The Royal festival hall reopens
The chorus took part in the 3rd section of the gala opening concert singing Beethoven's 9th 4th movement conducted by Christoph von Dohnanyi. The sound was trememendous and everyone said how marvellous it was. The London Philharmonic choir sang a new work by Julian Anderson "Alleluia". The programme was heavily weighted towards the modern. The Beethoven was preceeded by Ligeti's Atmospheres which included the brushing of a grand piano's strings (well they needed cleaning). Marin Alsop conducted 4 orchestras in Ravel's Bolero - it was amazing! The concert is on the BBC website for a week. Strangely it was not broadcast live nor did the Queen come. The Duke of Kent was there and so was Ken Livingstone. The audience had paid £100, £300 and £500 for a seat so it was mostly bankers and the like. At the champagne reception in the ballroom, I spoke to James O'Donnell (Westminster Abbey) and saw Janet Street-Porter and Alan Yentob from BBCTV but the great musical figures did not appear to be present. Mind you we don't have people of the stature of Vaughan Williams, Walton and Elgar any more. I did meet Miss Pegler who always sits in the front row and has done so since 1951. Interesting that the paper printed a photo of the dancing on the Sunday - the main difference from the 1951 photo of the same scene is that 2 men are dancing together. The other day I saw 2 men holding hands near Tate Modern. Some of the choir ventured into the fountain before the concert to be followed by a man in the nude much to everyone's amusement. How times have changed!
Comments
As for the musical giants, that's an interesting comment. Here in the US anyway, I'm not sure there's a partiular British composer right now who's got a high recognition factor. Thomas Adés probably as much as anyone (he's also very popular here in LA). Who do you suppose, for instance, would write music for the next coronation?
As for the men dancing together, I think it's delightful, especially at such a grand public occasion. I'm not sure you'd see that even here at, for example, a Philharmonic gala.
How could Tavener slip my mind? His sacred music is well known here; less so the bigger things.
Speaking of which, did you hear The Veil of the Temple in either the 7 or 3 hour versions?
Is Maxwell Davies still active? I don't hear so much about him these days. Turnage I don't know.
Probably the dancing thing happens here and no one notices!!!