Intermezzo

Rattle doesn't deny LSO rumours

It seems Simon Rattle would rather disclose how often he changes his underpants than reveal whether he's heading for the LSO.

But in a Der Tagesspiegel interview published today he declines two separate opportunities to shoot the story down, giving the clearest indication yet that the rumours are true.

To a mention of London, Rattle responds - in jocular fashion, we have to assume -  "It must be true. After all, it was in the Times."

Interviewer Frederik Hanssen persists, asking if there are any firm plans. "The only thing that is certain about the future is that we will carry on living in Berlin," says Rattle. "This was decided after family discussion. Nothing else is settled. I'm not about to start a new job the day after my Berlin farewell concert. Relationships can't be changed like underwear."

The Show Must Go On for 99p

Currently bringing up Morrissey's rear in the Amazon music book sales chart is - surprise, surprise - the LSO's principal flautist.

Gareth Davies spends his working day just inches away from a piccolo, but in The Show Must Go On he focuses on the more mundane travails of a touring orchestral musician. Rising at the crack of dawn, negotiating airport security, finding beer in a strange town, that kind of thing.

If you follow Gareth's LSO on Tour blog you will recognise many of the anecdotes. They're interspersed with diary entries written in 1912, on the orchestra's first ever US tour. Snatching what sleep they could on the train that ferried them from one concert to the next, the orchestra's punishing schedule makes the modern counterpart seem a doddle in comparison.

The Kindle version of The Show Must Go On is currently reduced to 99p - but it won't stay at this price forever, so move quickly. The hardback version starts at £6.99.

For a full history of the LSO, try Richard Morrison's highly readable Orchestra, a bargain at just 1p (plus P&P) for a used copy.

Gergiev's cheap Romeo

Valery Gergiev and the London Symphony Orchestra take another bash at Roméo et Juliette tonight (13 November) at the Barbican.

A ticket (normally up to £37) with a free cocktail thrown in can be yours for just £15 using the online discount code 131113.  

Keep your eyes peeled for more offers from the same source.

Hector et Valery

Roméo et Juliette - LSO/Gergiev - Barbican, 6 November 2013

Another night, another lacklustre crack at Berlioz from Valery Gergiev. The conductor's challenge in this episodic work is to respect the very different character of each individual section while knitting them together into a coherent whole.  The unremitting loudness of Gergiev's account couldn't disguise its overall flabbiness, distinguished only by exceptional solo contributions from vocalists and winds.  

Rattle for LSO

It appears that the first round of conductor bingo is in the bag.

Sir Simon Rattle "is understood to have accepted the post of principal conductor of the LSO. According to industry sources, Rattle, who is married to Magdalena Kozená, the Czech soprano, will succeed the Russian-born Valery Gergiev in the role. The LSO refused to confirm or deny the rumours."(Richard Morrison, The Times)

Gergiev begins his new job with the Munich Philharmonic in 2015. Rattle's contract with the Berlin Philharmonic runs to 2018, but presumably he could manage two orchestras for a while if he gave up some of his other commitments.

2013-14 seasons for London's big three orchestras revealed

London's biggest orchestras have now all released details of their 2013-14 seasons.

The London Philharmonic Orchestra listing is here.  The remainder of their The Rest is Noise series is unfortunately no more adventurous than the first. But there some worthwhile concerts tucked away in there, the main highlight being Peter Grimes on 28 September with Stuart Skelton in the title role.

The Philharmonia listing is here. The dates announced so far oddly include very few for principal conductor Esa Pekka Salonen. One of his rare appearances will be La damnation de Faust, which kicks off the season on 26 September, with Gerald Finley as Méphistophélès.

The LSO season listing, mentioned in an earlier post, can be downloaded here.

None of the listings mention booking dates, but I suspect only the operas will cause any serious jostling for tickets. As for the rest, based on recent experience it may be worth gambling on discounts appearing later.