November 2010
This for me is The Albert Hall.
I book a seat behind the orchestra unless there is an enormous choir but I don't go for choral concerts.
I love to watch the musicians of the orchestra during the performance, as each section is directed by the maestro to play, I have to find and follow. I must admit I didn't begin to appreciate classical music until about thirty years ago when I was taken to the Albert to a promenade concert and instantly became a regular visitor.
I am a sucker for the violin in pieces such as Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini, or Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1. The sound is so sweetly pure that I have tears start to form in my eyes. It wasn't always my favourite as I preferred the piano concertos. There was power in them and at the build there always is, to the finish one is so worked up with excitement that the applause when it comes is ecstatic and comes straight from the heart.
When in Scarborough I was friendly with a young lady who played oboe in the concert orchestra and she taught me so much about each instrument, its sound and music itself. My mother played piano but couldn't read music, just played by ear from hearing a piece. She never of course played the classics but could keep a party going all night. When I retired I went to book piano lessons but was told my fingers would be too stiff now and I admit I don't think I could have learned to read scores as it seemed so complicated.
The young lady's family of four children all played an instrument, the two boys trombone and trumpet and the girls violin and flute. I loved to listen at parties when joined by their dad on guitar they gave a wonderful sound.
There is a particular orchestra that plays once a year at the Albert, they are all between the ages of twelve and sixteen and not only are they brilliant but most of them can play a solo superbly. The main joy of their performance is the expression on their faces of satisfaction at the momentous ovation they receive.
I admit although I listen to modern classics and even some of the old composers there are pieces that don't appeal to me. And one night there was a new composer presenting his first concerto - it was so disjointed it sounded awful but I congratulate the Philharmonic for being able to play it.
Again at Scarborough there was a free lunchtime concert at the library. It mainly featured Vincent Billington. He was a retired pianist from the London Symphony Orchestra and had many anecdotes to amuse us with. But, he asked for ten titles of pieces of music and would play a classical piece incorporating then all. He had fingers that moved so rapidly over the keys it created steam. He also brought in other retired performers who had still all the perfections of voice or instrument.Again back to the Albert. The British are a very traditional race and when in a performance there are three or so movements to a piece, woe betide the person who applauds after each section. The theatre seats 5,500 people and it is more often full but when that conductor raises his baton there is a silence where you could hear a pin drop. Even when it's the Last Night of the Proms there is flag waving and cheering but again never a sound during the performance.
It is amazing in this chaotic time that you can still exit to the outside world feeling on a wonderful high.