BBC Philharmonic

To keep the weekend adventures theme going, yesterday after work I figured out how to work the bus system, and get over to York University to hear the BBC Philharmonic with Dame Felicity Lott, soprano.

I successfully got on the right bus, figured out how to work the new computer payment system thing, and even got out at the right stop (trickier than it sounds because it was pitch black)! I was very pleased with myself to say the least.

The concert hall at the University was interesting because it was 1) shaped like an upside down UFO, 2) fairly small, and 3) you sat around the orchestra and looked down on them. It was like a sports arena for classical music! My seat was C16 which put me three rows up right behind the cellos. I was close enough to make out some of the music (and to notice the third bass player was wearing brown socks with his tails...tisk tisk).

Unfortunately, I didn't bring an extra pound coin with me and they didn't have change for a tenner so I didn't get a program. But because of that I think I ended up listening to the music much more closely.

First on the program was Bridge's The Sea. It was fantastic - and not one I was immediately familiar with! I know water themed songs have been a little overdone - but I still like them just the same. The feel of the sea in this one was created by the cellos and basses rocking between two notes - not so fast that it was warbling and not so slow that it was unnoticeable. That was underlying for most of the movements - boring for them I'm sure, but very effective. The last movement 'Storm' had some goosebump-producing horn and trumpet licks.

Just before the intermission (which they called something else..I don't remember) was Britten's Les Illuminations. Which was good, but fairly tame. Nothing compared to what came after the intermission which was Ravel's Shéhérazade with Dame Felicity Lott. A beautiful piece in general - but when it started raining outside during the third movement - the concert hall took on a whole new ambiance. It was so appropriate to happen during Shéhérazadean as well - since the piece is a representation the story of Princess Shéhérazade (who tells stories for 1001 nights to avoid being killed by the evil Sultan - thus 1001 Arabian Nights). So just like the evil Sultan I was lulled by Dame Felicity, the orchestra, and the rain into drifiting off into thought and forgetting about everything else going on. And in the places where the music abruptly stops - all you could hear was the rain and then the two harpists ease you back into the music. It was lovely.

And to round out the evening it was Roussel's Symphony No.3. The first, third and last movements were punctuated by regal bursts from the horns - which was much appreciated by me and most of the people I was sitting around. (A few of them must have just come up from rehearsal...they still had their horns with them).

So all in all - a very nice adventure out to the BBC Philharmonic and a saved trip over to Manchester to hear them!