Expel Any Misconceptions, Please!

[Ruro]

 Heya folks,

 I have had several opportunities in the past to view Concert Events, like Lugansky performing Rachmaninoffs Third, and Hough with Prokofiev's Second Concerto I think it was... but somehow I never ended up going, probably due to financial reasons.

 At any rate, I have finally booked tickets to go see the Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras who are performing Beethoven's Choral Symphony. I have heard on several occasions, it's one piece that's a must to see live, and I do love the entire piece myself, and will hopefuly be a blast!

 But the only Classical Concert Event I have been to is at our Local Theatre, can't remember who was performing, but there could not be more then a hundred in the crowd, watching what's probably a half-sized orchestra reel out Mozart "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" and some other pieces I didn't really know (My young Newbie days when I was getting into Classical).

 This concert I'm going too this time seems a bit more prestigous as such, and I'm wondering if I'm wrong to expect a large Orchestra slap with me an overwhelming interpretation of this Symphony? >_<

 I guess I could have skipped most of what I said, but perhaps the background may help, heh ^_^;; The Concert is on the 30th, and I booked tickets today, still managed to get good seats (Atleast the most expensive anyway O_o), so being able to aquire them so late I wonder if that's some indication to the quality of the performance I may recieve from these performers specifically.

 Also worth mentioning, when I booked today, it appears the Program has changed, originally there was a Schubert (I think it was him anyway) piece being played before it, now it's changed to Mozart's 27th Piano Concerto, I atleast know this one mind, hehe. Perhaps what takes more priority is the changing of the Conducter himself, it's now this Sir Charles Mackerras, as opposed to the previously planned Christoph von Dohnányi, who's name I am far more aquainted with.

 So to Finalise my post, am I oblivious to what is expected? Do you think there is a recipe for dissapointment brewing?

 Thanks for the responses in advance

 Ruro

[elspeth]

Go with an open mind, it's the only way. If you go expecting to be disappointed, you will be and there's nothing the performers can do to change that. Besides, how far wrong can they go with a Mozart concerto and Beethoven 9? They'd have to really, really screw up to not make a good concert from that.

So far as the seats go - that you got tickets at all may easily be luck. Maybe someone cancelled. Or maybe it's just the price bracket, in concert halls (where the view isn't necessarily the top priority when choosing seats) the cheap seats very often sell out first, hecne why you ended up in the expensive ones. I would certainly say that any concert hall that can't sell out a concert like that, really needs to overhaul its marketing strategy.

[henrah]

Going to the concert expecting to be dissapointed won't ensure that you will definately be dissapointed, because if you enjoy it that feeling will be exaggerated because you expected to be dissapointed by it.

Elspeth speaks the truth about this: expecting future outcomes can sometimes bring joy, but it can also bring dissapointment. To avoid dissapointment, simply don't expect anything. Without expectation, every outcome will be a surprise

[pianowelsh]

Sit back and enjoy Mozart and Beethoven.  mackeras is one of the biggest names in the business.. im sure it wont be terrible. If it is you can learn something that even the best can be terrible!!
A recording orchestra and international conductor should give you a satisfying performance. Whether a truely record breaking performance of the 9th can be achieved?? well it has been done to death BUT if its the first time you have heard it in perofmance live - im sure it wont disappoint.

[Ruro]

 Heya guys, thanks for the replies ^^

 We seem very focused on my thoughts about a possible dissapointment O_o Tbh, despite what I may have said, I'm not anticipating any dissapointment, I'm expecting to be blown away by the pieces performed! Which could in turn lead to dissapointment mind you, but whatever!

 At any rate, I will try and control my expectations I have no doubts it will be a great evening, says the inexperienced concert goer ^_^;; Thanks again!

Ruro

[henrah]

Instead of having no doubts it will be a great evening, why not make it a great evening? Before and/or after the concert, do something else you love. Go for some drinks with friends, or go for a meal with friends, or do either on your own: whatever you might call a great evening.

