June 2011

Fri 17 Jun - Under-5s lunchtime concert at LSO St Luke's

Susie Child
I thought the Under 5s concert was fantastic. The presenter was full of energy and understood how to deal with the kids and engage them. The story was creative and brought the different instruments in well. I would appreciate the time of the concert being earlier or in the afternoon, my little one, and lots of others I know usually sleep around that time and so whilst she enjoyed it she would have enjoyed it even more if it had been at a different time. Though it is still worth coming and pushing her through the tiredness!!

Myanah Saunders
We both absolutely loved it. My 3 year old grandaughter hasn't stopped talking about it. I found the toddlers crawling into the performance space a great distraction but I don't suppose you can do much about that, apart from reminding parents to be more responsible.

Mark
Hi, we came along to the family lunchtime concert and thought it fabulous, very enjoyable; right length of time, great atmosphere and lots of fun :-)

Tue 14 & Thu 16 Jun – Bernard Haitink/Maria Joao Pires

Brian Ash
Last nights LSO concert at the Barbican 14.06.2011 confirmed that Maestro Haitink is the greatest living conductor to interpret Bruckner's symphonies.
It also proved that the LSO are second to none, as again they provided a scintillating performance.
Is their any chance of further Bruckner symphonies, or perhaps a cycle with the LSO and Bernard Haitink?

P Ludbrook
I was looking forward to hearing Murray Perahia in the Schumann concerto and so was disappointed that he was indisposed. However Maria Joao Pires performance of the Mozart 27th Piano Concerto was so magnificent that I couldn't complain. Nice accompaniment by Bernard Haitink with some lovely solo work from the orchestra.

For me the Bruckner was the main attraction and Haitink didn't disappoint. Yet again there was that iron grip on the work so that the whole edifice seemed to emerge as a single span. Wonderful playing from the orchestra but the horn section deserves a special mention both individually (David Pyatt) and collectively.
 
It's been a real pleasure to see so much of Haitink conducting the LSO in recent years. They do seem to have a terrific rapport and I'm much looking forward to their Ravel/Mendelssohn concert on the 23rd June.

Mr M Roopchan              
Thankyou for sending me the email regarding the reviews of the recent LSO concerts ie the Bruckner both of which i attended. As a music enthusiast in general and also a classical music enthusiast, i look forward to seeing my favourite works programmed in concert by whatever orchestra. It is also good news when such an orchestra as the LSO and a conductor like Sir Bernard Haitink are playing my favourite works, the Bruckner falls into that catergory. In the months leading up to the concert i pray and hope the performances will be as good as i believe they can  be and with the Bruckner concerts that certainly was the case, particularly the second performance of the Bruckner, which i hope will be the performance coming out on cd.

Tim Moorey
It was most disappointing to find Mozart replacing the Schumann concerto, especially as the pianist is playing the same Mozart concerto at this year's Proms and as she has recorded the Schumann. However the Bruckner made the concert memorable. Mr Haitink found perfect balance between loud brass and beautiful strings in the sometimes unflattering Barbican Hall and the long symphony was performed throughout with a wondrous sense of direction; there was not the stopping and starting sometimes felt with the Romantic. Best of all was David Pyatt's immaculate, gorgeous horn playing.

Sun 5 Jun 2011 - Bernstein Candide

Mike Palmer
I came to Candide on 5th June and enjoyed myself a lot. With the overture taken at a fair pace (setting the tone) I was both bemused and in awe of the 3rd (?) percussionist in the overture who was clearly doing the job of two. He was moving between three sets of music, with either a triangle beater or sticks in his mouth as he played the glocekenspiel, xlyphone, triangle and symbols. He kept up well, and where he missed a couple of entries he came in intellegently within the phrasing so it didnt appear odd. He was running up and down the row, often getting there with a beat to spare. Really impressive stuff.
 
On the downside, why was someone late ? (we had to be there on time!!) A replacement or latecoming musician slinked in after the overture and all moved up one! So it does appear that one person did the (near impossible) job of two percussionists, and another moved sideways into unfamilar territory.
 
Please pass on my admiration and thanks to an unsung hero on the night who was amazing to watch.

Jean Cardy
I loved Candide.  It was fun; there was some lovely singing and a real feeling for the original.  I disagreed with the critic who said Andrew Staples was 'unprepossessing' as Candide; his lovely voice and quick sense of comedy conveyed the part very well.  I do have one big criticism; I am hard of hearing so I was grateful for the programme libretto and a seat in Row E but in fact I could hear almost every word that the singers sang or spoke.  What I couldn't hear was Rory Kinnear's narration and for that there was no script in the programme.  I could usually hear one disconnected word in each sentence - never a complete sentence and not one of his jokes and I was the wrong side to lip-read.  Since I could hear all the singers when they spoke it does suggest that perhaps his enunciation leaves something to be desired.

Roy Terry
A superb concert as ever, but please could you liaise with the hall staff so that we are not plunged into darkness, especially when we have been provided with text to follow.  Even though some light was restored for the second half it was still insufficient especially for people with any degree of sight impairment.

Catherine Blackmore
Hello – just wanted to thank you for providing me such a joyful experience with Sunday's (5.6.11) performance of Candide. Such a joy to be able to see Bernstein's loveable piece performed with such comic aplomb (as well as skill of course!) and to see the orchestra, soloists, and chorus having so much fun with it. Their smiles and glee was infectious; meaning that even the dismal skies and rain that met us as we walked to the tube couldn’t dampen my spirits. Thanks yet again LSO for being my ‘local’ orchestra – please don’t leave the Barbican but have a great Summer tour!

David Ashby
I was going to praise but found so many things to applaud it would have taken a book! Instead - a complaint - Why wasn't this concert scheduled for this year's Proms at the RAH? It would have caused an absolute sensation. If I have to pick out one person it would be the Director Thomas Kiemle. So many imaginative touches in a scintillating performance. I defy anybody not to have enjoyed it.

Rachel and Laurence Cramp
Candide was my first date with my now-husband 11 years ago; it's 'our' piece - especially Make Our Garden Grow, which we chose for the signing of the register at our wedding.

Last night's concert performance at the Barbican was stunning. The musicianship, energy, and obvious enjoyment of the performers shone through - particularly from our privileged position in the centre of the front row!

The soloists sparkled (not least because of Jeremy Huw Williams' fabulous tie), and the rapport between them, conductor Kristjan Jarvi, and narrator Rory Kinnear was a joy to behold.

To experience the LSO's performance, featuring some of the musicians who recorded the piece with Bernstein himself, was just wonderful. Thank you for an unforgettable evening.

Janet Ingamells
Thank you all so much for a real fun evening. We had no idea what to expect, although the overture should have given us a clue! From the start we were riveted by he witty narration, the superb soloists, the dynamic conductor with his twig, the chorus whose acting skills we will need to see again and, of course the ever wonderful lso!! We giggled all he way home (near Huntingdon) and most of today.