Don't remember seeing a thread where we can all discuss the "best" classical concert(s) we've attended. I'll start:
1. 1969 George Szell (RIP) conducting the Cleveland Orchestra in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony at Severance Hall, Cleveland. This is the one that started it all for me.
2. Rudolph Serkin (RIP) playing Beethoven's Fifth Piano Concerto with the Cleveland Orchestra, Christoph Von Dohnanyi conducting. The concert wasn't well attended, as there was concern that Serkin would cancel due to failing health. We were seated in the front row center of the dress circle (closest balcony with exceptional view & sound). Serkin came out after the "intro" pieces (including Beethoven's Fourth Symphony) and the place erupted like you were at a Van Halen concert. He put on a great performance, and I still get chills thinking about the energy in Severance Hall that night.
3. Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting Messiaen's Turangalila Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra. Blew the roof off of the place, staggering performance.
4. Trevor Pinnock and the English Concert. Pinnock's rendition of the famous harpsichord cadenza in Bach's Fifth Brandenburg Concerto was amazing. Bach had solicited the Margrave of Brandenburg for funds to purchase a new harpsichord, and wrote this to show off his new acquisition. Wow!
5. Christopher Hogwood (RIP) and The Academy of Ancient Music playing all sorts of early music. The Purcell piece was such an audience favorite, they came back out and reprised it as an encore. It was the Rondeau from Abdelazar: The Moor's Revenge.
6. Itzhak Perlman and Samuel Sanders playing duets at Severance Hall. We were sitting about 20 feet from them and it was a mixture of many composers, the Sarasate being a favorite.
There were many more, as my close friend at the time was sales manager for Warner Bros record division, and had left Telarc to take that job. I was fortunate enough to attend about 200 concerts over the years there. I'll post more as I get time (and manage to remember them....)
WHO'S NEXT???
Lee
1. 1969 George Szell (RIP) conducting the Cleveland Orchestra in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony at Severance Hall, Cleveland. This is the one that started it all for me.
2. Rudolph Serkin (RIP) playing Beethoven's Fifth Piano Concerto with the Cleveland Orchestra, Christoph Von Dohnanyi conducting. The concert wasn't well attended, as there was concern that Serkin would cancel due to failing health. We were seated in the front row center of the dress circle (closest balcony with exceptional view & sound). Serkin came out after the "intro" pieces (including Beethoven's Fourth Symphony) and the place erupted like you were at a Van Halen concert. He put on a great performance, and I still get chills thinking about the energy in Severance Hall that night.
3. Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting Messiaen's Turangalila Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra. Blew the roof off of the place, staggering performance.
4. Trevor Pinnock and the English Concert. Pinnock's rendition of the famous harpsichord cadenza in Bach's Fifth Brandenburg Concerto was amazing. Bach had solicited the Margrave of Brandenburg for funds to purchase a new harpsichord, and wrote this to show off his new acquisition. Wow!
5. Christopher Hogwood (RIP) and The Academy of Ancient Music playing all sorts of early music. The Purcell piece was such an audience favorite, they came back out and reprised it as an encore. It was the Rondeau from Abdelazar: The Moor's Revenge.
6. Itzhak Perlman and Samuel Sanders playing duets at Severance Hall. We were sitting about 20 feet from them and it was a mixture of many composers, the Sarasate being a favorite.
There were many more, as my close friend at the time was sales manager for Warner Bros record division, and had left Telarc to take that job. I was fortunate enough to attend about 200 concerts over the years there. I'll post more as I get time (and manage to remember them....)
WHO'S NEXT???
Lee