Also, skipping along helps

[elspeth]

Although, if you are going for a meal on your own, make sure you pick a restaurant where they don't think just because you're on your own, you want to sit next to the kitchen door... hmmm, that actually belongs in the 'I really hate it when' thread, doesn't it...

But yes, making it a proper outing always adds to it, even if you don't add anything expensive as you've already shelled out for posh seats at the concert!

[henrah]

Smile at people going to the same concert, and smile to people you see when you're going there. It will make you happy as well as them happy.

[sharon_f]

It sounds like a recipe for a wonderful, extraordinary evening. The Philaharmonia is a wonderful orchestra, Mackerras is a terrific conductor, Cooper is a fine pianist, the Mozart (his last concerto) is absolutely beautiful and the Ninth...there is nothing like seeing it performed live!

As far as getting excellent tickets at the last minute, it's probably because you are attending a Tuesday night performance. (Midweek performances rarely sell out.)

Remember to take some throat lozenges (or hard candy), unwrapped ahead of time and dress up if you like. I always attend the theater, ballet or concerts dressed to the nines. For me it always adds to the experiece. And I usually get a glass of champagne at intermission.

And don't forget to report back to us after the concert.

Have a wonderful time!

[pianistimo]

who is this cooper?  i've never heard of him.  hmm.  maybe i should look into tickets?

[sharon_f]

who is this cooper?  i've never heard of him.  hmm.  maybe i should look into tickets?

Imogen Cooper is a she. You can listen to her playing here:

https://saintpaulsunday.publicradio.org/programs/597/

[Ruro]

And don't forget to report back to us after the concert.

Sort of Thread resurrecting, but I can't dismiss the support you gave me, and shall tell you of my experience! ^^

It was great! In the end I couldn't find any friends into the Classical Genre to go with me, but since the second ticket I brought was an Adult one and not a Student/Under 25 one like I used, I could take anyone without issues - and to little suprise my dad was happy to come along and watch it! He works for Alstom Rail, so we took a free trip there and back on the Train, so he was actually gonna accompany me and a possible friend anyway.

So we head up there by train, due to train times we were there an hour early, went for a Wagamama's, had Chicken Ramen; something simple so my stomach doesn't play up mid-performance! We found the Symphony Hall no problem, looked quite modern, I think the giant Wall Plate thing said it was opened by HM The Queen in 1986 or something mind.

We finally got to enter the Hall itself, and despite being a little dissapointed at first with the Seats I went for (the 'Best' ones), it turns out I was wrong once they started performing the first piece; Mozart's 27th Piano Concerto.
The sound was a little weird to be honest, it was absolutely clear and extremely "surround sound". I have never really been to any performances like I said, but the sound was marvellous, I think the Symphony Hall is well noted for it's latest Acoustic Sound Design stuff, and I think the largest Organ in the UK O_o

Anyway, superb performance there, not greatly familiar with the piece, but very fairly easy to follow, so definately enjoyed it ^^ Had the intermission after what seemed like a flawless concerto performance, where me and my dad had an Ice Cream (I'm 19 Btw)!
My dad not being a Classical fan; he said he did like the piece, and he didn't fall asleep

The second and final piece of the program; Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, now who isn't familiar with this one? Having only one recording of it myself, I was naturally tuned towards certain performance preferences, you know, the little bits that vary recording to recording depending on interpretation.

And yet, I found no problems with there interpretation! To be honest, it sorta seemed very similar in ways, maybe that's the reason behind it ^_^;; The tempo was a bit fast though... the Finalé seemed rushed, and there were certain bits that were hard to make out since it became a little blurred with certain instruments overpowering others in terms of Volume. Particularly, the Brass Instruments, they were bizarely very loud over everything else, and the Drums as well, but I suppose that is to be expected. Oh yeah, and Toby Spence, the Tenor, I really didn't think he could produce enough volume O_o The other Lead Vocalist folk just about got it, but Spence, bit of a failure :/ Shame.

