13 Sunday Sep 2009
Posted in concert
Antheil Ballet mécanique (16 mins)
John Adams Grand Pianola Music (30 mins)
interval
Bartók Sonata for two pianos and percussion* (26 mins)
Stravinsky Les noces (sung in Russian) (24 mins)
The Bartok was full of the romantic notion of 1950s eastern europe that describes the line between the singing ringing tree and short wave atmospherics.
10 Monday Aug 2009
Posted in concert
Saw this prom last night with GG.
I liked the Bartok more than the Adams. The tuba player squeaked his mute into his horn.
Tuba mutes could be rented out to people living in studio flats for storage purposes.
Les Noces was surprising.
I can never quite get the measure of Stravinsky and am often somehow disappointed or surprised by his work.
RB who was also at the concert last night told me today in the office that on recordings there is much play with spatial effects of this piece, entirely lost in the voluminous acoustic of the RAH.
Indeedy, there was no definition in any of the great herd of pianos on stage last night from where we sat in the door 9 stalls.
