#cbso

[itsstreetlove]

Birmingham, Make Some Noise!

The CBSO Tram celebrating and promoting the iconic City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

July 2023

#photographers on tumblr #original photographers #street photography #birmingham #cbso

[tfblovesmusic]

How Ian Bostridge Unlocked my American Elementary School Memories

I have been swooning over Ian Bostridge's voice since middle school.

From watching the David Alden film of Franz Schubert's Winterreise on Ovation TV to borrowing a CD of Johann Sebastian Bach choral works with the Choir of King's College Cambridge and the Academy of Ancient Music under the late Sir Stephen Cleobury (His rendition of "Deposuit Potentes" in BWV 243 was FIRE!) a couple of times from the local library while I was living in the USA, the three-time GRAMMY winner's voice never has since failed to amaze me.

But it hasn't been his timbre that has made him my favorite classical music tenor of all time.

In April 2024, Ginong Bostridge stopped a performance of Benjamin Britten's Les Illuminations at the Brum Symphony Hall for a glaring reason - young people were taping or photographing him on their phones. He interceded out loud, "The lights are shining directly in my eyes – it’s very distracting. Would you please put your phones down?"

He wasn't aware of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra's then-new policy that started enabling audiences to film in a maximum of a minute or photograph classical music concerts, in a vain bid to attract more young audiences.

But it came with reservations. The rules stated, "We ask that you are mindful of disturbing artists and other audience members and suggest that you take pictures and videos during applause breaks. Please dim the brightness on your phone, and do not use your flash."

Ginong Bostridge - oblivious of the new rules during his performance - wasn't having any of that.

This video STRAIGHT-UP metaphorizes Bostridge responding to an errant phone light or ringtone at a concert.

"You're looking at the audience and it's very interrupting and distracting to have phones being held up," he told BBC Radio 4, "It breaks the spell. I didn't know about this policy and I wasn't making a protest of any sort to begin with, I simply couldn't carry on because I couldn't concentrate."

"Performances are a dialogue with the audience," baritone Christopher Maltman (who collaborated with Bostridge several times) commented to a Classic FM post on IG, We as performers rely on the audience’s attention and concentration. We are flesh and blood artists who are not unaffected by how audience members behave."

"We can see and hear you as you can see and hear us, and are distracted by movements in the audience and the glint of light reflected off phones, faces and arms as they are held up, whether they are dimmed or not. Fundamentally, we spend thousands and thousands of hours during our professional lives to hone our skills to be able to accomplish feats of dexterity, memory, concentration and artistic expression which are at or near the limit of human ability."

"We need the audience to be with us on that musical journey and even if the physical act of filming or taking photographs isn’t distracting to the point that it is at the detriment of our own focus, it’s is at the bare minimum a moment of departure for those who film from the covenant of live performance which is the beating heart of what we do."

"No photo, no video, and no recording can ever even remotely reproduce the magic of live performance and any marginal fringe benefit in terms of social media likes is nothing compared with the damage that is done by saying that it is fine to switch your brain off and switch your phone on in the concert hall or opera house. I personally have had to stop in my recitals more than once to request people view me with their eyes and listen with their ears rather than watch me second hand on a screen."

Sir Simon Rattle would also be most disappointed with the phone policies. Back in BBC Prom 55 with the Berlin Philharmonic in 2003, he stopped a performance of Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring because someone's Nokia blasted an abridged, chiptuned version of Francisco Tárrega's Gran Vals during the bassoon solo. The reviewer of MusicWeb Int'l heard a fellow audience member seated in front of him call the offending other the w-word.

Funnily enough, Ginong Bostridge unlocked many core memories of watching orchestras perform live - during the Garden State Ballet's productions of The Nutcracker and Cinderella and numerous field trips with my elementary and private schools.

The most memorable elementary school orchestra-centered field trip was in 2001. And it WASN'T ANY JUST ANY ORCHESTRA.

IT WAS THE FLORIDA ORCHESTRA.

I would be entranced by Lanky Kong's Trombone Tremor when I would play Donkey Kong 64. I would watch The Lawrence Welk Show on WEDU each Saturday night. Throw in mornings with Classic Arts Showcase on my public access TV channel; several documentaries (Howard Goodall's notwithstanding) and performances I would see on Ovation TV; and previous experiences seeing orchestras live, and I was WELL-PREPPED.

Our 5th grade teacher told us what to expect AND how to dress for the concert - no jeans, T-shirts, or shorts. I wore the closest thing to jeans but much dressier - a denim midi dress. And we were too young to have cell phones back then!

