To the Barbican for the Academy of St Martins in the Fields and a programme thus:
Beethoven - String Quartet No.12 in E flat major, Op.127 (arr. String Orchestra)
Beethoven - Piano Concerto No.5 in E flat major, ("Emperor")
Murray Perahia - Conductor & Piano
I had an excellent seat, circle, two thirds of the way back and almost exactly central.
The String Quintet was strange. To me, it did not seem right played by a string orchestra: 14 violins, 4 each of violas and cellos, and 2 double-basses, rather than the 2 violins, and 1 viola and 1 cello it was written for. Very pleasant piece of music - you can't go far wrong with Beethoven, in my view - but it just seemed top heavy on the violins, and for me, one of the delights of chamber music is being able to hear the timbre of the individual instruments. I also got the feeling that the orchestra was playing rather mechanically.
The second half was something I have just remembered is one of my favourite pieces of music ever. I am currently listening to it on a very old, very poor quality tape I bought for about £1.50 in March 1988. I bought it at the same time as my father's sixtieth birthday present; he died four days before his sixtieth birthday. but that does not stop me loving this concerto. I think I must I have a 'thing' for piano concerti.
It was quite strange to see Murray conducting from the piano. I know it used to be a very common practice in the 18th century, but I have never seen it done before. At first a little off-putting as he starts with a flourish and then lifts his hands from the keyboard and starts conduction. This also meant that he had his back to the audience, which again, I find a little strange. Just as a note, he conducted without a score, as Zoltán Kocsis did a few weeks ago. Is this a new thing? Mind you, it would never do for a pianist to bring a score to a concert. Many years ago, Peter Donohoe played from a score at the Halle proms, and it was really quite shocking - one of the girls in the year above me even broke off her crush on him as a direct result.
I was thoroughly captivated by the piano concerto, even though I am sure I heard a couple of duff notes. (No, I can't have done, my hearing must be at fault). It was just pure joy escapist music, sweet melodies played very sweetly by a small orchestra. Although not big on percussion it has one of the nicest timpani parts around (IMO). What I call easy listening. And he played my favourite passage, the lead up to the finale of the third movement magically - his fingers shimmered on the keyboard.
I was fascinated or horrified by the couple in front of me. A scruffy-tweedy couple. She slipped out as soon as the applause started at the end of the *quartet*, and did not return until the end of the interval. He sat there throughout the interval. Before the second half began she said she would like to slip away early to catch 'that' train. And she began looking for seats nearer the aisle. She found one, she triumphantly announced to him, he pulled a face. She then suggested moving further up the row, he pointed out that as the six or so seats to the right of them were empty it would actually make no difference. But she persevered, and found two seats by the aisle. He was unhappy at moving; and too right, she had already commented that the rickets were more expensive than normal. Why move to the edge when you are in the centre? I suppose if you go a lot and live out in the Home Counties it must be frustrating to keep missing 'that' train and having to wait around for ages, but, I think it's rather getting one's priorities skewed. I cannot stand people who leave concerts, plays, or matches early - I have only done it once, and that was Mansfield Town vs Bristol City on a bitterly cold day. I decided that I preferred to get the 1642 bus back to Nottingham rather than miss it by three minutes and have to wait for the 1742. I don't know whether this couple were married or friends or what, but if they are married, I think the marriage is over in all but name.
There were some home counties ladies behind me talking with those ghastly tortured accents and hackneyed phrases so characteristic of a 'type'. Although one was quite funny describing the teenage girl on her train who had a phone to each ear and was conducting two separate conversations simultaneously. Another of the Ladies was saying that there was a concert in her local hall the other night, given by four of the chorus from Covent Garden, and it was wonderful, but the hall was two-thirds empty. She was so embarrassed for them. The hall usually has a much lighter programme, so people who like opera would not have thought of looking for the programme, but it was very badly advertised. She was looking out for them in the car park to apologise - they won't be coming back.
The rest of the audience didn't seem at all Home Counties. Lots of black, Asian and Oriental people, and I heard very many American accents. Mainly 30-50 age range. Trust me to be surrounded by the worst sort of strangulated Englishness!
I had a fairly boring journey back - ten minutes wait for a tube, fifteen for a bus. It does so mar the magic of the evening.
Oh, and Manchester United won at Panathanaikos, which is cool, meaning we're through to the knock-out stage.
