Doctors Orchestra & The Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture

[medical_foundation]

Following its sell-out all-Beethoven concert last February, The Doctors’ Orchestra returns for another performance in support of the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture on the 15th February 2011 at Cadogan Hall.

Starting with Beethoven’s unjustly neglected second symphony, their programme also includes Blumine, a rarely heard Mahler gem. The orchestra is joined on this occasion by the young violin virtuoso Tamsin Waley-Cohen for a performance of Brahms’s violin concerto. Described by Ruggiero Ricci as “the most exceptionally gifted young violinist I have ever encountered”, Tamsin was the Royal College of Music’s String Player of the year, has won numerous prizes and has performed with many major orchestras including the RPO, London Chamber Orchestra and the Orchestra of St John’s.

The Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture, a registered charity established in 1985, is the only organisation in the UK dedicated solely to the treatment of torture survivors. Since its inception, almost 50,000 people have been referred to it for help. The MF offers medical consultation, examination, forensic documentation of injuries, psychological treatment, support and practical help to torture victims. It needs to raise over £7 million a year in order to continue this work. All proceeds of this concert will go towards meeting that need.

Cardogan Hall, home of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, is one of Londons most prestigious concert halls. Tickets are £30, £22.50 and £15 and can be bought online at www.cadoganhall.com or through the box office on 020 7730 4500.


Stephen Brearley conductor
Tamsin Waley-Cohen violin

Programme:
Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36
Wagner: Prelude to Act III of Tristan & Isolde
Mahler: Blumine
Brahms: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77


For more information on the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims or Torture and the work they do please see www.torturecare.org.uk

Please help us make this event a success by spreading the word to your family and friends 

[thalbergmad]

If i was a victim of torture, I would certainly not want to listen to Wagner.

Now that is torture.

Thal

[ahinton]

If i was a victim of torture, I would certainly not want to listen to Wagner.

Now that is torture.

Absolute and utter rubbish! It may also be your opinion, to which you are of course entitled, but that does not preclude your statement from being absolute and utter rubbish. Even the Jewish composer Mahler revered Wagner, who in turn revered Beethoven. Even Verdi was most magnanimous in his tribute to his almost exact contemporary in the aftermath of Wagner's death. Among many other things, Wagner, more than any other composer, brought the symphony into the opera house yet, at the same time, his concept of symphonic music was itself something that was entirely fresh and individual. It is a great pity that, following completion of Parsifal, he did not actually turn his attention to the composition of symphonies as was his apparent avowed intent.

My own first experience of Wagner was attending the entire Ring cycle at Covent Garden conducted magnificently by Solti years ago; I would not for the entire world have wanted to miss so much as a semiquaver of it!

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

Absolute and utter rubbish! It may also be your opinion, to which you are of course entitled, but that does not preclude your statement from being absolute and utter rubbish.

In your opinion, to which you are of course entitled.

Not everyone else in the World likes what you like. You need to grasp this.

Thal

[keyboardclass]

The Liebestod's like taking a bath in treacle - I think I might like that!  But just the prelude?

[thalbergmad]

Then I must listen to it again, as a bath in treacle appeals to me.

Thal

[ahinton]

In your opinion, to which you are of course entitled.

Not everyone else in the World likes what you like. You need to grasp this.

I do know that and do already grasp that, but I should perhaps add that an admiration for the finest of Wagner's works is hardly a minority viewpoint among those who listen to what is now rather ridiculously called "classical" music; furthermore, his influence upon many different composers from Schönberg and Mahler (both Jews, nevertheless) and many others particularly from Austria, Germany and France was immense. That's not my opinion but a matter of plain fact.

Best,

Alistair

[keyboardclass]

Didn't the French make fun of him?

[thalbergmad]

I do know that and do already grasp that

No you don't. If you did you would have not used the expression "absolute & utter rubbish" when I was simply expressing a personal opinion of what his music feels like to me.

You really must learn to have just a little tolerance.

Thal

[mephisto]

If i was a victim of torture, I would certainly not want to listen to Wagner.

Now that is torture.

