Bernard Haitink’s last concert is coming up for release
NewsThe conductor announced his retirement on June 19, 2019 after a 65-year career.
Four days earlier in Amsterdam he conducted a Saturday matinee concert of Brickner’s 7th symphony with the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, which he first led im 1957.
The concert will be released as a Challenge Classics CD this weekend.
This was his last concert in Amsterdam: His last concert was in Lucerne in September 2019- It also included Bruckner 7th, with the VPO, and also Beethoven 4th concerto with Ax as a soloist
He did also a last tour with the LSO in march of the same year. I had chance to see him in concert at this moment. Everybody knew that it was the last time very emotional.
The Salzburg version of the VPO Bruckner 7th was released:
https://www.wienerphilharmoniker.at/de/shop/article/special-annual-edition-2020-haitink/32992
Bernard Haitink’s last concert was in Lucerne on September 6 2019, at the end of a series of concerts with the Vienna Philharmonic that also included appearances in Salzburg and Royal Albert Hall. The significance of the June concert is that it is a reprise – with the same orchestra – of his first ever appearance as conductor, in 1954. A video is available of the Salzburg concerts, which were in late August. This is another way to say that he is now 92 and I (and many other people, I think) miss him!
And another opportunity to thank Mr Haitink for so many wonderful concerts over the years. Like a fine wine and so many great conductors, he continued always to improve with age!
When I open the Slippedisc first page and I see the name and an image of Haitink, during one little microsecond I am affraid of a bad news. Glad to know that today it was not the case
A pity the Strauss songs with Camilla Tilling aren’t included. She sang so wonderful!
We couldn’t agree more…
Karajan’s last recorded concert was also the Bruckner 7th. Coincidence?
I was lucky enough to hear him live three times, all with the Chicago Symphony during deliberately timed visits to that city: Mahler 3, Bruckner 8, Mahler 9. Magnificent doesn’t begin to describe those evenings.
I had this last week. Beautifully played and recorded, with nothing at all spuriously valedictory about it – typically Haitink.
Colin Davis’s last concert was released by LSO Live (the Berlioz Messe de Morts) but I think it was clear from his schedule that nobody expected it to have been his final concert.
Last concert or penultimate ot whatever, one of the last works he conducted, and lovely to have it with one of finest of orchestras who play Bruckner so well.
By my count, this is sixth recording by Haitink of Bruckner 7.
1) Concertgebouw (1960’s Philips)
2) Concertgebouw (1970’s Philips)
3) Chicago Symphony (2007)
4) Berlin Philharmonic (2019 / Vinyl only – and spectacular)
5) This one
6) Viena Philharmonic – final concert in Lucerne (2019)
Have I missed any others? I have them all except this one and the Chicago.
Vienna Phil recording is from Salzburg.
P.S. There was also a radio broadcast (recording) of Bruckner 7 with VPO from the Royal Albert Hall in 2019.
So 7×7…
there is also this Bruckner 7 video, from 2016 (I think):
https://youtu.be/YgodumyJ-mQ
Haitink conducting the European Union Youth Orchestra EUYO in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw
What was Lorin Maazel’s last concert and when will it be released?
The final Zurich concert with the Vienna Phil. and Emmanuel Ax is on DVD. I’ve got it and it is a wonderfully moving performance of Bruckner 7.
I think only the VPO AX HAITINK Salzburg concert from Aug 2019 is on DVD.
I had the fortune to listen to the final “tour” with Wiener Phil in BBC proms. Truly amazing. You can say that‘s because everyone was aware of his retirement then so the atmosphere was unique, but nevertheless it‘s one of the most memorable concerts for me.
Several years before that, he did Bruckner 9th with Concertgebouw in Barbican, incredible ensemble. After that he broke up with RCO, he did it again with LSO and Wiener Phil in London. Despite still good, it‘s different sound, and you know those teams are not “his orchestra”, they were obviously “cooperating” with him. Nothing wrong with that, just it was a pity we couldn‘t hear that kind of glove-fit-hand level of conductor-orchestra combination in his late career.
I was at that RCO / Barbican concert. Just outstanding. Was it Schiff in a Mozart concerto before the interval?
I wish there would be a release of his Brahms symphonies with the Chamber O of Europe, concerts from about ten, fifteen years ago. Those were marvellous, and much better than the somewhat wan Brahms recordings with the LSO.