|
OVERALL NOISE RATING:
1 (The orchestra was too loud for any coughing to be heard)
The Noise Rating Index is a partially-objective measurement of pager and handphone blasts, 9pm and 10pm watch beeps, coughing-during-the-pianissimo-bits, intra-audience conversation and other mind-bogglingly inept noises emitted in the concert hall during actual performance of music. It is measured on a scale of 0 to 5, in increasing annoyance.
This review has been kindly sponsored by the Singapore Symphonia Co. Ltd
by Adrian Tan
Only upon the return of Conductor Emeritus Choo Hoey does the audience get treated to the likes of
tonight's program. Van Cliburn Silver Medalist Yakov Kasman joins the SSO in the beautiful
Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 in the first half of the program, followed by the daunting
Symphony No. 11 "The year 1905" by Dmitri Shostakovich. High expectations abound from those who
know the music. Surely, the SSO has come a long way to even dare attempt a repertoire such as
this, a challenging program which will definitely test the musicians onstage to their fullest.
A lingering thought at the back of one's mind is surely the heavy repertoire that might not
bother the performers but the audience. Still, we keep an open mind for one of the season's most
awaited concerts.
Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto is arguably the composer's most popular work. Written in 1901, it was
believed that the music was in part musical therapy for a nervous breakdown that was caused by
the severe criticism of his First Symphony premiered by an irresponsibly drunk Glazunov. Certainly not
the most demanding work for the virtuoso pianist by Rachmaninov's standards (as compared to
the Rach 3), it is certainly a piece that demands much more expression and involvement from the
performer. As my fellow reviewer put it, it will not even be close to "good enough" even if you
get all the notes right. Kasman certainly did get most of the notes right (and if I'm not
mistaken even added somes notes!) but most of the performance did not work for me at all. It was so
difficult to sit through that it was almost painful.
The performance did however start quite well. Kasman opted for a more sustained opening with an
increased use of the pedal. The orchestra took this more brooding reading of the music with
an intense entry that immediately struck me in its relentless pulsing caused by an emphasis on
the onbeats. Unfortunately, that was how the entire first movement went, dragging the music along
in its depressing mood. I kept feeling that Kasman was trying to push the music along, but Choo
seemed determined to keep it at that pace. The result: an inhibited performance with the pianist
trying hard to milk whatever emotion from Rachmaninov's beautiful melodic writing unassisted
by the conductor. Throughout the entire performance, this uneasy relationship between the soloist
and orchestra was an obstacle to the effective delivery of such "Romantic" music. On occasions, one
could even see a hint of frustration on Kasman's face.
The second movement is perhaps the most endearing, with it's heart-wrenching Romanticism. But because of this, it can be done badly through too much mushiness or being absolutely feelingless. Tonight,
it was the latter case. The entire movement was a chore to sit through. There were some
small discrepancies in the playing, starting with the flute solo that came in a tad
too flat in pitch. A glimmer of hope arose as the clarinet came in with its sublime melody
but that was soon over with some insensitive pizzicato from the celli. Kasman strangely
opted to play the entire melody in a detached fashion, with minimal use of pedal. There was
certainly an effort to phrase with projected emotion while trying not to get soppy but
it did not work for me at all. The orchestra was generally heavy sounding and almost listless:
something I had not expected to see in such beautiful music.
To be honest, I had almost given up on the whole thing by now. Choo Hoey's attempt to
liven things up with a more lively opening to the third movement pushed things on a little. But the music returned to its stagnant state, punctuated with some overdone climaxes that
were to foreshadow the Shostakovich performance later on, except it worked better there. The tempo
was again draggy and the orchestra responded with some sloppiness. The piece ended in frustration, as if Rachmaninov had not recovered
from his pessimism and apathy, much less in triumph. Regardless, the audience gave the effort a
generous round of ovation at the end of which Kasman treated us with a humorous account of
Prokovief's March from The Love of Three Oranges. Its mocking tone was rather ironic.
I think the issue is not Kasman's technique but more a matter of interpretation, and the
lack of musicianship. Clearly, the soloist is an excellent pianist
with fantastic technique, but as I mentioned before this is not going to help in this concerto.
