I just got my letter this morning to say I have tickets to see the Vienna Philharmonic at the Salzburg Festival this year, WOOHOO. So excited. Has anyone else seen them, or the Berlin Phil. Truly the best two orchestras in the world.

It will be in the Festival Hall in Salzburg in mid August. I think they are doing Beethoven's 5th, and some Brahms thing. Might also get a concert at the Musicverein in Vienna that week (where the New Year Concert comes from). Will definitely visit some historic Mozart places too. I love Mozart to bits. (see my sig)

Just one snag, can't go to the Kodaly Summer School now.

I've heard them both when they've been visiting the Proms. Both are seriously good orchestras! Vienna Phil also double as the pit band at the Staatsoper in Vienna; I heard them on home ground there a couple of years ago playing for Die Walkure (five hours of Wagner for 1.5 Euros - what a bargain!!!).

THAT WAS SOME BARGAIN!!!

Our tickets were into three figure Euros each for the front of the upper tier. Better make it worthwhile.

Ooooh, have fun!!! Now, seeing as I live in Berlin, I can go to the Philharmonie any time I like! (Bit expenisve on a regular basis, though!)

I saw the Wiener Philharmoniker at the Musikverein in 1999 - they did Beethoven's Ode to Joy Symphony which was great but knackering as we had the cheap standing room tickets!

Definitely make time to see the historic Mozart places too - his old places of residence / birthplace are really something special.

Mrs M

I greatly admire the Berlin Phil. Much as I could enjoy listening to the Vienna Phil, I shall not wish to look at them until I can see more than two women (30% would be a reasonable proportion), and a few players whose appearance indicates African or Oriental ancestry.

Wow, lucky you! I've seen the Vienna Phil and they're every bit as brilliant as their reputation suggests. If you manage to get to the Musikverein as well, I'll be green with envy!

Things move slowly in Vienna and I think we'll wait a long time before we see more than two women in the orchestra. There was only one when I saw them! As Amadeus says, though, it's the enjoyment of music that matters.

QUOTE (kenm @ Mar 25 2005, 04:24 PM)

I greatly admire the Berlin Phil. Much as I could enjoy listening to the Vienna Phil, I shall not wish to look at them until I can see more than two women (30% would be a reasonable proportion), and a few players whose appearance indicates African or Oriental ancestry.

I'm doing my A level German Oral Presentation on the gender discrimination in the Vienna Phil. It's actually unbelieveable.
That doesn't mean I wouldn't do anything for a chance of hearing them in concert! You are soooo lucky- have a great time.

ENJOY! A couple of years ago I was in Vienna with my chap, a professional brass player. He talked his way into gatecrashing a Vienna Phil rehearsal at the Musikverein so we had the whole place to ourselves. They were rehearsing Dvorak's New World Symphony and played the slow movement in its entirety. A wonderful, wonderful experience I will never forget. Have a great time but make sure you're free for the Kodaly Summer School next year - I see you sign yourself a solfa expert so it would be great to have you there in 2006!

My parents took me to the Salzburg Festival when I was still at school, back in the 1960s!

We went to several live concerts and we went to the opera. In those days (don't know what happens now) everybody dressed up for the opera and I had to have my first "evening dress". Sounds a bit silly now maybe but it was a breath-taking experience then as it was also my first time out of England.

However, the memories of that whole experience stay with me now. I can still remember the opera set, the concerts and still amost taste the wonderful Austrian cakes too!

Go enjoy - you lucky person. What a wonderful experience and I really hope you'll find it something to remember just as much as I still can, many years down the line.

Thanks everyone, and I will think about you when I am in Mozart country, and have the might of the world's (joint) premier orchestra a few feet away. (I know what you mean about the sexism in the orchestra. No place for it in the 21st century. Can't undermine the quality though)

Happy Easter everyone.

Please excuse my nievety, but, not meaning to hijack this thread, having never heard an orchestra play, what makes you able to say one particular orchestra is good, another is excellent and another is ok etc.?

Freda - go and listen to an orchestra and then you might know what people are on about.

I went to the Salzburg festival a couple of years ago and yes everyone gets "poshed up" to go to the concerts....well everyone except the Americans

What is also wonderful is the "fringe", so check out all the other events too. I went to a recital in a lovely palace, can't remember the name now but the room was lined in marble and had incredible chandeliers, and was quite small and intimate. And can you believe who I saw there? Igor Oistrakh perform the Franck sonata . What a rare treat.

Jane

QUOTE (freda_bloogs @ Mar 26 2005, 12:17 AM)

Please excuse my nievety, but, not meaning to hijack this thread, having never heard an orchestra play, what makes you able to say one particular orchestra is good, another is excellent and another is ok etc.?

Freda you really must go and hear a live orchestra play, where are you based? The Halle and BBC Phil are both very good in Manchester. Birmingham has the CBSO who are brilliant, and there are several excellent orchestras in London, my fave is the LSO.

Also the Philharmonia regularly visit Leicester.

I think what makes an orchestra good is the ensemble they produce (ie the way they play together as one). The top rate orchestras always seem to have very lush string sounds.

If you can't get to hear a live performance then try listening to the Proms in the Summer on Radio 3. All performances are broadcast live and there are some excellent orchestras that visit for the festival.

Jane

sounds great! i'm sure you'll have a fab time!

I've listened to CDs etc. but having non-musical parents and living in a rural area of Lancashire, it's difficult to get to places.

QUOTE

I've listened to CDs etc. but having non-musical parents and living in a rural area of Lancashire, it's difficult to get to places.

How about getting to Liverpool and Manchester on the train? Makes for a great night out.

QUOTE (freda_bloogs @ Mar 26 2005, 12:17 AM)

Please excuse my nievety, but, not meaning to hijack this thread, having never heard an orchestra play, what makes you able to say one particular orchestra is good, another is excellent and another is ok etc.?

I suggest you watch the New Year Concert fro Vienna next year.

QUOTE (Semele @ Mar 26 2005, 05:04 PM)

QUOTE I've listened to CDs etc. but having non-musical parents and living in a rural area of Lancashire, it's difficult to get to places. How about getting to Liverpool and Manchester on the train? Makes for a great night out.

I'll try, but when I say rural, I mean rural! Parents wouldn't be too happy about me roaming the city streets late either, but hey, I'll apply the pressure.

Freda Hmm thats a difficult one, but not impossible. Instead of asking for CDs for you birthday or next Xmas, why dont you ask for tickets to a concert in the nearest town to you and perhaps you can include a Bed & Breakfast or even cheaper a Youth Hostel, so that you are not 'roaming the streets at night'.

If you add some of your pocket money to the proposed evening out - so for the train fares, it will keep costs down. Invite another friend and ask your mum to 'chaperone' you. You never know she might enjoy the evening out too! (I once had to attend a pop/rock concert with four 14 year old boys - I absolutely hated it., couldnt tell you who was playing as I had ear plugs firmly in, but they had a good time, it was a birthday treat, and I was the mum that drew the short straw!)

If you enjoy classical music you really should try to hear a live orchestra with professional musicians! If you are a student you may be able to get cheap tickets.

Good Luck!

Could be a good opportunity to convert your mum to classical music!

However good an orchestra sounds on CD or on radio/TV you really have to hear them live to appreciate the sheer magic of the performance. I'm lucky in that I can get to Symphony Hall (Birmigham) fairly easily. The atmosphere there is fantastic and the accoustics are out of this world.

Thanks for hijacking my thread Freda_Bloogs.