The finest moment of the FL Orchestra's performance I and my 5th grade class attended was their opening orchestral excerpt, the overture to Leonard Bernstein's Candide. As Asher pointed out, I wished I would've taped it. But with us too young to have phones, with phones then lacking video capabilities, AND with us knowing concert etiquette from the back of our hands, taping it would've been all but so inconsiderate.

I would've gotten into trouble at school if I had done that.

"(The CBSO's phone policy) ignores the fact that allowing the use of phones during musical or theatrical performances is bad for everyone," Alexandra WIlson griped in The Critic.

To Ginong Bostridge: here's our power anthem! LET'S DO A DUET ON THIS!

"It’s bad for the performer, who is distracted by a sea of bright lights, or by the blaring of ring tones, and struggles to get into the zone or into character. A live classical concert, what’s more, is not a recording session, and comes with an element of risk for the musician involved. The singer lays bare his or her soul, and in doing so relies upon a certain amount of implied contractual trust — the understanding that people aren’t going to stick that fluffed top note on YouTube."

"Phone use is also bad for other audience members, for whom this concert or play may be a long-saved-up-for treat, and who should have a reasonable expectation to be able to concentrate."

"You certainly don’t have to be a finishing-school graduate to be irked by a thoughtless neighbor who gives a damn about no-one but themselves."

"All live music is precious and fragile," Maltman summarized, "Switch your phones off and allow your mind to engage with the beauty of it. Please."

To conclude this post, lemme show y'all the March 1995 Beeb broadcast of various Henry Purcell choral works and songs! JUST scroll to 49:25 and press play - 30-year-old Ginong Bostridge in a FLUTIN' TRIO WITH DAME EMMA KIRKBY AND MICHAEL CHANCE is SO FIRE! Cell phones with touchscreens and built-in cameras had YET to stymie that magical moment back when it was broadcasted!

#ian bostridge #cbso #city of birmingham symphony orchestra #classical music concerts #cell phones in concerts #brum #concert etiquette #audience etiquette #Youtube

[corduroyserpent]

10 songs, 10 people!

I was tagged by @kabybaali 💕

Rules: Put your music on shuffle and list the first 10 songs that come up.

1. Silver Dagger – Joan Baez

2. ユン&イクス ,惜別 – 梁邦彦

3. Love Like Ghosts – Lord Huron  

4. アキレスと亀 – Hello Sleepwalkers

5. everything i wanted – Billie Eilish 

6. Chant II (Live) – Original Cast of Hadestown 

7. Ricky Alone – Moniker

8. Sleeping Giants – The Crane Wives 

9. Hadar: Evening of Roses (Arr. Hodge for Cello, Clarinet and Ensemble) – Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Oliver Janes, & CBSO Cellos

10. Back to Life – Mystery Skulls

and as always, don’t feel pressured to do this! i’m gonna tag @luukeskywalker @livingmeatloaf @sixpomseeds @goatpunch2 @lilnasxvevo @breadandblankets @dustdevil @squeeegs @peerlessbellbird @dumbkatsu (and anyone else who wants to do this! consider yourself tagged 💕)

#tag meme

[ppwbm-blog]

Débat sur les téléphones : Ian Bostridge interrompt son concert à cause de la politique autour du téléphone intelligent

À l’annonce récente du City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) selon laquelle « nous sommes très heureux que vous preniez des photos et de courtes vidéos lors de nos concerts », le ténor Ian Bostridge a brièvement interrompu une représentation de « Les illuminations » de Britten en se plaignant que les téléphones des spectateurs le distrayaient. L’incident a suscité de nombreux commentaires…

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[pianotunerwolverhampton]

Tuning the Yamaha C1x Grand Piano at Wolverhampton Civic Hall for the Christmas concert featuring the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestr.

#cbso #yamaha #yamahac1x #piano #pianist #music #pianotuner #pianotuning #wolverhampton #WolverhamptonCivicHall

#Wolverhampton Civic Hall #Birmingham symphony orchestra #piano #piano tuner #piano tuning #piano music #pianist #upright piano #piano tuners #wolverhampton #music #piano tuner wolverhampton #Yamaha c1x

[thedimpause]

🎵 My Top weekly artists logged by last.fm: Roger Waters (53), Allison Russell (32), Simon Rattle & City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (7), Raphaël Pichon & Pygmalion (3), Simon Rattle, Janet Baker, CBSO (2)

[qudachuk]

Shireland CBSO Academy in West Bromwich is a new school with music embedded in its curriculum.

