mahaberio

Trent,

I'll be at both concerts. Wanna grab a drink?

-Matthew

rowuk

AAHHHH, a pinkie ring user, that must account for his great upper register.

I agree with Ed, the piece is the star, although only in the hands of a star like Håkan! He has done so much for 20th century music!

Håkan Hardenberger | Home Page

Luis M. Araya

Ed,

One of my first CDs was of him playing baroque concertos, after that I have colected several of his recordings, He is amazing indeed. People should check out the DVD "a night at the opera" he plays along with Christian Lindberg (trombone).

ecarroll

Luis,

Bits of that video can be found on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFOu78UVCps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4EOTpmE2YE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-f1hpN-QB4

Best, as always,
EC

ecarroll

Robin,

You bring up another interesting point for discussion. How many of us go to performances to listen to the players and how many go to listen to the music?

Both, I'd argue, but in different contexts. I was much more interested in hearing the Zimmermann Concerto recently in Los Angeles than listening to Alison Balsom (before TM Nation jumps down my throat defending the lovely Alison, I think that she is a terrific trumpeter and we're now friends). The piece that she was playing is true and original art music -- worthy of complete attention. I might respond differently to a concert by the fabulous German Brass, focusing on the ensemble skills of Matthias & Co. rather to transcribed music by Bach et al.

When I was a kid growing up in Chicago I used to attend the Chicago Symphony regularly to listen to Bud. Later, after the addition of much musical mileage, I went to hear compositions, played by the Chicago Symphony, ably piloted by Bud (in that order).

Other points of view?

Best,
EC

rowuk

Ed,
for me it just depends. When I went to a Maurice André or Kingssingers concert, I went because of the performer. They put their stamp on the music and that did not let me completely immerse in what the composer had in mind.
There are other performers that become very transparent (Ensemble Modern, Hilliard Ensemble, the real group that serve the music better.

Håkan has been on both sides of the fence for me. His baroque readings proclaim the brilliance of Hardenberger, and this piece has so much going on that there is no time to think about the soloist.

It is tough to find servants of the music, especially with an industry focussed on making stars.

ecarroll

Robin,

No kidding. I'll be at the Grammy Awards on Feb 10th and doubt that a single person in the house will be paying attention to what's being performed.

Ah...kulchah
EC

TrentAustin

I'm totally up for a hang on either night. Let me know via email or PM. I'll be able to remotely access the internet both days on my PDA.

Cheers,

T

mahaberio

This is interesting. It seems for me that it takes a great soloist to really make these pieces sparkle and one can't help but be awed by both the piece and the performer(s). I was thinking about this last night while I was watching the DVD of Saariaho's opera L'Amour de loin (which is something everyone should experience). It is brilliant and intricate music but would mean nothing if not for the (equally?) brilliant performances of Gerald Finley, Dawn Upshaw, E-P S & Co. . .

It seems that with the music of Saariaho especially it takes everyone in the orchestra, everyone in the chorus, the conductor, and every soloist really "getting" the music for it to work. Likewise with the Turnage. Maybe the piece is the star (I for one think it's a wonderful work), but would it matter if Hakan, Salonen, and the orchestra weren't stars themselves?

-Matthew

ecarroll

Matthew,

Of course they're stars. Lesser musicians wouldn't/couldn't tackle such a score. The question that I raised is an old axe for me, personally. I used to be turned off as a student in New York by posters proclaiming (in this order)

GEORG SOLTI
(photo of maestro)

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

bruckner symphony nr.7

or

LUCIANO PAVAROTTI
ZUBIN MEHTA
(photo of maestri)

New York Philharmonic

arias by bellini, verdi, and puccini

(sorry, that's the best I can do with font size here but you catch my drift)

I'd SO prefer that the order be reversed. Maybe after I'm elected Pope of Music...

Watching for that white smoke,
EC