The cellist Tanja Tetzlaff, her brother the violinist Christian Tetzlaff and their accomplice Lars Vogt at the piano, appeared at the TCE for a Sunday morning concert. The 3 musicians are great soloists but also accomplished chamber musicians.
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Hélène Grimaud and the Rotterdams PO at the TCE
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Hélène Grimaud and the Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest were at the TCE in October 2016 for a concert Bartók and Mahler.
The first part consisted of Béla Bartók’s 3rd Piano Concerto. Les artists offered a very good version of the work, which is more accessible than the 1st Concerto or even the 2nd, despite the fact that it shares with it an extraordinary slow movement. Sometimes still the neglected one of the 3, the piece is nevertheless abundant with wonderful sections, and has an almost Mozartian spirit, but with caracteristics proper to the Hungarian composer (modes and scales, links with folk music, counterpoint / fugue passages). If the 2 fast movements are full of drive, the Adagio religioso is clearly the summit of the concerto, with its choral which sends back to both Beethoven, Bach and Mozart, and its central night music, so typical of Bartók.
Nicholas Angelich, Orléans
A 14 of October to be definitely forgotten, apart from the recital given by Nicholas Angelich at the Salle de l’Institut in Orléans. It was even a struggle to get there and I arrived late…
But this did not prevent me from enjoying his fine rendition of Robert Schumann’s Kreisleriana – even if I missed the beginning of the piece as well as the opening pieces by Chopin, nor the absolutely remarkable performance of Franz Liszt’s Sonata, that I found even superior to the version he recorded some time ago, with this kind of sunrise at the very end of this dramatic piece.
Peter Murphy in Paris
Peter Murphy, the former frontman of Bauhaus, was playing an acoustic set in Paris. An opportunity to see/listen to both some of his solo works (including a brilliant rendition of Never Fall Out from the excellent album Ninth) and Bauhaus repertoire (like a great Hollow Hills). Another high point was A Strange Kind of Love ending with excerpts from Bela Lugosi’s Dead!
Exhibition “Caillebotte, pintor y jardinero” Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid
Having missed the exhibition “Caillebotte, peintre et jardinier” in Giverny and later become aware of its move to Madrid’s Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, I did not think twice to go on a long weekend with visit of 2 major museums, the Prado and Thyssen-Bornemisza, which I had visited several times but in the 1990s, on top of the exhibition.
A round trip by TGV & AVE, with the surprise to travel with the same 3 pleasant companions both times, between Paris and Barcelona, and to learn that Mr. Bouju senior could have been one of my literature teacher at the lycée Henri IV, exchanging numerous memories, and showing them the caricatures drawn by my friend Jean-Claude Terrasse there.
Christoph Eschenbach, the Orchestre de Paris and Maxim Vengerov
Beginning of October, reunion between Christoph Eschenbach and the Orchestre de Paris. The German maestro was the musical director of the orchestra during 10 years, and he regularly comes back to conduct them. They were playing with violinist Maxim Vengerov, born in the USSR some 40 years ago.
Gathered at the Philharmonie de Paris, violinist, conductor and orchestra gave a very fine reading of Jean Sibelius’ Violin Concerto, in its original version, with a 1st movement Allegro moderato absolutely fabulous, all performers being on the same page.
Chailly, Filarmonica della Scala, Argerich
Riccardo Chailly was conducting the Filarmonica della Scala at the Philharmonie de Paris, beginning of October 2016, in a concert where Martha Argerich joined forces with them. The concert focused on 2 composers: Robert Schumann and Giuseppe Verdi.
Jean-Claude Pennetier and Christian Ivaldi at Bagatelle: 4 hands piano recital
And what hands! Those of great musicians, astounding chamber players. The 2 partners had chosen a Schubert programme with pieces by Philippe Hersant for the contemporary part, and switched roles depending on the works.
First work, the Sonata D. 617 and its sublime Andante con moto ideally served, which was followed by the Allegro “Lebensstürme”, again a beautiful success.
Robert Schumann: Scenes from Goethe’s Faust
Another very successful concert at the Philharmonie de Paris from September 2016, was Robert Schumann’s Scenes from Goethe’s Faust, performed by the Orchestre de Paris conducted by Daniel Harding, the Orchestre de Paris Choir & the Orchestre de Paris Children Choir and an array of leading singers: Franz-Josef Selig (bass), Christian Gerhaher (baritone), Hanna-Elisabeth Müller (soprano), Mari Eriksmoen (soprano), Bernarda Fink (mezzo), Andrew Staples (tenor) and Tareq Nazmi (bass).
Chick Corea 75th birthday celebration in Paris
Chick Corea, one of jazz major pianists who turned 75 last June, was celebrating/celebrated in Paris Philharmonie with several concerts. I chose to attend the Chick Corea Trio featuring Avishai Cohen on double-bass and Marcus Gilmore on drums – the grandson of the legendary Roy Haynes (Haynes who played with Corea and Miroslav Vitouš in a fabulous Trio).
Corea is as brisk and smiling as ever (a certain Keith J. should learn from him on this point!), and clearly enjoys being there ; Cohen, who has regularly worked with Corea is always stunning to look at ; Gilmore is not outdone by his partners (Blood will tell!).
Continue reading