Hallé Orchestra Last Sunday, My first orchestral experience Options

[freda_bloogs]

Hi people,

Thanks to the generosity of Jazzfan, I was able to go to see the Hallé at the Bridgewater on Sunday night and, since it was my first experience of an orchestral concert, I thought I'd share my experiences with you.

The first thing that struck me - as a person who's used to rock gigs - was the apparent lack of professionalism throughout the performance. Now, before you all get your pitchforks and hunt me down, I'm not slating the orchestra, I'm sure there is a valid reason for my observations...

To begin with, I found it very strange that half the orchestra were on the stage playing random little licks and tuning themselves, getting up, walking round etc. from the moment I sat down; one violinist was even texting! Why can't they do all that back stage? Another thing was between the concerto and the other pieces...stewards came on to move the piano to the front of the stage. Half of the orchestra just got up and left, the other half stayed there and noodled around on their instruments. To me, this appeared very messy. When I run a concert of any sort, when the players/actors/performers are on stage, they are there to perform and any other activity that needs to take place is all done back stage. Why couldn't the whole orchestra walk on/off neatly in a line? What's more, all this moving around really detracted from the flow of the evening, they seem to just get going and rather than being able to hammer right on with the next piece, whilst the energy is flowing so to speak, they had to start messing around. Maybe it's my nievety (sp?) to these things but it was quite distracting.

Musically - wow! Very very very good. The sound that came from every section was astounding. The acoustics were brilliant. To think that one's able to hear a single clarinet, for example, right at the back of the hall just as well as someone sitting at the front of the stage is fantastic. I had to keep on reminding myself that they weren't using amplifiers!

The Hallé began with a Berlioz overture, Le corsaire. This was a nice introduction to the evening, but not knowing [any of] the pieces I'm unable to comment on whether or not they played well or not. It was good to my ears, anyway.

I then had the pleasure of listening to Stephen Hough play Mozart's piano concerto in C (the famous one) with the orchestra. This was particularly interesting for me as I am a pianist. Does he always wear bright red shoes or something?! This was a great piece and I hope one day I'll be able to play that well...a distant dream, I know.

After the interval we had an extra little piece: Stravinsky's Circus Polka, before and after which Mark Elder got on the mic and made all sorts of musical jokes that went right over my head as I'm not really "in" the classical circles.

Then we had Swan Lake: Act 2 and finally the brass section played a typically-brass-band encore. This showed off their versitility well.

All in all, I had a good time and I'll definitely be going to see them again. I hope that my somewhat negative comments don't make it seem that I didn't enjoy it - I did! - or make me seem ungrateful - I am! - I just hope somebody can tell me why things are the way they are, or is it just the Hallé? I was really expecting a far slicker "night" rather than 3 very slick individual performances, if you know what I mean? I know I've not expressed myself very well but I'm in a bit of a rush and I promised I'd write about it.

Thanks very much for reading my rabble and I'll definitely be looking forward to the Liverpool Phil on thursday!

Daley

[sbhoa]

I think one reason for some getiing up and going while others stay may be that the make up of the orchestra is different for each piece.

[freda_bloogs]

Yes I realised that, obviously due to the periods that the music was written in. But it really wasn't that, they'd just amble back on!

[jazzfan]

I'm so pleased you enjoyed the concert. I would have been glad for anyone to make use of the ticket, but I'm particularly pleased that someone used it for their first orchestral experience, and someone studying the piano as well.

The way you describe the orchestra's conduct is quite normal in classical concerts, but I can see how it must seem a bit casual. I think that to understand why it is like it is, you'd have to get into the psyche of the professional orchestral musician. I don't think I can explain what I mean by that, but I can see how a professional musician might find it completely irrelevant to behave in the way you think might be more appropriate. But then I'm not a professional musician, so I might be completely wrong!

To think that one's able to hear a single clarinet, for example, right at the back of the hall just as well as someone sitting at the front of the stage is fantastic.

If you thought that was fantastic, wait till you're at a concert where you can hear the tinkle (is that the right word?) of the triangle over and above the whole orchestra. I used to object to playing the triangle when I was at school as it seemed so insignificant, barely even worth calling an instrument - now I think it's amazing how it can be heard over everthing else.

After the interval we had an extra little piece: Stravinsky's Circus Polka, before and after which Mark Elder got on the mic and made all sorts of musical jokes that went right over my head as I'm not really "in" the classical circles.

Then we had Swan Lake: Act 2 and finally the brass section played a typically-brass-band encore.

It's quite unusual for a UK orchestra to play encores or extra pieces, although European orchestras do it quite regularly. The Halle is one of the few UK orchestras which sometimes gives the audience a bit extra, and where the conductor sometimes addresses the audience. It's quite unusual for the conductor to address the audience normally. Personally I like it when they do, but as I say, it's not the norm.


I don't think you seem negative at all. You enjoyed the music, which is what you (and everybody else) went for. Maybe this is why the orchestra don't attach much importance to anything else apart from the music. You've obviously put a lot of thought into the experience and got a lot out of it. Hope you continue to enjoy your orchestral experiences - do let us know how the Liverpool Phil compares with the Halle experience (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[freda_bloogs]

If you thought that was fantastic, wait till you're at a concert where you can hear the tinkle (is that the right word?) of the triangle over and above the whole orchestra. I used to object to playing the triangle when I was at school as it seemed so insignificant, barely even worth calling an instrument - now I think it's amazing how it can be heard over everthing else.

Strange you mention that actually as during one the pieces, probably Swan Lake, I noticed that very phenomenon! Brilliant.