Just in: Barenboim alters this week’s concerts with Berlin Philharmonic
NewsJust in from the Berlin Phil:
There has been a last-minute change to the programme of the Berliner Philharmoniker concerts conducted by Daniel Barenboim from 6 to 8 January: Johannes Brahms’ Second Symphony will be performed instead of Witold Lutosławski’s Concerto for Orchestra. In the first part of the concert, Martha Argerich plays Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto instead of the originally planned First Piano Concerto by Peter Tchaikovsky.
The Berliner Philharmoniker are very much looking forward to working together and to the concerts with their honorary conductor and the soloist.
The Emperor’s new clothes
All three performers can literally sleep walk through the replacement program.
What matters is Barenboim is back on the podium, so best wishes for the maestros’s speedy full recovery in time for his Ring cycle in April.
Not “literally”……metaphorically
Presumably he could conduct the replacements with his hands tied behind his back. A good remedy for an ailing conductor.
He conducts everything facilely. That’s the problem.
About 20 years ago, in Chicago, I saw Barenboim conclude a concert with Bolero – or rather, he just stood there while the orchestra played it, actually conducting only to cue the ending. It was a gimmick, of course: Bolero is one of those pieces that any top-tier orchestra can play literally in the dark. Argerich, needless to say, has never played anything in that manner. But Barenboim and Brahms? Who knows?
Let them enjoy it. The level of music making will be very high of some very familiar music, but what a treat. Would love to have been there. Really wish everyone well, particularly Danny.
What’s interesting is that DB thinks that the Lutoslawski ‘goes’ with the Tchaikovsky, as he did this when he and Martha did it at the Proms, but as she is now playing Schumann, then the second half should be Brahms.
DB is wrong. Paavo Järvi did a fantastic Berlin Phil concert with the Lutoslawski Concerto in the first half and the Brahms 2nd symphony in 2019…
Best wishes to DB, but even if he was not on the podium, would there be a marked difference in performance quality? Highly unlikely.
Every concerto with Argerich is a relevation…Every Brahms with DB a disappointment.They just played a fantastic performance with Kiril P last season…Why another stolid,ponderous 1970s “Eiche Rustikal”performance under DB?
Brahms IS a lot of “Eiche rustikal”. Certainly a darker solid wood from central Europe. Too bad you don’t like it. Complain to Brahms.
Well recently, i heard mostly a ” no gluten diet” Brahms or Schumann, who can still put real weight and density in the orchestral paste? I am not a great fan but Dany could at some point, he’s probably on autopilot now….
Don’t need to hear Agerich play the Schumann again. Very disappointed !
But Tchaikovsky with her would have been a real surprise, eh?
Obviously Martha Argerich is immortal, but I’m still impressed that she’d have the fitness to be pounding away Tchaikovsky at her age.
I’ve never been a fan of the Schumann but I’ll still watch in the DCH (I don’t suppose she’ll do an interview with Sarah Willis?).
He is the greatest ,known him since the age of 17 when he played Mozart in Lima Peru