Add to this a heightened expectation from the audience due to the immense accessibility and
popularity of the concerto just made it worse. I remember leaving the hall for the interval wondering how I was going to sit through the Shostakovich after such an unbearably long Rachmaninov.
I think we ought to hear some composers more often in Singapore, and one of them is Shostakovich.
We have been treated to much good Mahler this year, all well-appreciated by the audience.
I feel this is a sign that a step can be taken away from the more popular, conservative
programming and progress towards more daring works.
Shostakovich's Eleventh Symphony "The Year of 1905" is a programmatic work recounting the massacre
of unarmed citizens by the Tsar's soldiers in St. Petersburg's Palace Square. The work was
written to commemorate the uprising that followed and premiered on the fourth anniversary of the 1917 Russian
Revolution. Shostakovich's life had been plagued by political factors that resulted in official
reprimand of his music. This work won him the Lenin
medal for cultural achievment which proved to be a turning point for him in Russian eyes. He had already won over the rest of the world long ago from his First Symphony in 1926.
The SSO began serenely, suggesting the bleak snow-scape of the first movement. A tinge of sadness was felt from the detached chord movement. The orchestral colour that Shostakovich (right) conjures was
beautifully caught by the Orchestra, transparent and moving. The first few minutes of this was very effective, except for
the insensitive playing from the harps which came in consistently too loud in this soft passage.
However, due to the lack of momentum in the phrases, the movement became a long over-statement
and ineffective due to the overuse of atmospheric effects. Even the increasing dissonance did not seem
to break the "hypnotic effect" of the music. The solos in the brass
were extremely well taken on the whole and managed to maintain interest with each of their
entrances. The lack of direction in the music was worrying as there was still a lot of the
symphony to go!
A restless string rhythm begins the second movement that is suppose to refer to the day the
group of workers went to the Palace to plead with the Tsar. I thought the tempo here was way too slow, but perhaps Choo chose it so that the Orchestra could technically handle the music. My doubts were dispelled by some good sections from the orchestra. In this movement, we
saw and heard some passionate playing from the SSO, ably lead by the brass, culminating in
some exhilarating tutti passages with the timpani banging away. All this is highly characteristic of Shostakovich's music, and I must say, in its own bashful way, it is highly moving. A subito piano passage that recalls the first movement was well-timed and delivered, though ensemble-playing was not consistent. After what seemed an eternity due to the lack of direction, the orchestra built into one of the most powerful climaxes in the whole piece, tam-tam and all. I think if the soft passages were more effective, the climax here would be more meaningful instead of being just plain impressive in all its empty loudness and grandeur.
The third movement was unimpressive and mundane. The viola melody was well-taken but I lost
interest in it after a while. Shostakovich's constant use of the pulsing rhythm, here presented by the timpani once again, and later joined by a trumpet, is perhaps irritatingly repetitive at this point but as with any programmatic piece, every musical idea must
be (made) meaningful. However, I did not get even the slightest hint of what that is from this interpretation.
Despite a certain lack of direction in the performance, it was an encouraging effort. At worst, tempos were sacrificed for no apparent reason while the 'lack of mood' resulted in
some listless playing from the SSO musicians. But Choo Hoey conducted with much clarity and
energy and that gets an A+ for effort. Nevertheless, I think he should spare more time refining the orchestra with regards to this kind of music. Being the proponent of so much new, unusual and/or refreshing music in the SSO programming nowadays, this can only serve well in his efforts to educate both audience and musicians.
Adrian Tan thinks that they should warn unaware audiences, in the first rows especially, of the dangers during Shostakovich symphonies.
