Brahms 2 - Feeling Inspired

[pianomann1984]

Hey!  I had my first rehearsal on Brahms 2nd Piano Concerto with orchestra today, conducted by James Judd.  Despite a slightly rocky start when he asked to run the whole thing (I was cold and didn't have time to warm up properly), it soon settled down and was the most phenonemal experience.  I have played with orchestra before but that was mozart, and this is quite different!  I was just wondering what other students have experienced with regards to working with orchestras...any disasters?! 

[pianonut]

you're so lucky.  i want to do that!  you actually had an orchestra at your disposal!  wow!  when are you performing the piece?  and where? 

[pianomann1984]

I'm performing it on Thursday at Blackheath Halls, London at 7.30!  Anyone in the area is welcome to attend!

[tds]

hey, pianomann 1984, all the very best! tds

[SDL]

hey I performed Mozart K414 as my first concerto as a student and I have to say it was not the experience I imagined or was looking for.  Pianomann - may I ask how you came to get the Brahms concerto?  Ive thought of writing to local orchestras with a CV and demo tape.  What's the best way?

[shasta]

Good luck and have fun, pianomann!  We're all pulling for you!   

[pianomann1984]

Hehe.  Thanks guys!  This performance actually came about because of the death of Alfred Kichen, who was a respected teacher at Trinity for some time.  Brahms 2 was his warhorse, and so as a memorial concert they are putting it on.  They auditioned anyone in college that wanted to do it in February, and I won!  So here I am.  But as you said, SDL, I'm also sending off a CV and cover letter with demo tape to as many ametuer orchestras as I can find..keep pestering them and eventually one of them has to say yes!

[pianonut]

that is so cool.  hope everything goes smoothly and the the conductor lets you have 'free reign' in the spots you where you want to show your pianistic capabilities.  i live in pennsylvania, but if i were in england -i'd be there!  embrace the sounds!

[SDL]

Thanks pianomann!!

[Dazzer]

haha i did play with my school orchestra on a few occasions, for our concerto competition.

beethoven in c, last mvt
prokofiev 1st, mvt 1
saint-saens 2nd, mvt 1

and i learnt the ravel g, but never got to play that (different competition... didn't make it past the first round! urgh!... that sucked)

now i'm going to learn beethoven 3rd, for the same competition... hopefully i'll be able to play it with the national youth orchestra, i think...

[pianomann1984]

Sounds like a plan!  I played Mozart with my music college orchestra, and the Greig with my school orchestra (that was...an experience!!!).  I also learned Saint-Saens 2 - very nice, but needs a good orchestra to follow.  Never been a big fan of Prok 1 tho...Love the other 4, just not 1.  Beethoven's always a good bet

[Waldszenen]

If my school orchestra could ever play anything as musically great as Grieg, I'd seriously consult a psychotherapist.

[nomis]

Argh! If only I noticed before! I would come, except I don't have a credit/debit card of any sort. Do you know if they accept cash at the box office?

[pianomann1984]

So sorry nomis!  You could've come - they do accept cash at Blackheath, but by the time you posted this, I was already leaving for the halls, so I didn't catch your post until today!  Apologies.  The performance was a real success.  Thankyou all for your kind words of support!

[SDL]

hey pianomann only just seen that you posted you've successfully played your concerto!  How did it feel?  Have you got a good review?  I don't know Brahms 2 that well, as I love the first one so much, but I have gilels playing both on cd.

who did you play with (orchestra) were they good and did you have a good rapport?  I just love concerto playing!  Id love to do more.  Are you studying at the mo ?  Sorry loads of questions!

[pianomann1984]

hey pianomann only just seen that you posted you've successfully played your concerto!  How did it feel?  Have you got a good review?  I don't know Brahms 2 that well, as I love the first one so much, but I have gilels playing both on cd.

who did you play with (orchestra) were they good and did you have a good rapport?  I just love concerto playing!  Id love to do more.  Are you studying at the mo ?  Sorry loads of questions!

I haven't had any official reviews - there will be an article in Trinity College of Music's Magaizine soon, as I understand.  The performance was over all too soon!  The orchestra was Trinity College's own Symphony orchestra, conducted by James Judd, who was outstanding.  We had fantastic rapport, and he managed get a real sense of scale and architecture into the music, which was quite something given the size of the work (like Brahms 1, it lasts a good 50 mins)!  I' myself am 20 yrs old, in my second year of studying my BMus degree with Philip Fowke - I've never seen him so happy as after that performance!  Feel a bit lost now with no more large works to study for now!  Plenty for me, but I'm working on smaller stuff again now.

[rob47]

piano1984

Brahms 2 is such a great concerto. you're the man/woman. To quote busoni talking about Don Juan it's a "pianistic summit" to play this concerto in my opiono.

Rob

[SDL]

Pianomann - great you enjoyed it.  If I was still living in Hampshire I would have been able to go and see it but I moved up north again last summer.  I didnt realise Philip Fowke taught at Trinity, Ive heard good things about him, and I have a few things on CD by him too (Ravel concerto I think).  I did mine with the Huddersfield Uni orchestra and conducted by Malcom Layfield (violin teacher RNCM) who did a great job on the strings because under our usual conductor they always sounded awful!!  My friend did a mozart with them under the usual conductor and she was practically crying afterwards they were that bad.  People don't realise how important the conductor's skills and knowledge of the orchestra really are!  And it also depends on your luck with the intake of good string players 1st study's: 2nd study's. I still have mine on tape and a really good review from the Huddersfield Examiner paper in a scrap book;  although I cringe in places if I listen to it which I very rarely do.  Did you record it?!

I had a moment in mine when the orchestra was playing and I was next with an entry and I couldn't remember how to begin until the very last beat of the bar and somehow an aural reflex got me in there and I was away!  I didn't really have any other memory lapses apart from that one which was surprising because I only had 10 weeks to learn & memorise before I performed it.   Did you have any similar experiences?

[pianomann1984]

I am told a recording will be available in a coupla weeks.  I had a moment in the first movement where I came in a bar early, but managed to salvage it quickly - barely anyone noticed.  I also had a small memory lapse in the 4th, but again, salvaged it by simplifying and playing aurally for about 3 secs until I reached familiar ground again - all part of the joys of performing  .  The orchestra were outstanding - the conducter let strings use free bowing in several places, which meant everyone was comfortable, and the sound was amazing.  He was really hot on intonation in all the rehearsals, which meant no dodgy sound went unnoticed!

[apion]

Hehe.  Thanks guys!  This performance actually came about because of the death of Alfred Kichen, who was a respected teacher at Trinity for some time.  Brahms 2 was his warhorse, and so as a memorial concert they are putting it on.  They auditioned anyone in college that wanted to do it in February, and I won!  So here I am.  But as you said, SDL, I'm also sending off a CV and cover letter with demo tape to as many ametuer orchestras as I can find..keep pestering them and eventually one of them has to say yes!

AWESOME --- I WISH YOU THE BEST.

(but please don't ever refer to Brahms2 as a warhorse ..... tsk tsk tsk)     

[apion]

piano1984

Brahms 2 is such a great concerto. you're the man/woman. To quote busoni talking about Don Juan it's a "pianistic summit" to play this concerto in my opiono.

Yep, it's pretty much the pianistic summit.