Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and Semyon Bychkov perform Mahler's 6th.

[sbugala]

I'll be attending this Friday (Feb 4) evening, but Saturday's (Feb 5) concert will be broadcast live over the net at 8p.m. Central time at http://www.stlpublicradio.org/programs/symphony.php

According to the program notes: http://www.stlsymphony.org/notes/1011/20110204.pdf  the movement order will be Andante/Scherzo. When Franz Welser-Most did it live here in 1998, it was Scherzo/Andante.

I have high hopes for this concert, and hope that a severe winter storm which will hit here Monday and Tuesday will have no bearing later in the week.  I've upgraded my seat, since they don't perform this work very often. 

As an aside, the orchestra is expected to release their schedule for next season, so I'll report any Mahler news for 2011-12.  The M2 is still to come for THIS season in April.

 I imagine with it being streamlined, sound won't be out of this world, but I look forward to your thoughts, if you listen in, too.  I'll be taping it off the radio (KWMU 90.7 FM) onto videotape.  It usually sounds great in this format...far better than a standard audio cassette.

Best,
Steven

[Don]

I couldn't get to this one, but will be there on April 9th for the 2nd.

[barry guerrero]

I hope to hear Bychkov/Vienna Phil. do M6 in Berkekely near the end of Feburary. That should happen, considering that I work right across the street, two days per week.

[sbugala]

I couldn't get to this one, but will be there on April 9th for the 2nd.

I'll see if that's the night I'll be there, too.  If so, we can greet each other at intermission again.

[sbugala]

I hope to hear Bychkov/Vienna Phil. do M6 in Berkekely near the end of Feburary. That should happen, considering that I work right across the street, two days per week.

Very cool! Hopefully, we'll both have excellent concert experiences.

[Don]

I couldn't get to this one, but will be there on April 9th for the 2nd.

I'll see if that's the night I'll be there, too.  If so, we can greet each other at intermission again.

That would be fun. I am some where up in the Grand Tier, got the ticket when they had a 1 day half price sale on line.

[sbugala]

Here's a link to the orchestra's video blog. The box seems bigger the one I saw in 1998, which was horizontal, rather than vertical. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piCs75zRom0&feature=player_embedded

I was kinda hoping they'd "test" it out in the footage, but it's stuff from the scherzo.  Enjoy!

[sbugala]

I enjoyed the performance, this evening. Contrary to the program notes, the movement order was scherzo/andante. I felt the first three movements might have been a little too restrained or "classical." but the last movement pulled out all the stops. I thought the Hero might actually prevail this time.    Recently retired principal trumpet Susan Slaughter was back in an auxiliary role, and she sounded fine.

Hammerblows (2) were HUGE with the guy stepping halfway onto a pretty tall ladder to wield the hammer against the box.

I may have said it before, but I sometimes I wish I could hear things for the first time again, only because I've become kinda critical over the years. However, the last movement was exciting and powerful enough to count this as a winning experience.  I'll look forward to Barry's thoughts if he does hear Bychkov do this with the VPO live...and anyone who hears the internet broadcast Sat night.

[barry guerrero]

Interesting that Bychkov performed it S/A. Maybe he switched his mind before the performance. First three movements "classical", with "all stops out" for the finale works quite well for me.

[sbugala]

Review from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch of last night's Mahler Sixth:


http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/arts-and-theatre/reviews/article_5bb04d84-316e-11e0-8498-00127992bc8b.html

[James Meckley]

I just listened to the live webcast of this over KWMU and was immensely impressed. This was among the most musical and logical presentations of Six that I've ever heard—beautifully shaped with all of the tempo adjustments seeming utterly organic and logical. Wish I could have heard it live.

The orchestra's playing was very impressive and the engineering was fine, though a couple of dozen brief audio dropouts on the webcast marred the experience.

For those keeping score, the Andante (movement iii again tonight) was exactly 15:00, and the second hammer blow was reinforced by the optional percussion. The blows must have been devastating in the hall—they caused the brick-wall limiters to clamp down rather severely on the webcast.

Anyone else listen tonight?

James

[sbugala]

James,
    I'm glad you got to hear it! I taped it from the radio unto videotape. I just have yet to play it back. Videotape works well for its length, and reasonably good sound quality. 
   
Regards,
Steven

[James Meckley]

Steven,

Did you hear the pre-recorded interview with Mr. Bychkov that aired immediately after the concert? He had some interesting things to say about his decision to revert to the Scherzo–Andante order.

James

[sbugala]

Not yet! I just played part of my tape back last night. I should've been more careful checking my reception, since there's a minor buzz an easy adjustment could have prevented. Still, nothing will top the memory of actually hearing it live. 

I hope to check it out later tonight or maybe tomorrow night.

[sperlsco]

Steven,

Did you hear the pre-recorded interview with Mr. Bychkov that aired immediately after the concert? He had some interesting things to say about his decision to revert to the Scherzo–Andante order.

James

I'd be very interested in hearing his explanation (or your summary thereof) if you would be so kind.