Birmingham rows back from ‘innovative’ concerts
OrchestrasThe second in the loudly-hailed series of concerts-with-gimmicks has been shamefacedly dropped by the CBSO. Not clear if it has fallen victim to loss of council grant or to the hugely hostile reaction from the regular audience.
Either way, the concert of May 1 has been reconstituted in a foornote in the latest bulletin to subscribers.
Following a period of review, taking on board the feedback we received from audiences who attended Kazuki conducts Beethoven’s Eroica in December, we would like to confirm there will be no changes to the performance on May 1, as had been previously considered.
In other Brum news, the visiting Duke of Edinburgh (Prince Edward) has been taking conducting lessons (pic).
Recent review from Bachtrack; “Yet whoever’s bright idea it was to get individual players and whole sections of the orchestra to stand up whenever their music was particularly important in the texture – with a literal spotlight shone on them – needs to have their head examined. Not only did it add extra effort to an already challenging performance, as well as being an increasingly absurd visual distraction, but it also played complete havoc with Mahler’s meticulous instrumental balance,”
Perhaps they’re getting the message!
Mahler actually writes in the finale of his 1st for the horns to stand. I forget the instruction, it’s in German. Fabulous!
It’s “Alle Hornisten stehen auf,” in a footnote, one before 56. Pretty clear in both languages.
(I’m always astounded if they ignore it.)
(The extra trumpet and trombone are marked as optional.)
Not needed, with so many horns!
The second of the rejigged concerts actually took place last Sunday.
I’m relieved. Last Sunday they tried a similar presentation with the CBSO Youth Orchestra. They did a very good job of Mahler 5, despite the constant (non-Mahler prescribed!) standing up. But the biggest disappointment for me was the mood lighting, which meant the orchestra could hardly be seen in the gloom.
Yes, we thought the mood-lighting would begin and end with Scriabin’s “Prometheus” — but we were wrong. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f3B-8DKxMc
I agree with the above
I also attended this second experimental concert and after the huge screens epic of the first found a slight anticlimax on entering the auditorium to at first see nothing out of the ordinary
What we had was mood lighting which actually in the first work wasn’t bad spotlighting Jordan Ashman the percussionist
The Mahler was just more mood lighting which wasn’t a help or hindrance
I spoke to a couple afterwards who found it enhanced the performance
The standing and sitting by sections of the orchestra though didn’t
As stated this is not an easy work
The Youth Orchestra did a sterling job with some fine solo playing from trumpet and horn and harp
Their job was though made more difficult I’m sure by this un necessary gimmick
When the whole brass section stood up it pretty much drowed the strings
I’m guessing after the recent announcement of cuts it wouldn’t have gone down well to be employing at least 3 lighting designers plus others at least so soon
Il add again the splendid playing of the youth orchestra and a fascinating new percussion concerto played by the latest Young musician of the year
Wonderful to see the wealth of young talent on display
Sanity hath prevailed.
But the brain dead morons who dreamt up this stupidity live on.