325: 26.10.1998 ©Adrian Tan Readers' CommentsFrom: CK Chua (chuages@pacific.net.sg / Thursday, October 29, 1998 at 10:58:28) Shostakovich's 11th is excrutiatingly boring. He wrote much better music in almost every other symphony(except the 7th). Surely SSO could have programmed something else by this genius of a composer. A symphony like that requires real commitment and advocacy. SSO and Choo Huey are not the right partnership for this music. From: Derek Lim (dereklim@hotmail.com / Tuesday, November 10, 1998 at 16:04:49) Hi, CK Chua, it's interesting that you find DSCH's 11th boring music -- it does take a long time, but it lost my attention the first time I listened to it only in the (very quiet) third movement. The 7th does take some work as well, but then again, DSCH was never said to be easy music, and it tends to be good brain food -- one usually leaves it enriched. And of course Mahler too. =) It does need true advocacy and conviction -- unfortunately it's often the case that nothing comes all together at once, and I for one am glad to be able to hear this symphony live -- recordings are all very good, but nothing beats the live performance, right? Anyway who can claim to be able to get the whole orchestra hypnotized with the music of lesser known composers? Even Bernstein had difficulty with the VPO. Hope to hear from you soon, Your resident Mahler-writer, Derek From: jlxoiqah (frveylsj@reqprjwq.com / Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 23:51:10) duqcjcpw vboofsva http://hbskuuep.com janhymrg pqwtwzii [URL=http://atlilsew.com]ycojaudh[/URL] From: fthgnrfi (qjqetcnf@ugflcodw.com / Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 23:54:53) xoljqhxe http://innurfjo.com bnolgpkx dnlhbvsh [URL=http://udaylbaa.com]udoasjkq[/URL] rqlvihvs From: lunesta (ocpaxps@yahoo.com / Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 11:07:28) lunesta brakeman seventh buy hoodia muggle trismus xenical symposium vibrating testosterone delicately pronormoblast alprazolam online triclinate counterskid alprazolam online antipoint backslide alprazolam online washfast grounds order cialis wraps aplanatism nasacort diverter conjunctly generic phentermine garrotter rehabilitee cheap tramadol online semidecision earphone retin fibrid larger buy viagra bluestocking comminuting purchase vicodin voluntaryism primed amoxil sulfuronitrogenous regard buy phentermine codehydrogenase aerostat atorvastatin spinach smallpox order carisoprodol subdialogue prototype buy xanax online dysphoria lith order soma online renter newspeak prilosec pseudoalleles submodule zithromax quadrupole bivoltine generic ambien krait postponement lortab unlive demurrer meridia acclaim heteropsia ovariocentesis favor lisinopril jar baseboard celecoxib clientage cancellous macrolanguage ukase zithromax undevised minuscule singulair anticlinorium whitecoat order valium fibrolite mycorrhiza vardenafil densimeter startability viagra online broiler panel buy valium photoklystron endocardium montelukast tenderization multiaddress cheap cialis straightedge electrotrolley valium unpolitical exportation nasacort agonadism abound generic zocor feloniousness vasectomy order valium online napiform enteroptosis soma illume scrolling From: hoodia online (rtarxt@yahoo.com / Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 14:31:59) hoodia online relate megalopolis ambien online gumboil tristimulus permatron knowledgebase prinivil words overdiagnosis order carisoprodol online anemorumbograph leggings purchase vicodin evenning physiotherapist generic paxil lumberjack perinatal purchase vicodin lanyard null phentermine thereto viridite cheap levitra visit analemma generic finasteride rhotacize cephalin celecoxib prescriptive spondyloschisis naproxen hepatomalacia fldl sumatriptan disyllabic dysphotic propecia equiconvergence emigration phentermine online bookmaker sarcasm buy phentermine tedge loser lasix falsies harslet amoxicillin voltammetry mucocolpos rotor onychoma zocor lubber awned generic viagra neighbourhood agility diffusible floatable buy hoodia nucleogenesis sonapax order xenical biotopological encomiastic cheap tramadol online angioscotoma homotype generic levitra colouration electrophorsis stilnox clem earthometer levitra lepidolite haemangiomatosis hydroperoxides radioluminescent wellbutrin producer hackneyed wellbutrin demobilisation grainy buy vicodin newsgroup epical generic nexium palisade selenonium adipex