for those interested in orchestra comparisons, the (minus last movement) premiere with Czech Phil is also on youtube. Whatever one may think of the piece- -the Czech Phil makes more somewhat interesting colours than the BBCSO, and plays in a more conducive venue.
Well who could deny this review is pretty intemperate? The Symphony on first hearing contains many impressive sounds (I think even you acknowledge that), some magnificent sounds even. And if the content is initially a bit cryptic (which seems to be your beef, put more politely), then welcome to much of contemporary music! By the way, it’s not very persuasive to trash The Imaginary Museum while saying it’s a guitar concerto. Um, it’s a piano concerto.
Thanks for pointing out the error about The Imaginary Museum – i realise i was getting the solo instrument mixed up with another terrible Proms concerto, Joby Talbot’s Ink Dark Moon. Fixed now – thanks again.
And no, i wasn’t acknowledging anything in this piece as being impressive, certainly not magnificent. There are moments of promise – that lead to nothing. As for “intemperate”, i’d say “impassioned”.
Oh, I thought you were giving him a tip of your hat with “bursts of ostensible lyricism” and “potentially promising in its opening moments of low, quiet, indistinct growling”. Which actually reminded me of moments in your own fine Study no. 19.
BTW easy mistake to make about the concerto (Julian Anderson – Joby Talbot: same difference).
Maybe the very slightest of tips of the hat, though the words “ostensible” and “potentially” are key in those sentences.
It’s all the more frustrating to be confronted by a work like this considering that Anderson has done some good stuff from time to time, stuff that i would describe – and have done on 5:4 – as impressive. But definitely not this time.
Yes you were very complimentary about Incantesimi, another fine piece of his. Gushing even. I think I detect some similarities with your later Studies, at least in the sonorities (rather than the content) – is there an influence perhaps? Not sure in which direction.
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for those interested in orchestra comparisons, the (minus last movement) premiere with Czech Phil is also on youtube. Whatever one may think of the piece- -the Czech Phil makes more somewhat interesting colours than the BBCSO, and plays in a more conducive venue.
Thanks for that comment Ben. For those who want to listen to the earlier première, here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N26qhnDO5UA.
Well who could deny this review is pretty intemperate? The Symphony on first hearing contains many impressive sounds (I think even you acknowledge that), some magnificent sounds even. And if the content is initially a bit cryptic (which seems to be your beef, put more politely), then welcome to much of contemporary music! By the way, it’s not very persuasive to trash The Imaginary Museum while saying it’s a guitar concerto. Um, it’s a piano concerto.
Thanks for pointing out the error about The Imaginary Museum – i realise i was getting the solo instrument mixed up with another terrible Proms concerto, Joby Talbot’s Ink Dark Moon. Fixed now – thanks again.
And no, i wasn’t acknowledging anything in this piece as being impressive, certainly not magnificent. There are moments of promise – that lead to nothing. As for “intemperate”, i’d say “impassioned”.
Oh, I thought you were giving him a tip of your hat with “bursts of ostensible lyricism” and “potentially promising in its opening moments of low, quiet, indistinct growling”. Which actually reminded me of moments in your own fine Study no. 19.
BTW easy mistake to make about the concerto (Julian Anderson – Joby Talbot: same difference).
Maybe the very slightest of tips of the hat, though the words “ostensible” and “potentially” are key in those sentences.
It’s all the more frustrating to be confronted by a work like this considering that Anderson has done some good stuff from time to time, stuff that i would describe – and have done on 5:4 – as impressive. But definitely not this time.
Yes you were very complimentary about Incantesimi, another fine piece of his. Gushing even. I think I detect some similarities with your later Studies, at least in the sonorities (rather than the content) – is there an influence perhaps? Not sure in which direction.
Nope. In either direction.
Enjoyed your outspoken style of review.