MPO new 08/09 season sets to be promising
Who would've thought? After drab seasons last few seasons, there is optimism in new 08/09 season. Claus Peter Flor taking over as Music Director is the best news for Malaysian classical music scene as he is one of the most consistent guess conductor who has ever graced the podium after Kees Bakels. Not just that, Borodin Quartet has been announced as official Artist-in-Residence for DFP. Now if that's not mindblowing, I do not know what because they're the oldest and most respectable string quartet group since Amadeus Quartet. They will play two evenings with MPO which one of them features Spohr's concerto for string quartet and orchestra and two evenings of recitals featuring works by Smetana, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Beethoven and Borodin.
Speaking of soloists, no surprise Bang Bang is coming back for what, 3rd time? He obviously needs suckers here to lick his overrated ass. Subscribers can lap his tickets off while the single ticket buyers has no chance two days later. Why can't pianists like Zimerman and Volodos come back here as often as Bang Bang? I'd rather watch Yundi Li but anyway I digress. Marc-Andre Hamelin is coming to play Brahms 2, and Cyprien Katsaris will play Mozart with MPO too w00t! Sarah Chang collaborates with MPO for a Bruch violin concerto. Christian Tetzlaff will play Berg with Deutsches Radio Symphonie Orchester Berlin, which is the only foreign orchestra coming (other than a period ensemble from Italy). The hoo-haa about Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra coming didn't materialise.
What about the repertoire? This probably is the most disappointing although given credit, we're hearing a Lutoslawski 3rd, Suk's Astral symphony, a Szymanowsky 4th and Malaysian premier of Smetana's Ma Vlast (after 10 seasons? sheeesh). The Mahler 3rd, gigantic and long still possible to be performed at DFP remains a pipe dream with MPO now rehashing Mahler 6 (although with Claus Peter Flor conduct it is still awesome). And Malaysians are not having one, two but THREE BRUCKNER symphonies! MPO will perform Bruckner 4 and 5 while Deutsche Radio Berlin Symphony will perform Bruckner 7. Bruckner symphonies are usually one long snoozefest even if performed properly, so is this necessary (not that it's a bad thing)? Speaking of Messiaen centenary, MPO STILL HASN'T GOT BALLS TO PERFORM TURANGALILA SYMPHONIE! We're still waiting dammit!
Speaking of soloists, no surprise Bang Bang is coming back for what, 3rd time? He obviously needs suckers here to lick his overrated ass. Subscribers can lap his tickets off while the single ticket buyers has no chance two days later. Why can't pianists like Zimerman and Volodos come back here as often as Bang Bang? I'd rather watch Yundi Li but anyway I digress. Marc-Andre Hamelin is coming to play Brahms 2, and Cyprien Katsaris will play Mozart with MPO too w00t! Sarah Chang collaborates with MPO for a Bruch violin concerto. Christian Tetzlaff will play Berg with Deutsches Radio Symphonie Orchester Berlin, which is the only foreign orchestra coming (other than a period ensemble from Italy). The hoo-haa about Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra coming didn't materialise.
What about the repertoire? This probably is the most disappointing although given credit, we're hearing a Lutoslawski 3rd, Suk's Astral symphony, a Szymanowsky 4th and Malaysian premier of Smetana's Ma Vlast (after 10 seasons? sheeesh). The Mahler 3rd, gigantic and long still possible to be performed at DFP remains a pipe dream with MPO now rehashing Mahler 6 (although with Claus Peter Flor conduct it is still awesome). And Malaysians are not having one, two but THREE BRUCKNER symphonies! MPO will perform Bruckner 4 and 5 while Deutsche Radio Berlin Symphony will perform Bruckner 7. Bruckner symphonies are usually one long snoozefest even if performed properly, so is this necessary (not that it's a bad thing)? Speaking of Messiaen centenary, MPO STILL HASN'T GOT BALLS TO PERFORM TURANGALILA SYMPHONIE! We're still waiting dammit!
posted by Corgan Sow at 11:16 pm
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