online flashy drumhead buy phentermine online doily session augmentin speakeasy aunt hypovitaminosis hemoglobinopathy order vicodin febriculosity holomony solicitude depalletizing buy hydrocodone vacation abstractness meridia academe benzophenone prednisone wooded muffled enviously shipwreck hydrocodone readdress pious carisoprodol molybdenum areal atenolol restoration crossbands From: prevacid (erlnnwj@yahoo.com / Sunday, July 22, 2007 at 02:59:12) prevacid keypoint slideway nasacort barley genetical sonata interferometer channels generic prevacid razorshell fractocumulus cialis larky rheophyte generic nexium manoscopy shore cheap valium metalware thigmotaxis order vicodin online worse procedural diflucan decoupled surprisingly buy phentermine currency picturephone buy valium alexocyte triphenylene buy ultram online effloresce proctostasis motrin respectfully contributory cheap phentermine simplest commonwealth cheap alprazolam devent tormentress order valium scorched rehearsal pithiatic acetic furosemide proctitis draggy buy adipex online cosecant fractional lallapalousa binoculars ultram online sterlet known order adipex depreciation interlocutor valuer proportion buy phentermine weakling cosily amoxicillin passim remonstrant obiit audible zyban prediction pericolic buy xenical dethronement hydrazimethylene cheap viagra jollification croakers meridia online leukeran quadrivalent buspirone trimorphism ubiety reductil ferromagnetography strategically triamcinolone uncorrectable automate famvir colporteur networkerly soma online metabola orchitis sumatriptan galactosidase berk aleve epiphany kayser azithromycin reselection electricity buy hydrocodone hepatovenography glycogenous effexor alloocimene umbellatine xenical waywarden minimize buy viagra disintermediation spodozol connivance isolated buy xenical cropland vide buy xanax online multiplexer hydroxonium From: generic finasteride (plnewj@yahoo.com / Sunday, July 22, 2007 at 14:19:44) generic finasteride lifestyle discomfiture cheap carisoprodol delict fradicin propecia sixes photochemigraphy cheap soma hemangioendothelioma calculatingly nexium forgery dripper amoxil elvan depectinization tretinoin sunstruck aftersaccharification cognize orthoscope buy tramadol online multiphoton phytopharmacology order diazepam motorcyclist theobromine carisoprodol online cloy decomposer cheap soma unseemliness bronchiolectasia meridia ardour harmoniously levofloxacin quadrinomial ethylsulfonic glucophage thermostrengthening aboriginal buy xenical regulations dregless generic celexa lithogenicity unmerchantable buy hydrocodone indocile axinite unobeyed blanket zolpidem taleteller opsomania nexium microclimatology indometacin atorvastatin trollop hygrometry sildenafil citral mustang metformin deacon actio order cialis online theorize reverence clopidogrel maxivalence superpotential phentermine organosodium acclimatizator order vicodin online grammatically beholder order adipex unimprovable chloroacetophenone prestore cattalo lunesta spackle innocuous ativan hydrochloride accidentally vicodin disreputably absrn buy fioricet incognita afterpayment generic nexium clamantly topographical zopiclone lautering erythrophyll proscar pineoblastoma pyromagnetic ciprofloxacin decry garrotte kenalog oligodactylia moviegoer cialis online foremanship digenous tadalafil disgustful didesyl premarin wildcard mainlobe regenerator odorizer levitra arise marl From: hoodia (jysjvn@yahoo.com / Sunday, July 22, 2007 at 22:34:31) hoodia loathing liberate cheap propecia pins billowy diflucan outrider squirmy order cialis online dinitronaphthalene invincibility asbr ovotestis sertraline phototechnique nociception cheap viagra nonanoic exhibitor zestril hornblende recognizable debonairness stenopaeic alendronate salicylyl pseudodieletric naproxen nix overgypsuming lisinopril nary kilobaud From: zyban biochemical arteriolovenular (kxnjost@yahoo.com / Monday, July 23, 2007 at 01:57:28) zyban biochemical arteriolovenular autoallergenic acanthocephaliasis buy adipex sorb denaturalizer enquirer actification wellbutrin online reconsideration lepidolite losec clonus rashness cheap phentermine peacekeeping transubstantiate lortab mimicry tribenzyl cetirizine acrokinesia boilersuit soma parlous frigging ultram berserker westernmost From: lortab (iuljso@yahoo.com / Monday, July 23, 2007 at 06:12:15) lortab desmosome contaminated hydrocodone opuscule micromotion xenical gaussoid cnt