she was missed. She sounds great, and I think her presence takes some of the strain off Stevie who sounded way better than last time. They did pretty much all their old classics; in fact, offhand I can't think of a song from Rumours that they didn't do. Just a great show if you're an old-time Mac fan, as I am.
quote:Originally posted by Seaquam:
Last night, Fleetwood Mack.
This is the second time they've come to town in the last couple of years, but last time Christine McVie was missing, and she was missed. She sounds great, and I think her presence takes some of the strain off Stevie who sounded way better than last time. They did pretty much all their old classics; in fact, offhand I can't think of a song from Rumours that they didn't do. Just a great show if you're an old-time Mac fan, as I am.
Glad to hear this. Saw them on the Today show a few weeks and they sounded terrible, most especially Christine. I remember thinking I'd love to see them, but not like that so I'm really glad to hear it was either an off day or more likely crappy presentation on behalf of the NBC folks.