davidparker
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 posted on 11-11-0707 at 04:09 PM |
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Andris Nelsons November 11th concert
An initial reaction to Andris Nelsons: it's obvious why he was appointed, his energetic and vigorous podium presence has to capacity to enthuse
musicians and audiences alike.
Conductors need to be at least three people in one: architect of the piece's structure, dramatiser of the score's narrative, galvaniser of the
players' individual and collective sense of intent. Andris Nelsons undoubtedly has the last two characteristics, in the future it will be interesting
to see whether he can shape the long line of a really extended symphony (Bruckner, Mahler e.g.) and encompass the abrasive aspects of some modern and
contemporary repertoire.
On the evidence of this afternoon I think CBSO audiences can look forward to many exciting concerts with a conductor who brings a dash of operatic
flair and romantic sweep to the stage, and who is extremely adept at switching the baton between his hands!
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brucknerian
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| posted on 11-11-0707 at 07:02 PM |
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I was most interested by David's very well expressed first reaction to Nelsons, and thank him for it. Sadly I couldn't go this afternoon, and so
would be very interested in reading a range of reactions. I don't want to try and set the forum's agenda for it, but would like to say to others who
went today that their views would be greatly valued by many who couldn't!
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David
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| posted on 12-11-0707 at 07:34 AM |
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Thank you David and can I agree with brucknerian that for those of us unable to attend it would be good to get the views of others in the audience.
This is our site so lets us it.
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David
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| posted on 13-11-0707 at 03:28 PM |
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Can I offer my thanks to the Guardian for providing a review of Sundays concert. On the basis of their critique I thing Birmingham can look forward to
an intersting and rewarding few years.
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Azurite
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| posted on 13-11-0707 at 11:18 PM |
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Hi guys,
So, bearing in mind that I am not at all musical, do not have the knowledge/education in orchestras and the world of conductors that many of you seem
to have, and am just someone who loves going to concerts at Symphony Hall- (and the Town Hall is quite splendid now too!) particularly CBSO, but also
ICS concerts, I will nonetheless attempt to say something about the Andris Nelsons concert!
I had tickets right at the top (one row from the back) of the grand tier, have never sat up there before, usually sit in the stalls, so it was quite
something to be up that high- ooh err! (trumpets sound better up there, and overall sound is great, but missed the facial expressions) So, perhaps
couldn’t “connect” so much with Andris Nelsons’ style etc, as he was quite small from up there, lol! However, he did seem to have a lovely, sweeping,
lyrical style of movement, and was not afraid to reach outwards and upwards to the orchestra, drawing the notes with him, and then also to crouch, to
draw in and contain moments. He wasn’t as much of a passionate, bouncy dancer as say Radoslaw Szulc with his nifty footwork on the podium, but did
have a fluid and energetic range- and like David Parker says above- he was excellent at baton swishing- both in the air and hand to hand, lol!
Some friends who were lucky enough to have seats in the stalls, said he did manage to lift his shirt in his enthusiastic movements, giving the
violinists a brief flash- allegedly, so he certainly isn’t staid or still! He did seem to have good “communication” with the players- and they seemed
to like him- as much as you can ever tell these things from watching- particularly from that high up! However they did give him generous applause,
even refusing to get up for their own when requested- several times! I think it will be interesting to see how things develop once he is properly at
the helm next year. Certainly many audience members I spoke to seemed excited by the new chap, though of course still having great respect for Sakari
Oramo.
Oh and I loved the music too- being very familiar with the pieces but having never heard them live- (had tickets for the Dvorak the night of the bomb
scare so missed out earlier in the year) it was a real treat, with special thanks particularly to Laurence Jackson and Eduardo Vassallo for their
marvellous playing in Don Juan, but hey all the CBSO is fabulous in my book, so thank you all!
So, Brucknerian- did you go to Bruckner’s 7th Symphony at Symphony Hall tonight? ;-) Was the Orchestre National de France though, so maybe I’ll be
told off for mentioning it?! Anyway, not knowing Bruckner much at all I thoroughly enjoyed it!
