Lets start a new thread.
Give a critic about the concert where you were there.
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Concert
Les concerts Gala, April 30, 2004. Montreal Symphonic Orchestra
(second presentation, first was April 28, 2004)
Conductor
Yan Pascal Tortelier
Guest soloist
Joshua Bell, violinist.

Program
Edward Elgar : In the South (Alassio), opus 50
Camille Saint-Saëns : Concerto pour violon no 3 en si mineur (in B minor) opus 61
Piotr Ilitch Tchaïkovski : Sérénade mélancolique
Modest Moussorgski (orch. Maurice Ravel) : Tableaux d’une exposition (Pictures at an Exhibition)

Critics part I
The overture In the South (Alassio) was composed in 1903-04 and depicts, as Elgar
said, “The thoughts and sensations of one beautiful afternoon in the Vale of Andora.�

I never saw this Vale of Andora, but it must be very mysterious and quite dangerous. It
would be a good theme for another Jurassic park movie. It was the first time I heard it so
my first (and last) impression are that this piece is structured in three parts. The first was
very dramatic and full of movement. The second was full of tranquility and the third start
again with great movement and dramatic effects.

My overall impression was that it was played nicely and directed in a sober way.
It was applause accordingly with what I thought.

The violin concerto has been played with great precision, and great sensibility by J. Bell.
He plays on a Stradivarius, “Gibson ex Huberman�, 1713. Though the critics said he is not
a great master of the violin. I have to disagree, he played it very well. But I have to say
that I was the only one to shout a “Bravo!�. The public did applause him three times, but I
felt it was cold-hearted.

Intermission

Critics part II
The Tchaikowski Sérénade mélacolique, op. 26 was again majestically played by Bell. It
had great lyricism and deep emotions and mournful mood. I liked it very much.

The last piece was the Pictures at an Exhibition of Moussorgski. For me it was a
catastrophe, though sometimes it was good (particularly in the quiet moments), but all the
dramatic part was a complete loss. I think the conductor had lost his mind. He was doing
ballet with exaggerated movement of all the body. Moreover I have noticed that some
musicians couldn’t retain their silent laughs. But, guess what? … Yes, the public have
given loud applause and shouted multiple “Bravos!�!!! ???

When the concert was finished I felt a lot disturbed, I was wondering if I have missed
something, or if I’m out of the music of good taste. I have found two critics of that concert
(one in French and one in English). Both agree with me for the last piece, but it seems to
be cold-hearted too about J. Bell interpretation.

Other critics
Concert of April 30, Claude Gingras (La presse)
Concert of April 28, Arthur Kaptainis (The Gazette)


Moondog

Les Grands Concerts : May 5, 2004 Montreal Symphonic Orchestra (first presentation)

Conductor
Georges Pehlivanian

Guest artists
Noëlla Huet : mezzo-soprano
Louis Lortie : piano

Program
Donald Steven : Pages of Solitary Delights

It is a really beautiful composition (1985) made of poems where the music arrangements
consist in three melodies separated by a passage for solo harp. I gave A+ for all of what
I have heard (singing, orchestra and of course composition itself).

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Sergei Prokofiev : Piano Concerto No. 1 in D-flat major, Op. 10

One has to know that this concerto is a composition of the young Prokofiev and it shows
purely academic style. It’s almost mechanical, a robot could play it without problem. M.
Lortie gives an interpretation where the only comment I can say is : it should not be a
piano concerto since it’s always Forte. He plays, most of the time with the Ped
forte and the sound had only one intensity : Fortissimo. Nevertheless it was precise as
a clockwork.

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Dmitri Chostakovitch : Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47

This composition has a lot of moods and was beautifully done by the conductor and the
orchestra. M. Pehlivanian communicates very well with the musicians who were captivated
and concentrated. It gave us a beautiful musical moment.

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In general I really loved the magic ambiance of the proximity of all those beautiful acoustic instruments.

Moondog

they make me go to all sorts of concerts. I find them boring. and the secret service are always yelling at me. i do like to pop on a stravinsky cd every once in awhile. it makes laura leave the room and the dogs jump with glee when they here it.

Mr. Bush, at first glance I thought you were a forum terrorist.
And, do you have a foreign accent? (I can't here you, euh hear you )

You know the song : push push in the bush?
I have a new version for you : pop pop in the rock
I know, it's not easy to be president, in fact it's terrorizing.


Peace

Moondog

phew, it seems like yougo to a lot of concerts. Sadly, I don't. I like classical music, but I don't know a lot about it

well, it's never too late to brighten my horizon

I'm booked for 7 other concerts, some for the Montreal Jazz Festival. And there
will be others on the schedule when all the concerts for the Jazz Festival will be
announced.

I think it's a psychological compensation for an overflowing of not being able to attend
these events in past.


Moondog

Les Grands Concerts : May 14, 2004 Montreal Symphonic Orchestra & OSM Chorus (second presentation)

Conductor
Jacques Lacombe

Guest artists
Frederica von Stade : mezzo-soprano

Program
Clermont Pépin : Le Rite du soleil noir

The Ceremony of the Black Sun dates from Pépin’s Paris sojourn (1955). It was made before his dodecaphonic period and is very much influenced by Olivier Messiaen, Arthur Honegger and André Jolivet. The piece is built in the form of a Rondo in which the theme (refrain) is developed each time until reaching a very complex form. I liked it, though I’m not a fan of dodecaphonist.

Maurice Ravel : Shéhérazade

It’s three poems : Asie (Asia), La flute enchantée (The enchanted flute), L’indifférent (The indifferent one) . Very well sung by Frederica von Stade. I think everybody knows about this story who has so many versions.

Joseph Canteloube : Chants d’Auvergne

Songs of the Auvergne. This music was created after French folksongs and sung in the original archaic langue d’oc. Titles are : Baïlèro; Lo fiolairé; Brezairola; Chut, chut; Uno jionto postouro, Lou Coucut. They have all the aspects of folksongs with verses and refrains. I didn’t understand a single word but it was beautifully sung again by Frederica von Stade. At some moment the orchestration reminds me Malher, I particularly loved Uno jionto postouro (A Lovely Shepherdess), lovely song indeed.

Gustav Holst : The Planets, Op. 32

We all know what is it. The conductor has announced that he will play a little faster then what we usually find on CDs. He claims that it will be played at the same metronome speed Holst used in the past. I have to say that M. Lacombe delivered a grandiose interpretation of this masterpiece. Now, I can hardly listen to the version I have. I hope they will make a CD out of it.


Moondog

how many classical concerts do you go to Moondog?

I should report some of the classical concerts I go to.

Most of the time, in the year, I went to University at night (since a couple of years), and
I'm at work during the day. Sometimes I had appointments with my family , and just
because of this I couldn't go to the concerts . But since May I'm free of the University, so
I attend to all the concerts I may find. I'm booked for two other classic ones and for a lot
of others at the Jazz fest. (I'll open a new thread in the Jazz section, if nobody does).

And yes, my idea was to have a report for all the concerts of the planet !


Moondog