Besides the generally fast & constant tempo of the piece (the Third movement was taken at a nice pace mind!), it was excellent! As soon as the piece started I saw someone out the corner of me eye bopping his hands away to it, and after about 5 minutes by dad whispered to me "I know this piece!", I was confident he would ^^

Anyway, fantastic over-all, I was a fool to have such doubts! Attached is a random piccy of my Tickets and the £2.50 Program Book ¬_¬

[sharon_f]

Thank you so much for the report. It sounds like a wonderful evening indeed!

[harjoydes]

Hi, it certainly sounds as though you had an evening of top class entertainment.  Did you manage to catch the reviews in the newspaper, usually the next day, or on the 'arts' day in the paper.  You seemed to make some pertinent observations, and  it's always interesting to see if the reviewers agree with you.  Not to say that they are always correct, but they are usually well informed.
What are you going to see next?

[henrah]

Glad to hear you had a good time Ruro Wagamama's is a great restaraunt, their soups are the best I've ever had!

[gruffalo]

im pleased to hear that your evening went well. there are lots of concerts where i am, but i choose not to go so often so that they are always a great experience when they do happen, and also for financial reasons. and yea, when they do happen its good when everything clicks perfectly. i couldnt find a free parking spot for the last concert i went to. i had to run in at the last moment 

[Ruro]

Did you manage to catch the reviews in the newspaper, usually the next day, or on the 'arts' day in the paper.

No, I havn't actually checked any papers for reviews >_< We don't exactly live locally, hehe, but perhaps Philharmonia host reviews on there website from other sources? Worth a looky, or just doing some Google searching for it, I will do so when I get home!

What are you going to see next?

I'm not sure! I regret not going to see Lugansky play the Rach2 quite a while back, particularly when it was held at our *own* cities Theatre, it's not like I had to travel far for that :/

So, I suppose I just want to keep an eye out for the great favourites of mine, Medtner's Third Concerto, a Rachmaninoff Concerto, something like that ^_^;; Is it common to go to a concert and see something you havn't even heard? (With the exception of new 20th Century pieces which are being premiered), because I don't feel to keen on going that far out to be honest!

Glad to hear you had a good time Ruro Wagamama's is a great restaraunt, their soups are the best I've ever had!

Thankyou! And yeah, I never had a meal there I disliked! (They don't seem to go as farspread as what I actualy ate in Japan though, perhaps due to the style of the Restaurant?).

im pleased to hear that your evening went well. there are lots of concerts where i am, but i choose not to go so often so that they are always a great experience when they do happen, and also for financial reasons. and yea, when they do happen its good when everything clicks perfectly. i couldnt find a free parking spot for the last concert i went to. i had to run in at the last moment

Wey! Posted before I posted The only thing that deters me is travelling, I'm still learning to drive (Failed my first Practical Test O_o), and getting into the middle of London for like the Queen Elizabeth Hall I can imagine is a bit of a nightmare!
And despite me and my dad planned ahead for our evening, we were rushing about in the car to find a spot and get to the train on time O_o Amazing how things insist on not working out...

Thanks for your replies everyone! ^^

[elspeth]

Is it common to go to a concert and see something you havn't even heard? (With the exception of new 20th Century pieces which are being premiered), because I don't feel to keen on going that far out to be honest!

Absolutely! A lot of conductors, when planning programmes, use a 'something famous, something obscure' approach - something popular to get the crowd in paired with something well-suited but not so well known to introduce the audience to new things. It makes the concert interesting, I think - you may not necessarily like the new piece, but such is life and you'll never know unless you try.

I suppose Manachester is a bit far for you, really, if you live in south... the season at the Bridgewater is very strong this year, especially for piano concerti. There was Rach 2 before Christmas, and there's Tchaikovsky 1 and Grieg coming up... I seem to think there might be a Beethoven and possibly a Mozart as well.