Robertson Conducts Schumann 3 & 4

SYDNEY SYMPHONY | David Robertson
Lentz, Jerusalem (after Blake)
Schumann, Symphony No. 4 in D minor Op. 120
Schumann, Symphony No. 3 in E flat, Op. 97 "Rhenish"

Great Classics Series

20.02.14, Sydney Opera House

Opera House fortune cookie/ complementary interval snack

Quite stupidly, I had not researched which pieces would be in this concert, and was happily surprised to find out that I would be attending another performance of Lentz's Jerusalem. I was also happily surprised to receive a fortune cookie courtesy of the Opera House to celebrate Lunar New Year... but the happiest surprise of all was that I would not be sitting in the choir stalls, and instead in front of the orchestra. To be honest, I probably stood out as the only person with non-grey hair in that vicinity. (Who needs to watch 50 Shades of Grey when you could have a glance at the heads of Sydney classical-music-goers?).

"I have a feeling we're not in the choir stalls anymore, Toto"

It was interesting to witness the Lentz from both both sides of the orchestra. As an audience member, one of the clearest discrepancies between the two performances was the ease (or lack thereof) of identifying the sources of the sounds. For example, during the first performance where I was sitting in the choir stalls, I was able to easily identify the location of the musicians in the rear of the hall, however while I was sitting in front of the orchestra, I was unable to see them at all.
Another example of ambiguity was at the beginning of the piece when the offstage brass players are instructed to "play" their smartphone recordings. Due to the placement of the speakers, while sitting in the choir stalls, the recordings sounded like they were an off-stage brass group outside the hall. However, while sitting in front of the orchestra, it was apparent that a recording was being played over the speakers.
A (possibly logistical) shame that wasn't 100% clear during the first performance was the noise that could be heard from the bar outside the hall. During the first performance, I assumed the clinking and clanking was part of the percussion, however it became apparent that it was actually the sound of glasses being cleaned and stored away. During the softer sections, these extraneous noises seemed quite loud and unfortunate for the piece.

Schumann's 4th Symphony finished off the first half of the concert, and quite notable moments were the fugal section and Principal Cellist Umberto Clerici and Principal Oboe Diana Doherty's duos were unbelievably in sync with each other. The concert- and the Orchestra's Schumann cycle- was finished with Schumann's 3rd Symphony, which exuded various characters and was full of warmth and energy.

Happy Lunar New Year!