No but no but no but didn't it sound rather too delicate in the context of the work as a whole?  I wouldn't want the trumpets of the apocalypse, just a bit more exuberence.  For me, although the second movement is rhythmically busier than the fanfare I like the feeling of relaxing into it.  And when it returns in the fifth movement the fanfare needs to sail across the entire orchestra, so can't be underplayed that much first time around.


No idea.  It was happening the other way round as well, but not in all passages.  I have wondered before if the 4th trombone/tuba issue is actually a publishing error and it's all meant to be played on one instrument (with janacek lazily writting just 'trombones' against the staff and the publisher taking it literally)

The Berlioz is a slightly different kettle of fish.  He had just discovered pedal notes (before some of his players!) and was showing off, using them for isolated effect rather than as a continous bass line.  The brass alternatives available to him in the Symphonie Fantastique were the (small bore) tenor trombones and the 2nd (Bb) opheclide.  Both would probably have sounded rather nasty.


And they are...?

NB

I don't particularly want to add to the negatives for Ms Charbonnet, but I feel compelled to point out that she was the Judith who greatly underwhelmed me when she partnered John Tomlinson's Bluebeard a few years ago.  I think she was a replacement then (or was JT a sub? or both of them?) and my opinion was clearly not shared by all as the Prom was released as a commercial CD.  She didn't impress me on Friday, either though her performance hardly ruined the concert for me. 

I agree with the praise for the bass (who, by coincidence, was an impressive Bluebeard under Boulez opposite Jessye Norman at Châtelet  - in a concert almost ruined for me by the relaying of the climactic organ part through huge speakers in the auditorium; one of them a mere few feet away from my innocent lugholes) - in fact I thought both male voices were strong and clear.

The Sinfonietta was interesting but I thought it a little lacking in grandeur - though I suppose one could praise it by mentioning the absence of grandiosity!  Both of my companions - neither of whom had heard any of the pieces before -were still bowled over by the Sinfonietta.  From what I remember hearing on the radio, though, I feel sure I'd rather have been at Charlie Mac's reading of the piece last year.  I'd like to hear the Capriccio a few more times before commenting - it was my first time for this piece; I'm pretty sure I've never even heard it on disc or radio before.

Anyway, it was well worth the trip and now I suppose I'd better buckle down to some work as I'm heading South again on Thursday for Osud.

Crown Court - still doing the daytime rounds, IRF.

I have it on good authority that some of them actually enjoy listening to music as well as creating it 

Choirs often - normally, even? - sit silently on stage for the half of a concert they're not involved in. If there was no choir at all in the concert, the choir seats would be made available to audience members, so presumably it's to avoid there ever being a big empty space visible (i.e. with neither choir nor audience).

Ah, Stuart - you've been there too, a few weeks ago, I take it? Yes, I well remember the backstage space. There's a very large 'holding room', if you remember, for performers about to go on stage, with straw and water troughs. It's situated between the composers' bar and fitness room, and Madame Organe's gambling den, as I remember. But in my case this was a very, very long time ago, so things might have changed. But do they still have the ducks up the wall in the way up to the stage?

I like it, Stu. Sort of Sirius meets The Shining (with a cameo for our very own John Wayne lookalike).

Later on...

Karlheinz: Young Ollie has a very great talent. I don't think you are aware how great it is, but he is attempting to use that very talent against your will.
Martle: Well, he is a very willful boy.
Karlheinz: Indeed, he is, Mr. Martle.  A very wilful boy.  A rather naughty boy, if I may be so bold, sir.
Martle: It's his mother... She, er... interferes.
Karlheinz: Perhaps they need a good talking to, if you don't mind my saying so. Perhaps a bit more. My girls, sir, they tried to outpost me at first.  One of them actually stole a packet of matches and tried to burn my computer down.  But I corrected them, sir.  And when my wife tried to prevent me from doing my duty I corrected her.