[teledyn]

Luciano Berio: Sinfonia (Electric Phoenix, CBSO, Simon Rattle, 1987)

#berio #sinfonia #electric phoenix #Youtube

[arielmcorg]

#IT - Hitachi Vantara anuncia la designación de Sheila Rohra como nueva Chief Business Strategy Officer

Para estar un paso adelante en un sector en constante cambio y mantenerse al día con las tendencias emergentes, Hitachi Vantara, la subsidiaria de Hitachi Ltd. (TSE: 6501) que ofrece una infraestructura moderna, gestión de datos y soluciones digitales anunció que Sheila Rohra ha sido nombrada chief business strategy officer (CBSO), con efecto inmediato (Fuente Hitachi Latam). El rol permitirá a…

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#hitachi vantara #PORTADA #vantara

[gbunster]

[abandntravels]

A day in London. 24 August 2022.

Started the day with a walk, to a David Lloyd gym for an hours yoga with Fran. Oh boy is it a bit different doing yoga in a class rather than following a instruction on a video and a whole hour - I feel stretch and pulled in every direction. I am sure my shoulders will be uncomfortable tomorrow (I can confirm they are, as i type this).

Walked back collecting bacon and tomatoes for breakfast. Not may MEPS from yoga class but got some for the walk there and back. Headed off to collect Anya (Fran eldest daughter) to go the the British museum for the afternoon. The plan was a visit the exhibition Feminine Power the Devine to the Demonic.

Fran decided to drive into London, so that was a new experience having been around London by foot, underground and bus, I can now add being driven in a very nice Mercedes Benz, felt very posh. Even through there is a congestion charge to pay, it was cheaper to do that than pay for train and then underground for us all. Cool parking discount with having a hybrid car and all meant avoiding the hot and sinking underground (and lots of people). Had a lovely walk and got to see lots of interesting people and outfits.

The museum exhibition was really interesting, interesting the different representation across cultures and region around being feminine and the power that this holds. I took a couple of pictures but hard to do this without being in peoples way, as there were lots of women and a few men seeing the exhibition.

A lovely cup of tea, amazing how refreshing a tea can be on a very hot day. The it was time from Fran and I to head to meet Nick (my cousin) for dinner before going to the Proms. another opportunity to be driven around London, seeing the sites from the car. Much easier to find a park near the Royal Albert Hall. I wouldn’t like to drive in central London, too many cars, buses, taxi’s, bikes and people and I really don’t think the English use roundabouts quite how we do. But Fran did an awesome job.

Dinner was lovely, had a vey attentive waitress but not sure I will get use to the tipping idea - people really should be paid a proper wage not have to rely on tips.

Before I talked about the Proms, just to say I have been pretty good with my mask wearing despite generally be either the only one or one of the few I do wear it in the museum and throughout the Proms.

The Proms where amazing, we saw Sir Simon Rattle conducted the Mahler’s Second Symphony - Resurrection, which seem to use every instrument known, has two singers and the CBSO and London symphony chorus. I am not a huge classical fun but this piece took you on an incredible journey. It is about wrestling a-with doubts and question of human purpose and then a affirmation of faith (not my words). Nick and I had seats in the centre stalls, while Fran was in the mosh pit :-) A drink at the pub (our 3rd choice, other two were far to busy) before another drive through London and back to Frans.

What a day!

[sarahthecoat]

fans of cabin pressure will especially enjoy the first number in this proms concert!

#cabin pressure #bbc proms #ruslan and lyudmila

[meteortutors]

The Royal Albert Hall quickly filling up to watch Chief Conductor Designate Kazuki Yamada with The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra at the BBC Proms 2022 🇬🇧 Rachmaninov's Symphony No. 2 in E minor was fantastic! #RoyalAlbertHall #CBSO #Conductor #bbcproms #London #LDN #rachmaninov #classical #classicalmusic #KazukiYamada

[sumpix]

Two Fanfares for Orchestra: II. Short Ride in a Fast Machine

#john adams #cbso #Short Ride in a Fast Machine #music

[productions-sarfati]

ACTU DES ARTISTES I Kazuki Yamada 

Dimanche 24 septembre : Directeur musical de l’Orchestre philharmonique de Monte-Carlo et chef principal du CBSO, Kazuki Yamada a initié une collaboration entre la phalange monégasque et le chœur de l’orchestre britannique. Il ouvrira ainsi sa saison monégasque en associant les deux formations dans la Symphonie sacrée (n°3) d’Andrzej Panufnik et la Symphonie n°2 en do mineur « résurrection » de Mahler. Un concert d’ouverture qui promet de fortes sensations ! https://www.opmc.mc/concert/commemoration-rainier-iii/

[randomrecordreview]

All hail, the new king in town! @shekukannehmason receiving rapturous applause after his stunning performance of #elgarcelloconcerto with the #cbso at @bbc_proms https://www.instagram.com/p/B1e6aijAdY2/?igshid=yrj0hrmxy9gv

#elgarcelloconcerto #cbso