Mozart and Mahler live tonight from the Barbican

[Alison]

I really wish we could kick into touch once and for all the 'cinderella of Mahler
symphonies' myth.

It's a staggering work, from beginning to end.

Ok, he's got a good radio voice (and doesn't he know it!) but largely a load of waffle
from Stephen Johnson in the interval talk, thrillingly tossed aside by the music itself.

[jayne lee wilson]

...and at some point we should reiterate just how fine the R3 HDs 320kbps stream sounds these days. The last few weeks of concerts, going back to the Philharmonia/Dohnanyi Brahms Requiem, have been superbly produced and engineered.

[mercia]

Ok, he's got a good radio voice (and doesn't he know it!) but largely a load of waffle
from Stephen Johnson in the interval talk

that's interesting. In my humble opinion he has a terrible radio voice - it sounds to me as if he has permanent laryngitis.

admittedly I don't know the Mozart inside out but was there a short memory lapse by the soloist leading up to the last movement cadenza? something sounded odd to me at that point.

[Alison]

There seems quite a buzz at these Friday night BBCSO gigs at the Barbican.

Shame its the worst night to travel home by train.

Are the tickets still unreserved for these events ?

[Bryn]

I have not previously held HB's direction in, high regard. However, I must concur. This was, indeed a particularly fine Mahler Seven.

[cloughie]

I have not previously held HB's direction in, high regard. However, I must concur. This was, indeed a particularly fine Mahler Seven.

HB?

[PJPJ]

admittedly I don't know the Mozart inside out but was there a short memory lapse by the soloist leading up to the last movement cadenza? something sounded odd to me at that point.

I think you're right. At his age I would have frozen solid then shook with terror. I'm looking forward to his recording out on DG next month.

[PJPJ]

I have not previously held HB's direction in, high regard. However, I must concur. This was, indeed a particularly fine Mahler Seven.

I've always been a fan of his unpretentiousness and will miss him when he leaves.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

JB revealed the glories of Martinu's Symphonies to me after I'd failed to "get" them for decades. I owe him a great debt of gratitude and shall also regret his departure from the BBCSO.

[EdgeleyRob]

Well!! Got your breath back yet? A truly wonderful Mahler 7, I'm still drying my eyes after as crazily brilliant a finale as I've heard, the manic mood-switching, irony and humour worthy of Bernstein himself...

And a Mozart D Minor both fiery and finely drawn, fully sung out by the BBCSO with some wonderful string and wind playing, and a young soloist who combined brilliant virtuosity - and power, especially in LVB's cadenzas - with a warmly expressive interpretative approach.

And after that terrific VW6 last night! Goodness me, I'm off to celebrate, or recover, or just remember that the real world still exists...

Agreed , brilliant.