Thal

Yet again you show what a complete idiot you are...

[thalbergmad]

I know I am an idiot you pratt

[ahinton]

No you don't. If you did you would have not used the expression "absolute & utter rubbish" when I was simply expressing a personal opinion of what his music feels like to me.

...any more than you would presumably have written against yourself "I know I am an idiot you pratt" (where just one "t" in "prat" would have served the relevant purpose). I made it quite clear in what I wrote that I understood well that you had been expressing your own personal opinion only, but that neither this fact nor that of your entitlement to your opinion can of themselves prevent that opinion from being absolute and utter rubbish. You may loathe Wagner's music as much as even some of its most fervent admirers loathe aspects of the composer's persona, but to describe that music as "torture" is simply untenable in itself.

"You really must learn to have just a little tolerance" of yourself and those for whose benefit you post here and try to avoid any risk of "torture by Wagner" by not listening to his music if you feel about it as you say you do - but it might nevertheless be interesting for you to tell us in some detail WHY you feel that way.

Best,

Alistair

[furtwaengler]

The Liebestod's like taking a bath in treacle - I think I might like that!  But just the prelude?

The Liebestod in performances such as this normally follows the Prelude to Act I. This is the brooding Prelude to Act III. That said, Sir Reginald Goodall would perform the Act I prelude apart from the Liebestod.

What a polarizing figure Wagner is, both the man and his music!

[thalbergmad]

My name is Alistair Hinton and I know everything about music.

Only my opinion is correct and anyone else who has an opinion that is different to mine is talking utter rubbish.

Clearly, waiting 3 hours for a chord to be resolved is not torture.

Best

Alistair

[ahinton]

My name is Alistair Hinton and I know everything about music.

The first statement is untrue and the second may or may not be true, since Alistair Hinton does not know everything about music but you may do.

Only my opinion is correct and anyone else who has an opinion that is different to mine is talking utter rubbish.

Really?!

Clearly, waiting 3 hours for a chord to be resolved is not torture.

But would you say that waiting that length of time for a chord not to be resolved is or is not torture?

Best,

Alisthal

[thalbergmad]

3 hours of Wagner would be torture to me, resolved or not.

Of course, my opinion is utter rubbish and you are correct as always.

Thal

[mephisto]

3 hours of Wagner would be torture to me, resolved or not.

Of course, my opinion is utter rubbish and you are correct as always.

Thal

Finally

[thalbergmad]

There is no finally.

I have never claimed to be anything other than a complete idiot.

Thal

[ahinton]

3 hours of Wagner would be torture to me, resolved or not.

Well, then, I can only answer as J M W Turner is said to have responded to a lady who told him that she'd never in rel life seen as sunset like that in one of his paintings: "then I feel sorry for you!".

I also offer due apology for any impression of intemperacy conveyed by my description of your opinion as "rubbish"; Wagner's finest music ranks among the very greatest ever composed by a European but, if listening to it is nevertheless a tortuous act for you, then so be it, I guess (are there any exceptions to this, by the way?). That said, do please tell us all in more detail what particular aspects of Die Meistersinger, Der Ring and Tristan und Isolde (besides the mere factor of delayed resolutions) that you find such torture!...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

Sorry, cannot help. I no longer have an opinion and I agree with everything you say.

Thal

[ahinton]

Sorry, cannot help. I no longer have an opinion and I agree with everything you say.

It is not possible to agree with a question and, even if you no longer have an opinion on this matter, it would be interesting for you to share with us the resons for the opinion that you used to have.

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

I would like to say that I do not have any resons at the moment and do not recall having any in the past.

However, I do agree 100% with your post.

Thal

[ahinton]

I would like to say that I do not have any resons at the moment and do not recall having any in the past.

You could surely not have been so forthrightly adamant about Wagner being a tortuous listening experience for you without there having been reasons for this?!

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

Agreed

[ahinton]

Agreed

Can we perhaps revert to the thread topic while we await the much anticipated Thalbergmad information on his views, past or present, on the shortcomings of Wagner?

Best,

Alistair

[djealnla]

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[djealnla]

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