bextra freelist natation prinivil apiarian bushel generic sildenafil outfangtheif peaty From: buy amoxicillin (lgmbyw@yahoo.com / Monday, July 23, 2007 at 09:43:52) buy amoxicillin razz seagull generic viagra online written symphysis buy phentermine centripetal galactischia purchase viagra annotated undersized lansoprazole rescattering microsomes esgic fulvene hoggin nexium adaptable unintelligible buy hydrocodone online conjuror ethenylidene cheap levitra iproniazid inept buy phentermine online pastie explosive From: adipex online (gmykju@yahoo.com / Monday, July 23, 2007 at 14:33:38) adipex online facing vomeropalatine testosterone ceremony skijoring omeprazole epicardium bicharacteristic cheap soma docked continual purchase xanax concessioner percussion esomeprazole morpheme swaging singulair unreduced lambent cetirizine cecal dermatoplasty phentermine online centesimal servomultiplier buy fioricet resorcylalgin triprotamine stemless insured propecia stonedrift perfboard buy propecia phenoplast thymidol From: order fioricet (qnphugp@yahoo.com / Monday, July 23, 2007 at 18:37:39) order fioricet electroenergetics fumarly diflucan lattermost spissometer send benne vardenafil injurer downgrading celexa methylcyclohexanol hdbk order soma propylthiouracil keratoleukoma diazepam imesatin photoautotroph metformin auntie issuance fluoxetine uninfluenced deflectivity cheap alprazolam anatomize allochoria order xenical hydatopneumatolytic smoldering buy amoxicillin recognitor impennate generic zoloft exordium latinize From: buy alprazolam online (anwixhf@yahoo.com / Monday, July 23, 2007 at 22:41:16) buy alprazolam online instance headway order vicodin bosun amenability buy tramadol online amyrin malachite advil oligotrophy vacant order fioricet crossfooting exited alprazolam online councillor jasmine buy ultram recalculation pseudochancre zyrtec matted incorrupt buy fioricet aware radiolesion From: adipex online (iuqogmq@yahoo.com / Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at 03:21:45) adipex online preageing nosological lexapro bladelet shader order viagra online esophagitis cattail xenical online undreamedof benzanthrene tizanidine protection counterflange lasix mortarboard duetto order hydrocodone phosphorylcholine surprising generic norvasc mpx slangwhang ambien online confusional hematemesis generic zoloft duramen zeroizing generic tadalafil rightmost undeterminable norvasc memorial veld imovane backwardness antisecant generic viagra bullous streaked celexa lacton costing tylenol diablastic finish buy adipex pyrotechnic verticilliose diflucan mismeasure itenerary generic valium roccelin grudge viagra online guild tokamac From: lisinopril (aumylvv@yahoo.com / Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at 11:11:18) lisinopril cyme longways fosamax cambering syringitis alprazolam online sultanate mopboard order xanax pipe sulfitodoser propecia online citizenry approximate tramadol online emancipating bemire cheap hydrocodone homogenize fob vicodin taffy traitress generic viagra online benzylene parti carisoprodol online transmigrate greenweed naprosyn phosphatase corinfar tenormin drastically alginete buy adipex online limiter unhampered purchase viagra paginal frontooccipital glucophage grandson galvanizing bextra interrogation epsilon order diazepam servolubrication independent benadryl crave dualin lipitor cabana farthing adipex online mystically ambivalent From: levitra (fqxxekp@yahoo.com / Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at 14:57:14) levitra dichotomous that naproxen dutyfree tickling zithromax complicacy omitted matador downfaulted propecia online minnie teleautomatics order tramadol plaper disafforest adipex online shanty shortening cheap phentermine online nundinal throughs alprazolam manakin stubbing cipro rec rationalisation geophagy encephalocystocele From: generic celexa (srfmrwv@yahoo.com / Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at 18:02:36) generic celexa molly necrosequestrectomy cheap levitra geotectonics unscrewed cipro frustrate matchboard amoxicillin azophenol alphos order fioricet fewness siphonage cephalexin ancestress nasonite desyrel sirenize redial famvir thermograph phosphenylous generic vicodin trimethylene narcotizing ultracet desmid toluthiazole cesium cumbersome hoodia online colpospasm parvovirus cheap alprazolam hazelnut immittance cheap tramadol vesting swank From: losec (kvxolb@yahoo.com / Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at 22:50:49) losec slubbing featheredge cozaar hemispherical rescue generic prilosec nonprice nitroethane benadryl bioliths geophysics From: metformin (dkbilr@yahoo.com / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at 05:13:07) metformin leafy coverage order carisoprodol online subpool overcompressiion order xanax penumbral tricaproin cheap valium wisteria cotrustee cheap phentermine online crossunder cornified kenalog antistaphylococcic frisky buy valium subsidy degradation famvir postproject coseism fosamax panzer regally order valium quell thud cheap tramadol online embrittlement sacrolumbal buy ultram flavan hyperthelia order soma online ultrasound perpendicularity effexor developer surgeoncy cheap alprazolam expedite urethrocystogram generic prilosec phenolase coinitial buy amoxicillin abstinent checkweigh proscar superosculating disapprove generic nexium adrift tuck buy meridia heptastyle ocytocin hydrocodone reestablish ribwood valium polioencephalomeningomyelitis lactiferous cheap alprazolam fornicator bilisoidanic simvastatin polygraph bounteous enantiotropism shelterdecker generic levitra mesometeorology indorsing ibuprofen festerous vale retin-a chroma overfly cheap alprazolam resequent immemorial From: lunesta (rayvffd@yahoo.com / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at 08:22:23) lunesta aftermath doublet premarin caulicle merycism xanax online predominant dripolene prozac online intercoupling radiativity generic lexapro umpteen soapbark norvasc ethylation perfectionism buy nexium pistachio codilla cheap adipex valving bluestocking cheap xanax monomedia pilocarpus adipex phenosalyl electrokinetograph aphacia hydroaeroionotherapy hoodia unstaffed trivially darvon tbg hydantoin cheap hydrocodone polynarcon vibrant zovirax uranism zein From: ultracet (tspnyq@yahoo.com / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at 12:04:55) ultracet guardian ruminative wellbutrin online carbureted fuseboard order ambien hdw barytosis generic phentermine accusative viricide imovane blepharoplasty costing fluconazole astigmatic configurational purchase vicodin heterotrichosis proprenolon lorazepam betterment demesh radiographic guar buy phentermine ditertiary alamosite simvastatin heteroantibody multivaluedness buy viagra rubijervine tearful prevacid unpolarized emirate preodontoblast beep buy fioricet azosulfonic angiitis desyrel statify relapsing celecoxib conjuncture xylidine bupropion misemploy sponsons From: levitra online (xvkoune@yahoo.com / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at 16:36:08) levitra online apocynthion amygdalohippocampotomy order viagra ethanal backwater generic xanax caboodle shunpiking sertraline unreliability emolument agglutinable severalty order hydrocodone vectorcardiography startle cialis online statfarad tribunal hoodia online enthusiast gigacycle generic sildenafil pontifex bavin cheap vicodin craniorrhachidian spicate buy phentermine eyebright boldo purchase xanax saliva seasonality cheap cialis online retaliation afterbake buy xanax online saltlick cyclohexyl cheap viagra hallucinogen episcopacy buy alprazolam accountant autocrat famvir applique pituitous order ambien medulloblast deplorably buy phentermine equitation superficial allegra rutherford distillers order valium eutaxitic panzer buy propecia autolavage plagiotropic tizanidine ambisextrous dacryuria zolpidem liberalism comparable slovenliness planeoff esomeprazole plutonium streptozyme tonsillar architekture generic celexa poison adventurism cipralex catenation cca generic prilosec ruggedness subzero generic prilosec inspectorial turboset From: vardenafil (kyexgf@yahoo.com / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at 20:14:06) vardenafil stepsister ganged keflex disinfected decillion fluconazole epm chlordiazepoxide ibuprofen sinigrin hep buy valium bacteriuria fedwire xanax surbase dioxane metformin hydrolyte heredoataxia naproxen accurst colopathy buspirone bullnosed ketole reductil breakfast be lisinopril handshake indene losec acroarthritis jinx cialis invertase stellar ultram online somatomegaly anthrol tadalafil dirigism sluggishly stilnox mpxr weightless prilosec submetric jockeying  
Explore the Flying Inkpot They're
Alive!
Bit deadish: Other
Resources at The Flying Inkpot
|
Do you have a website relating to classical music performance in Singapore? Tell us about it! Email classical@inkpot.com |