Hallé Orchestra and Mark Elder from the Bridgewater Hall

[Hornspieler]

After the "Elder States_man" had finished his usual pre-performance oration, I settled down to enjoy one of my favourite Russian composers.

Oh dear! Some rather dodgy brass playing in the Prinz Igor overture. Never mind; a much neglected symphony to follow.

But I thought this a lacklustre performance. To me, the orchestra lacked incisiveness. They seemed to be picking their way carefully through the notes. Tired perhaps? Overworked? This was not the Hallé that I have come to know and respect all these years.

I decided to skip the second half but no doubt this thread will expand to include the whole concert and the reaction of others to what was, for me, a big disappointment.

HS

[mercia]

I very much enjoyed the interval feature on the Buckinghamshire youngsters tackling the 1812 Overture. Joy and enthusiasm all round.
I only heard the Borodin items, also very enjoyable, I can't speak with any authority as to the playing.

[Frau Alpensinfonie]

Unlike Eine A, I'm not a Tchaikovsky fan, but I loved the Borodin symphony.

[Hornspieler]

I decided to skip the second half but no doubt this thread will expand to include the whole concert and the reaction of others to what was, for me, a big disappointment.

HS

I didn't miss much! What a load of Garbage! No wonder this Fantasy is never played. I've just been hearing it on "Listen Again"

I'll change those last two words to "Never Again"

HS

[salymap]

I didn't hear the concert, but I've always loved the Borodin B minor symphony. I have it in a 'Borodin box' played by the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic orchestra, conducted by Rozhdestvensky. This contains all three symphonies and other goodies.

[Pianorak]

. . . What a load of Garbage! No wonder this Fantasy is never played. . .

I wish I could disagree. Must admit it was my first encounter with it.

[Barbirollians]

I love the Borodin symphony - the Kletzki,Kubelik and Martinon recordings are all marvellous .

[cloughie]

I love the Borodin symphony - the Kletzki,Kubelik and Martinon recordings are all marvellous .

Three coconuts - and Rattle's from a year or two back was poor!

[Sir Monty Golfear]

I didn't miss much! What a load of Garbage! No wonder this Fantasy is never played. I've just been hearing it on "Listen Again"

I'll change those last two words to "Never Again"

HS

I must agree!.......The pianist didn't exactly do the concert fantasy justice, even if it is a second rate piece !.Listen to Stephen Hough for a throughly alive version.
The Halle sounded poor. And the broadcast balance sounded more akin to the old Decca Phase Four balance with the woodwind being panned forward of the strings. The piano sounded recessed and dead.....or was that the pianist?..
Anyway..for the concert fantasy on the cheap try Glemser on Naxos or at full price Hough on Hyperion to get a better idea what Tchaikovsky would have wanted.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The Halle sounded poor. And the broadcast balance sounded more akin to the old Decca Phase Four balance with the woodwind being panned forward of the strings. The piano sounded recessed and dead.....or was that the pianist?..

I wonder whether the broadcast balance was the problem rather than the Halle. I can't imagine this orchestra playing these works badly. And Mr & Mrs Pastoralguy (who were actually there) clearly thought highly of the concert.