Live Concert Review
- Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO)
On Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 11 AM California time, I tuned in to the Digital Concert Hall of the Berlin Philharmonic at my computer. I prepared a bowl of hot soup that I ate during the concert.
The conductor was Sir Simon Rattle, and the program was unusual:
In the first half, the BPO performed the Double Concerto for Oboe, Harp, and Chamber Orchestra by Witold Lutoslawski; and also a performance of the violin concerto by Henry Deutilleaux. I heard these two compositions for the first time. And I will need to hear them a few more times to comprehend them better. So after that happens I may write about these two pieces.
On the second half of the program, I was delighted to listen to the Symphony #6 (Pastoral) by Ludwig van Beethoven.
I concluded after this live performance that the Berlin Philharmonic is actually the finest orchestra in the world right now. At the moment, in my view, there is no orchestra like it.
The performance of this work was spectacular. The dynamics were sensitively adhered to. Many pianissimos were really delightful. And especially the wind section stood out with their playing excellence. The Bassoon has a very prominent part, as does the clarinet (see photo at the left side). The flute and Oboe were also terrific. Beethoven painted a wonderful picture, with many colors of life in the Austrian countryside.
Here is the Beethoven Symphony No. 6 “Pastorale” with Claudio Abbado and the Berliner Philharmoniker
And here’s an interesting video of Berlin Philharmonic principal clarinetist Wenzel Fuchs, as he coaches Brian Gnojek on Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6:
Finally, let’s listen to Beethoven’s Symphony #6 with Herbert Von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra:
http://youtu.be/L-5MarwaDyg
Tags: Berlin Philharmonic, Beethoven Symphony #6, Henry Deutilleaux, Lutoslawski