This is the Tara Minton quintet, at the Chichester Jazz Club yesterday. It’s rare to see harp in a jazz context, and it was very good indeed. Brilliant playing from the band.
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Elder/CSO + Goosby
Performers
**Conductor**Mark Elder
Violine
Randal Goosby
Program
**Prokofiev**Symphony No. 7
Price
Violin Concerto No. 2
Wagner
Suite from Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Interesting program. I am glad that Florence Price’s work has been played all over the world now. After decades of neglect her talent and work have been finally validated by time. She was known in Chicago for sometime due to her name was used for schools here but noone really knew who she was.
Her work was premieered in Chicago 100 years ago by Frederick Stock ( then CSO MD) but her career struggled for obvious reasons. Racism still runs deep in Chicago. Florence will be proud her violin concerto is finally premieered at the Orchestra Hall none other than black fiddle player. Now I was not expecting much out of Goosby. I have his CD with Yannick/Cleveland playing the same score. I was more impressed with Yannick’s orchestra handling than Goosby’s fiddling. Listening to him play up close was a different matter. He had a good grasp of the score and it was lovely. There was a few rough edges but I certainly enjoyed it very much.
It was back to back with familiar Die Mestersinger prelude. I can’t quite shake off its Nazi past ( Hitler’s fave tune ) and vintage reel of Furtwangler playin the same score with the Swastika backdrop. I thought it was on purpose for this coupling ? De ja vu moment? when Hitler witness Jesse Owens takes a gold medal. Political impression aside, Elder’s handling was too slow and messy. At time the front of the orchestra and back of orchestra were not playing together. This was not the most inspiring reading and it is NOT the band. CSO musicians are better than that. It was like an elephant trying to dance but falling down badly.
1 Like
Muti/CSO + Esteban Batallán
Program
**Haydn**Symphony No. 48 (Maria Theresa)
Telemann
Trumpet Concerto in D Major
M. Haydn
Trumpet Concerto in D Major
Schubert
Symphony No. 4 (Tragic)
Trumpet is not my favourite instrument but I was curious to hear if Batallán can hit those hernia inducing high notes in these Trumpet concertos.
It was nice to see Muti again back in Chicago. Haydn’s Symphony No.48 was beautifully rendered in a classy style. The band sounded mellower than usual but the relax approach was appropriet for the score. Also they gave a softer backdrop for the sharp and incisive trumpet concertos. Batallan did not quite hit the high note in the opening of the Telemann concerto and 2nd movement of Michael Haydn piece but generally cleared the hurdle. I was a bit disappointed that he had a modern trumpet rather than period instrument which sounds much softer. High note indeed was ear piercing. 
It is hard to believe Schubert was only 19 when he wrote this C Minor 4th Symphony. Here, the band lacked a rhythmic pulse, vivace and allegro felt too heavy and void of momentum
This is the second time I hear Muti conduct this piece with the CSO but this set was lacking comparatively.
Aferwards, there was an award ceremony for the retiring CSO musicians. The chap in the light-coloured suits played a violin in the CSO for 50 years! 
2 Likes
LCD Soundsystem at the Brixton Academy this evening as part of their 8 night residency. Probably the hottest and sweatiest gig I’ve ever been to but can they rock. Amazing
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Yesterday at Lido, great line up culminating with London Grammar, what a stunning day for a concert.
Celeste sounded absolutely amazing.
5 Likes
would be informative to know where
Martin
Where is/was Lido?
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Thanks. I expect you’re right.
One of my pet hates is not knowing where things are! I think one or two other users of this forum feel the same.
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I’m the same when folks post albums in the music thread with just an album cover that has no detail on it.
I always post with the Artist and Title clearly written underneath. It’s not difficult and enables others to learn about new music they may know nothing about.
It also helps members with vision impairments, as they use content readers which are useless without words to read🤷🏻♂️
4 Likes
Yes it was at Victoria Park, Lido, whole series of concerts on at the moment, Jamie XX, Charli XCX and then London Grammar yesterday.
*It was nice to see Muti again back in Chicago. *
At the Orchestra Hall
220 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL USA.
Yes but my post had both the band, the event and the date.
2 Likes
I honestly wasn’t criticising your post Adam 
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Cheers QS’s, I’ve always made a point of putting descriptions on the what are you listening to because of the reasons you raised, which I’d never considered before seeing it being raised and not appreciating difficulties others may have without it.
It’s a good place to learn these things.
2 Likes