Around the world with Irina: Beethoven

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Palace Grand Hall
Series "Great Orchestras"
SYMPHONIEORCHESTER DES BAYERISCHEN RUNDFUNKS
Conductor: MARISS JANSONS
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Program:
Beethoven – Symphony no. 7 in A Major op. 92
Wagner - Tristan und Isolde (Vorspiel und Liebestod)
Strauss - "Rosenkavalier" Suite
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......For me, this was the best concert at the Palace Hall. This might be debatable for those who enjoyed more Concertgebouw. Let me tell you that at this level it's difficult to say who's better. Of course, the specialists could find many differences, technically speaking. But I'm not talking about this. I'm talked about what I felt when listening. Mariss Jansons is a magician and he proved it again on this evening. I've never heard that sound for Wagner before. Impressed? The word is not enough to describe the feeling. It was the first time I had tears in my eyes when listening to symphonic music. It was powerful, every note was in its place. It was a true music lesson for any listener but also for any orchestra in this world. This is what means to play with your soul, to think of each small detail, to creat an idea and to move it throughout the score. I felt the love, the struggle, the serenity towards the end. How amazing were those prolonged cadenzas that left me breathless in order not to disturb the chord that came right after to solve the idea.

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......Listen here to this great piece, Prelude and "Liebestod" from Wagner's Tristan und Isolde .

......Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mariss Jansons (2009) Grand Philharmonic Hall, St. Petersburg

.....Beethoven's 7th Symphony was great too. I particularly like the second movement. Somebody that I admire very much put some words on the music.

......Listen here to the original - Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Herbert von Karajan (yes, again this orchestra&conductor) and then to the other version.

......The Rosenkavalier Suite ended a perfect evening of German, romantic music. Should it be the fact that Mariss Jansons has been leading this orchestra since 2003 and he has a contract signed untill 2012? Should it be the fact that the instrumentists don't consider this just a job? Music is not a job. It's art made with love and passion. The result was in front of my eyes. In front of your eyes is you were there. I'm still under the spell cast by Jansons on that evening. I'm sure he'll be back in 2011.

......Listen to them playing it.

......Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mariss Jansons (2009) Grand Philharmonic Hall, St. Petersburg

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Mariss Janons and the concert master

......Maestro, ladies and gentlemen of the orchestra, you have all my respect!

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Palace Small Hall
Series "Classical music in jazz arrangements"
SWINGLE SINGERS
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Program:
Corelli - Concerto Grosso No.8 Op. 6; I. & II. Movement - Arr. R. Eteson
Mozart - Ouverture to “The Magic Flute” - Arr. B. Parry
Gershwin - Fascinating Rhythm - Arr. A. L’Estrange
Porter - It’s All Right With Me - Arr. W. Swingle
J.S. Bach - Organ Fuge in E Minor BWV 578 - Arr. W. Swingle
Chopin - Prelude in E Minor Op.28 No. 4 - Arr. J. Forbes
Sting / F. Chopin - Until - Arr. K. Fox
Trad. - Amazing Grace - Arr. J. Forbes
C. Corea / J. Rodrigo – Spain - Arr. S. Stroman
Q. Jones - Soul Bossa Nova - Arr. A. L’Estrange
A. Piazzolla – Libertango - Arr. K. Erez
W. Murphy - A Fifth of Beethoven - Arr. T. Hug
Lennon/McCartney - Lady Madonna - Arr. C. Canning
J.S. Bach - Air on a G String - Arr. J. Rathbone
Lennon/McCartney - Ticket to Ride - Arr. A. L’Estrange
Lennon/McCartney - Eleanor Rigby - Arr. K. Fox
J. Mitchell - Both Sides Now - Arr. C. Wheeler
A.C. Jobim – Surfboard - Arr. W. Swingle
E. Satie - Gymnopedie No. 1 - Arr. W. Swingle
Lambert, Hendricks, Lewis - It’s Sand, Man ! - Arr. W. Swingle
Jarreau / Omartian - Boogie Down - Arr. P. Churchill
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And 3 encores
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Soprano: SARA BRIMER and JOANNA GOLDSMITH
Alto: LUCY BAILEY and CLARE WHEELER
Tenor: RICHARD ETESON and CHRISTOPHER JAY
Bass: KEVIN FOX and TOBIAS HUG
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Sound Engineer: HUGH WALKER
Musical Director: JOANNA GOLDSMITH

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......I heard them some time ago. Somebody sent me a link on YouTube. It was The Flight of the Bumble Bee". I listened to it several times, not believing it was a capella....
......They're 8 young people that tour the world filling up concert halls and making people that come to listen to them applaud till they sing again and again. Besides the great voices trained to sing everything, from classical music to jazz and pop, they're very happy, funny, know how to entertain the audience. Kevin and Tobi teached us how to make a drum-like sound with the mouth. They split the audience in 3. One part had to say "boo", one "kaa" and the third "ch". They made us sing and laugh, allowing their colleagues to rest. Who would have believed that Bach matches Beatles and Beethoven matches Sting? Their voices replace the instruments. Not only they sing, but also move on stage or dance in order to make everything more interesting.
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Listen to them singing Adagio by Albinoni, in 2008

......In the end of the concert they went to the lobby to meet the people, sell CDs and sign autographs. They're very friendly. I asked them some questions. A sort of mini interview.
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1. What do you have for breakfast that makes you sing so well? Just cereals, said Sara laughing.
2. How many hours do you practice every day? 3 to 5, said Lucy. Always together? No. Also by ourselves.
3. Do you have another job? No, no time for something else. This is our job, said Lucy.
4. What's your background speaking of singing? We sung in choires, most of us, said Tobi, but each of us is trained to sing classical music, pop, jazz, a little bit from everything.
5. Who makes the arrangements of the songs? A lot of people, said Christopher. A lot of them are signed by Ward Swingle, the one who established the Swingle Singers. He's now 83, but still working.
6. Is it everywhere like it was this evening? No, said Johanna. We liked Romanians. They're warm and kind. And this Festival is great. We performed twice. It's our first time here but we loved every minute.
7. Why have you stopped? People kept cheering. My feet are hurting, said Johanna, pointing to her high heel shoes. But we would have no problem with you singing without shoes. Yes, sure. I'll try this next time.
8. Who's the boss here? Tobi, said Sara pointing to him. No, he is, said Tobi pointing to Kevin. No, we are all bosses, said Johanna.
9. Where are you going next? Germany, said Tobi.
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......If they come near you, buy a ticket! You won't regret it.
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Johanna

Lucy, Tobi and Christopher

Lucy, Sara and Johanna

Sara

Kevin

...... At some point Tobi said that the basses never get to sing solos. The sopranos do this, the tenors do it, but never the basses. So he declared this song "his moment". Dear Tobi, what follows is your moment in pictures.