George Szell's ghost is all like, wtf:
Listeners aren't always aware of these discrepancies, but the Cleveland Orchestra's audience Thursday at Severance Hall was abuzz at intermission about the two interruptions during the last movement of Alban Berg's Chamber Concerto for Piano, Violin and 13 Wind Instruments.
The piece was moving along when everything suddenly collapsed and music director Franz Welser-Möst uttered, "Sorry." He took the ensemble back a bunch of bars and tried again, to no better effect.
"You see how difficult this is," the conductor said to the audience. "It worked this morning."
Teh dog ate his score, too.
Wow! I haven't been reading the PD reviews lately, because Rosenberg ALWAYS hates on Franz. But that's sad, especially when you've got the awesome Mitsuko Uchida to perform the piece. No problems Saturday night, by the way, and Franz followed it up with a thrilling a Brahms 2nd. I played Szell's recording the next day, and I have to say Franz was better, except that he lets the basses get a bit heavy. Love you, Opera Chic. You make my day.
Posted by: SteveCleve | May 30, 2007 at 03:07 PM
Although the article doesn't make clear who's at fault, the conductor or the orchestra. I've played it before, if any of the wind players trips up, it's lights out for the piece. But the mood in Cleveland is
blame the conductor, whether he's at fault or not. He DID have to make the decision to stop, however.
Look, this is not unknown; Boult had a breakdown in the premiere of Walton's 2cd symphony, which isn't nearly as tricky as this. He did have the class to say "my fault" to the audience.
Posted by: charles laughton | May 30, 2007 at 06:29 PM