Britain’s biggest ever Bruckner blast
NewsIt’s no secret that old monk-face has never caught on with the give-us-a-tune denizens of UK concert halls.
So all power to the northern house that’s putting on a big Bruckner weekend of the last three symphonies in March next year, marking the bicentennial of the composer’s birth.
People in the Glasshouse have to be careful what kind of parties they throw, but this is Bruckner with balls, a UK breakthrough. I shall have more to say on the subject in week or two.
Also in the tiny Danish town of Ribe, three symphonies in a few days
https://langgaardfestival.dk
So as someone who might consider going to these concerts who is from the U.S., can anyone tell me if Newcastle is otherwise worth visiting? Is there much that’s enjoyable to see/do there?
The most magnificent of the English cathedrals – perhaps of cathedrals anywhere – is in Durham, a short train ride away.
The Glasshouse is actually on the Gateshead side of the river Tyne and has great views of the Newcastle quayside. Lots of decent hotels in Newcastle and Gateshead and excellent places to eat as well. You’re handy for the magnificent coast as well. I fell in love with Newcastle when I visited as a student. It has the architectural beauty of Edinburgh and people have the warmth and joie de vivre of Glasgow. Give it a go – you’ll love it! I think it was John Wesley who said ‘Certainly, if I did not believe there was another world, I should spend all my summers here, as I know no place in Great Britain comparable to it for pleasantness.’ So there you are.
Newcastle is indeed very beautiful, and certainly worth the visit. If you can, take a trip to see Cragside House and gardens, it is truly breathtaking, has something for everyone – Arts & Crafts architecture and interior design, and historic “cutting-edge” technology!
Hello there
I am not a native or inhabitant of this city so have no particular axe to grind, but it has an enormous amount to offer the visitor- one of the finest Georgian townscapes in the UK, first class galleries and museums, sporting venues, a buzzing riverside, a fascinating link to Martin Luther King, and within a very few miles, Hadrian’s Wall, the castles and beaches of Northumberland, not to mention the extraordinary, dare I say Brucknerian, Cathedral at Durham, one of the country’s finest Norman buildings, just a few miles to the south. And then there is Windows music shop in the Arcade-one of the best in the country…
[And no I don’t work for the Newcastle Tourist Board -or Windows either- but I am just waiting for all those thumbs down from the slippedisc Mackem brigade].
Take a day trip out of Newcastle and cross the causeway to Lindisfarne island where medieval monks used illustrate and embellish religious texts. See the backdrop used in so many films…..Banburgh castle
A few days late in commenting but 2 hints,
1) if you go, and you should, to Lindisfarne check the tide times carefully and pay attention to notices on the causeway ,
2) in Newcastle near the Quayside be aware of the kittiwakes, take a damp cloth!
My immediate thought was “Bruckner, how wonderful”. Always a favourite when I first heard his symphonies in ’60s Sheffield. Then I thought “Bruckner in The Glasshouse?” A bit overpowering for the relatively small Sage One and will need to take the ear defenders. But definitely something worth waiting for – especially one of the too-much-neglected Masses. However, with no in-house Organ, a house-organ will have to be brought in for the Great Mass (not a success previously for James MacMillan’s St Luke Passion in 2018). Memories too of BBC’s 1962 “The Master of Ballantrae” for which the Scherzo of the 7th was used (John Cairney/James Durie; James Breslin/Henry Durie). I always think of the Scherzo of the 7th when I think of that production of “The Master…” and always think of “The Master…” when I hear the Scherzo.
‘It’s no secret that old monk-face has never caught on with the give-us-a-tune denizens of UK concert halls.’ – Er, BOLLOCKS! Klemperer, Horenstein, Jochum, Barbirolli, Tennstedt and Wand all played Bruckner’s symphonies to large and vociferous UK audiences over the years. Just because many of the current crop can’t cut it in Uncle Anton’s music doesn’t mean there aren’t British audiences for it.
Yes, my introduction was through Sir John Barbirolli and the Halle when they crossed the Pennines into Yorkshire. Regarding Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Gateshead there is, of course, a Castle Keep in Newcastle (near the Anglican Cathedral). Gateshead is also famous for the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art (a converted Flour Mill), adjacent to The Glasshouse. Sadly the iconic Gateshead multi-storey car park featured in the Michael Caine film “Get Carter” was demolished a few years ago. Then there are the famous bridges (Tyne Bridge has construction/design links to Sydney Harbour Bridge), now 7 in the central area of Newcastle and Gateshead instead of the 5 immortalised in the 1969 “Five Bridges Suite” by The Nice (including Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake, and Palmer fame), the most recent bridge being The Millennium “Blinking Eye”. 16th/17thC Bessie Surtees House on Sandhill down by the Quayside is worth a look. And I’m not a member of the Tourist Board either, just a Newcastle Uni Graduate (the city has 2 Unis). Newcastle Uni was originally King’s College Durham Uni, until granted its own Uni status in 1963. Lastly, weather-wise, never forget “The Fog on the Tyne” (Lindisfarne).
Yew tellim, pal!
In the mid 1970’s I heard Bruckner’s last three symphonies at the Proms , The Fairfield Hall, and the RFH, conducted by Solti (BBC SO -7th and LPO-8th, and Kubelik (LSO-9th).
Bruckner’s music isn’t for the English Anglican soul, too austere and angular. Think Holst, Elgar, spiritual yet pastoral I vow to thee or Land of hope…
‘Herr Doktor’ – yes, do come; you will not be disappointed. Newcastle-upon-Tyne (full title please!) is such a fine place to stay, with a great view across the river to the amazing Glasshouse, and with the Geordies some of the friendliest people you’ll find anywhere on these islands. But do remember to bring a warm sweater or jacket; an easterly wind off the North Sea can chill tender visitors from down South – or the US!
Yes, it’s a pleasant change though why no TV or Radio live relays? This is a quite extraordinary classical music weekend with four orchestras and singers devoted to a single composer.
Now, if it had been Brahms or Mahler ..