Aug 31, 2023·edited Aug 31, 2023Liked by Tone Prose
I too was in Edinburgh earlier this month! We were mostly there for the Fringe, but we did get to one classical concert at the International Festival: the LSO performing the Turangalîla-Symphonie, in one of Simon Rattle's final appearances as principal conductor. It was a fabulous experience. While I love this music in recording, like a lot of mid-20th century modernist/postmodernist music, it was particularly enhanced by the visual element. Even from high up in the balcony we had a great view of the entire orchestra with its large battery of percussion and keyboard instruments, including the piano and ondes martenot soloists. But I can't really offer any comments on the conducting or interpretation.
I'm also curious what Will thought of Schiff's performance in the Schumann. I'll be seeing him for the first time this fall, in solo recital. I'm generally an admirer of his recordings, with some notable exceptions, such as the decision to hold down sustain pedal throughout the first movement of the Moonlight sonata on a modern piano.
Wow, it sounds like we just missed each other! Another big highlight of my Edinburgh experience was the Pina Bausch “Rite of Spring” performed by a Pan-African modern dance company. Seemed like it was the hottest ticket in town that particular weekend.
Funny you should ask about my reaction to Schiff, since I talked with Joey about this shortly after the fact (and referenced it in my reply below) but he was far and away the weak link in that concert. He was just totally underpowered, and the orchestra had to give an extremely muted performance in order not to cover him, which they did quite ably. But it didn't make for the most fun Schumann piano concerto I've ever heard.
Schiff was also the soloist on the NY Phil concert I referenced in the post, where he played the Bartok 3rd concerto and I thought he was great in that. So... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I'd love a full report after you hear his recital, and I'd be especially interested in knowing the repertoire.
Semi-related to the Bausch Rite of Spring: two of the best shows I've been to were South African interpretations of classical music using different instrumentation.
What sort of piano was he using? He's taken to period instruments recently, even for 19th century works, which could explain why he was underpowered. I also wouldn't expect Schiff to particularly shine in this repertoire regardless of the instrument--I think of him as a Classical (and to a lesser degree Baroque and Modern) specialist.
But I have a broader (sort of hot) take here: piano concertos are generally very bad showcases for a pianist's artistry. I would almost never go to a concerto performance to see a specific pianist. I'm somewhat more likely to do so for a violinist or cellist, but that my reflect my bias as a pianist.
Yes, on paper, the second BSO program was far and away the most “up my alley”. But the Budapest concert was the one I enjoyed the most. (In spite of the fact—as I told you off mic—that I thought Andras Schiff was a major weak link!)
I thought the Carlos Simon dances were excellent and texted several conductor friends immediately after the concert who I thought would be able to make good use of them in a program. Very listener friendly (kind of 1920's jazz style—huge debts to Gershwin) and not as hard as his other pieces I've heard. The more of his music I listen to, the more I like it!
NTT: this is a solo cello thing which—quite vexatiously—sounds an awful lot like a solo cello thing that I wrote a few years ago and which is going to be recorded in a few weeks!
It's definitely 20th century with all those harmonics and such. My first thought was that it might be from Ligeti's early cello sonata, but I listened to that piece quite a bit at one point and I don't think it's right. Perhaps it's from the Kodaly sonata? That's one of those pieces that I'm supposed to know but secretly don't.
My other guess would be Giya Kancheli, but just because it rhymes with Anneli.
I too was in Edinburgh earlier this month! We were mostly there for the Fringe, but we did get to one classical concert at the International Festival: the LSO performing the Turangalîla-Symphonie, in one of Simon Rattle's final appearances as principal conductor. It was a fabulous experience. While I love this music in recording, like a lot of mid-20th century modernist/postmodernist music, it was particularly enhanced by the visual element. Even from high up in the balcony we had a great view of the entire orchestra with its large battery of percussion and keyboard instruments, including the piano and ondes martenot soloists. But I can't really offer any comments on the conducting or interpretation.
I'm also curious what Will thought of Schiff's performance in the Schumann. I'll be seeing him for the first time this fall, in solo recital. I'm generally an admirer of his recordings, with some notable exceptions, such as the decision to hold down sustain pedal throughout the first movement of the Moonlight sonata on a modern piano.
Wow, it sounds like we just missed each other! Another big highlight of my Edinburgh experience was the Pina Bausch “Rite of Spring” performed by a Pan-African modern dance company. Seemed like it was the hottest ticket in town that particular weekend.
Funny you should ask about my reaction to Schiff, since I talked with Joey about this shortly after the fact (and referenced it in my reply below) but he was far and away the weak link in that concert. He was just totally underpowered, and the orchestra had to give an extremely muted performance in order not to cover him, which they did quite ably. But it didn't make for the most fun Schumann piano concerto I've ever heard.
Schiff was also the soloist on the NY Phil concert I referenced in the post, where he played the Bartok 3rd concerto and I thought he was great in that. So... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I'd love a full report after you hear his recital, and I'd be especially interested in knowing the repertoire.
Semi-related to the Bausch Rite of Spring: two of the best shows I've been to were South African interpretations of classical music using different instrumentation.
1) This contemporary dance concert using Bolero https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/theater-dance/at-the-kennedy-center-a-reimagined-bolero-through-a-south-african-lens/2020/01/22/4b5d1cb2-3896-11ea-9541-9107303481a4_story.html
2) This, probably my favorite opera production I've ever been to (saw it in Washington DC): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bWY-fJkdBE
What sort of piano was he using? He's taken to period instruments recently, even for 19th century works, which could explain why he was underpowered. I also wouldn't expect Schiff to particularly shine in this repertoire regardless of the instrument--I think of him as a Classical (and to a lesser degree Baroque and Modern) specialist.
But I have a broader (sort of hot) take here: piano concertos are generally very bad showcases for a pianist's artistry. I would almost never go to a concerto performance to see a specific pianist. I'm somewhat more likely to do so for a violinist or cellist, but that my reflect my bias as a pianist.
Dang, those two BSO programs are also (to my taste) far more interesting than the two concerts you enjoyed better. Did you like the Carlos Simon?
Yes, on paper, the second BSO program was far and away the most “up my alley”. But the Budapest concert was the one I enjoyed the most. (In spite of the fact—as I told you off mic—that I thought Andras Schiff was a major weak link!)
I thought the Carlos Simon dances were excellent and texted several conductor friends immediately after the concert who I thought would be able to make good use of them in a program. Very listener friendly (kind of 1920's jazz style—huge debts to Gershwin) and not as hard as his other pieces I've heard. The more of his music I listen to, the more I like it!
NTT: this is a solo cello thing which—quite vexatiously—sounds an awful lot like a solo cello thing that I wrote a few years ago and which is going to be recorded in a few weeks!
It's definitely 20th century with all those harmonics and such. My first thought was that it might be from Ligeti's early cello sonata, but I listened to that piece quite a bit at one point and I don't think it's right. Perhaps it's from the Kodaly sonata? That's one of those pieces that I'm supposed to know but secretly don't.
My other guess would be Giya Kancheli, but just because it rhymes with Anneli.