David, thanks for mentioning the Guardian article- shall go and seek it out.
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brucknerian
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| posted on 15-11-0707 at 09:40 PM |
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Thanks for the last two messages. It's interesting how consistent a picture is seeming to appear.
I ought to reply to Azurite about the Bruckner concert. I'm afraid I didn't go, partly because I can't do Tuesdays and partly because I really
don't rate Masur as a conductor (as distinct from as an outstanding contributor to German public life and remarkable human being). But I'm really
glad you enjoyed the Seventh. It's a real 'desert island' piece for me (along with the Eighth, Fifth, Ninth...)
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davidparker
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| posted on 16-11-0707 at 07:14 AM |
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Reviews and letters to local papers seem to concur with the enthusiastic reception, although as my original post implied it may well be that the new
conductor is more of a romantic/operatic specialist than a musical modernist, we shall see.
Mr Lebrecht isn't always the most reliable of judges, but his view of Andris Nelsons seems to follow the pattern (and offer some interesting detail).
I'd be fascinated to hear talks about "music and life" post-concert! See link below, for some reason I can't seem to get the hyperlink function to
work:
http://www.scena.org/columns/lebrecht/071114-NL-hotrod.html
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David
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| posted on 16-11-0707 at 11:57 AM |
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Thanks for the link David. Interesting reading especialy if the bit about players texts is true. Looks like an interesting time ahead.
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erinaco
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| posted on 16-11-0707 at 12:42 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally posted by davidparker
Reviews and letters to local papers seem to concur with the enthusiastic reception, although as my original post implied it may well be that the new
conductor is more of a romantic/operatic specialist than a musical modernist, we shall see. |
You say this, but Mr Nelsons will be conducting the CBSO next March in a programme of Strauss, Neuwirth, Pärt & Shostakovich. An interesting
selection.
Would he have chosen this programme himself, do you think?
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Stephen
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| posted on 16-11-0707 at 01:23 PM |
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Happy to answer this one - yes indeed, the programme for next March was Andris's suggestion. We're seeing the 2 concerts this season as a
contrasting pair - last Sunday's debut showed his exhilarating approach to familiar scores, whereas in March he will be conducting music that is
significantly less well known.
Stephen Maddock
CBSO Chief Executive
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davidparker
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| posted on 16-11-0707 at 02:23 PM |
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My sense of where Andris Nelsons' main strengths might lie is partly based on how he conducts (with the real dramatic flair that comes from having
conducted opera) partly what he said on the Podcast interview about feeling like he belonged to another (earlier) century, and partly on what his
online CV says:
"Andris Nelsons was Principal Conductor of the Latvian National Opera House from 2003-2007, where recent productions have included Aida, Madame
Butterfly, Turandot, Pique Dame and Die Walküre. He made his German opera debut in January 2007 at Deutsche Oper Berlin with performances of La
Bohème, and returned in June 2007 to lead their annual Wagner performance with Deborah Voigt. Over the next two seasons, he will conduct Eugene Onegin
at the Deutsche Oper, Turandot at the Hamburgische Staatsoper and make his debut at the Wiener Staatsoper in 2008/09 with Tosca and Madame
Butterfly."
But as you say the March programme looks fascinating, and it's obvious that the orchestra enjoys working with him, which is the overriding factor.
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erinaco
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| posted on 16-11-0707 at 07:40 PM |
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Thanks Stephen, it's always nice to hear from somebody on the inside!
As a general question, is it the norm for conductors to choose their own programmes, or are works sometimes "imposed" by committees or
individuals?
I had an idea a while back where the CBSO could run an annual competition, where the winner would devise their own programme for a concert during the
following season.
Good idea / bad idea???
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RichardB
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| posted on 13-12-0707 at 03:50 PM |
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Visit this page to read the reviews of Andris Nelson's first public concert with the CBSO, on 11 November:
http://www.cbso.co.uk/?page=about/index.html
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