As readers of this forum will know, Valentina Seferinova is playing Dorothy Howell's Piano Concerto at London's Cadogan Hall, Sloane Terrace, with the Orion Symphony Orchestra under Toby Purser on November 11th. I hope any readers living in the metropolis or nearby will consider coming to this concert.
Here is a Youtube clip of Valya performing part of the PC before some of her students at South Downs College, with Director of Music, Peter Rhodes, playing the orchestral part (reduced for a second piano) on an upright.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZea9kiORuM
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZea9kiORuM)
Excellent, I will be there.
Thal
How big/long is Howell's PC overall, Gareth? Sounds magnificent!
From that clip it was certainly a magnificent display of pianistic pyrotechnics, but I just couldn't discern any particular tune in it. Perhaps it was just me though. :)
Howell's PC is actually quite short - about 18 minutes. In some ways the clip is unfair because (a) the concerto is essentially in one movt. and (b) a lot of the thematic material in the "finale" is in the orchestra, which doesn't make its presence felt very effectively on a 2nd piano.
But I hope people will support this concert if they are able to. We can't expect promoters to programme unsung works if we don't make the effort to attend concerts when they do.
Thanks, Gareth, for the information. I will have been away at the Rufinatscha 6 recording sessions earlier that week, so it all depends how I am feeling whether I can attend or not.
Understood, Alan. I hope the Rufinatscha sessions go well. Doubtless, you will give us a full report.
I booked my seats a while ago. I have waited a long time to hear a live perfomance of this concerto.
Hi Peeps.
A Newbie here.
Thalbergmad did you get wired up?
If not try - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSytk0s4D98 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSytk0s4D98)
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICgaTvuO43A (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICgaTvuO43A)
Comments?
That is great.
Will have a listen later.
Thanks
Thal
If there is to be a CD, it'll be well worth the wait...
If not try - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSytk0s4D98
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICgaTvuO43A
Comments?
For me - it's simply stunning!
there's no need to post the links twice in two posts.
Sorry; didn't mean to.
Was trying to use it as a "Quote ...."
Will know next time.
The problems of being a Newbie - please bear with me whilst I get the hang of it.
Humble regards to all
Quote from: AnoneeMouse on Wednesday 17 November 2010, 22:09
The problems of being a Newbie - please bear with me whilst I get the hang of it.
Please don't apologise. Glad to have you on board!
So where are you from, Anonee? Please don't say Anaheim or Orlando!
concerto on YouTube with chunk left out of middle, supposed to be recorded along with a piece by Lilian Elkington, Cameo, hope they hurry!
Quote from: JimL on Thursday 18 November 2010, 00:22
So where are you from, Anonee? Please don't say Anaheim or Orlando!
Hi - I think I've now got the "Quote" function sussed. (!!??)
Me? - oh - here and there; although now UK based again (am Brit thru' and thru' - for my sins), have spent many years outside in connection with my profession (???).
The choice of UserName is apposite in that I'm usually to be found to be scurrying around here and there, usually in a dark and damp place (as in the 'mushroom' syndrome! - sorry for mixed metaphor!), fixing this and that, sorting this and that, overhearing lots of gossipy things, squirreling away this and that (there's another one!!).
Am being deliberately vague to add to the 'intrigue'.
But have more than a passing interest in quality music of all genres.
Noticing the thread on Dorothy Howell (and others), which caught my attention, was hoping for more comment from members (who said they were going to be there at the performance) of how it went.
Then I saw the YouTube posts - so mentioned it in the Forum - as nobody else seemed to follow up.
Had seen a prior post from Thalbergmad on Piano Street about him(?) going - so asked how it had gone.
For me - the work isn't going to stop the world spinning, but it seemed a good performance of a notable female English composer's output - and interesting for that after so many years; the orchestra seemed a bit too loud in some passages - almost drowning the soloist (who seemed OK).
Whether the concerto will fall into another 75 years of forgotten neglect is for the world at large to decide.
For me? I hope not. Work's of all UK composers need remembering - and celebrating.
I never went in the end, nor did i attent the Johnanthan Powell concert the next night. If there was a World change your mind at the last moment Championships, I would stand a good chance of winning.
I have the best of intentions, but the thought of 2 journeys on a cattle truck on rails is usually sufficient to put me off. As a result, I have only been to one concert in London in 10 years, which was my own teacher at the Wigmore, but he hired a coach.
Thal
Re: the Howell Concerto
Should have added to my earlier blog above - 'bout my own reaction to the performance on YouTube!
For me it was stunning!
Here's where I'm coming from:-
Based on what I've seen & heard on the YouTube posting:-
The piece opens with a slightly darker, almost Gothic, atmosphere - and as it continues I can discern an occassional Rachmaninovesque feeling about it.
Why is this 'stunning' for me?
Well from my point of view the said Sergei is the 'boss' as far as I'm concerned (I'm aware that this isn't the forum to be extolling his virtues) - but anything in that vein is "OK by me".
Hope this sentiment doesn't upset any sensibilities??!!
Quotethe orchestra seemed a bit too loud in some passages - almost drowning the soloist (who seemed OK).
We spent some time in the afternoon rehearsal trying to balance orchestra and soloist and found that, in some places, unless the orchestra completely ignored Dorothy's dynamic markings altogether, the soloist was bound to struggle a bit. The problem, I'm afraid, lies with the composer who has overscored some sections. But, on the whole, I think we did our best. Suffice it to say that Merryn & Columb Howell, Dorothy's niece and nephew respectively, who look after all her music, were extremely pleased and felt that Valentina Seferinova really understood "Aunt Dee's" music.
I do wish you had come, Thal. I was hoping to meet you.
Quote from: Gareth Vaughan on Saturday 27 November 2010, 17:23
Quotethe orchestra seemed a bit too loud in some passages - almost drowning the soloist (who seemed OK).
Suffice it to say that Merryn & Columb Howell, Dorothy's niece and nephew respectively, who look after all her music, were extremely pleased and felt that Valentina Seferinova really understood "Aunt Dee's" music.
I guess - that's praise indeed!
According to BMS News a recording of the Orion SO concert (11/11/2010) is due for release from Cameo Classics shortly (as CC9042CD), including the Howell Concerto and Holbrooke's Girl I Left Behind Me Variations - this should be one to look out for. :)
Am I missing something here? I went to the YouTube locations mentioned above and could only get the message that "This is a private video". Can't listen or download. ????
Jerry
QuoteAm I missing something here? I went to the YouTube locations mentioned above and could only get the message that "This is a private video". Can't listen or download. ?
Jerry
Hi Jerry
I suspect the 'unofficial video posting' on YouTube ran into a copyright challenge - probably from Cameo; hence it's listing being changed from 'public' to 'private'.
I guess we'll all have to be patient and await the official release (CD? DVD?) from Cameo Classics themselves.