Live Sawallisch Schumann

I'm curious as to whether other Philadelphia or New York area posters have caught any or all of Sawallisch's live Schumann cycle with the Philadelphia Orchestra this season. I've now seen him in symphonies 1, 3 and 4. For the most part, the performances have been very competitive, or in some instances better than, his recorded Dresden cycle in my view. In four, it seemed to take them a couple movements to really get going. By the third movement, the orchestra was playing in full throttle with that heavy, blended string dominated sound that Sawallisch has brought to the Orchestra after the Muti years. The last few minutes of the final movement were absolutely thrilling. The Rhenish was very strong throughout as well. Again, the orchestra really just has such a high comfort and confidence level when Sawallisch is on the podium. You can see the string players really digging in and playing with tremendous aggression. The first symphony is generally my least favorite of the four, but this past Saturday's performance may have been the highlight of my concert-going season so far. I lucked out and got a $10 rush ticket about 15 rows from the stage on the left side of the floor. The seat location gave me a wonderful angle from which to view Sawallisch. He sometimes ques a section with a wave of his pinkie. Again, the raport between the orchestra and him is amazing. I'm looking forward to Eschenbach taking over. He's a very exciting interpretor and I'm sure there will be some thrilling concerts under him. But I'm going to miss Sawallisch and hope he'll guest conduct often as long as his health holds up. After a lackluster first few years, when I thought he was fairly dull, I've been extremely happy with the rest of Sawallisch's tenure, with the exception of last season, when I think the problem may have been at least partially due to the orchestra getting used to the new hall. They've sounded a lot better to me this season. It's a shame that they haven't been able to make recordings and haven't had a national radio contract for much of his tenure. The rest of the country (and world) has missed out on some wonderful music-making. I think a combination of factors led to the turn-around around midway through his decade in Philly. Part of it is due to the fact that he hired so many new players during his first few years, including several first chairs. It must take a little time for so many new players to gel. There also seemed to be a noticeable pick-up in the intensity of many of his performances after his wife died. How much of that is due to him throwing himself completely into his work and how much is due to the players pulling together for him (as I've read in a quote by one of the musicians) I'm not sure.

Has anyone else seen and enjoyed these Schumann performances as much as I have? Since Sawallisch's tenure is coming to an end, it's also not a bad time for others to give their opinion of his tenure here.

There is a possibility of the Schumanns being issued as part of a tribute to Sawallish possibly on the Andante Label.

It is a shame there is no national syndication, but there are the Andante & WHYY webcasts.

I've seen him only once back in 2000 in works not normally associated with him and was very impressed with his work & the sound he is getting out of the orchestra. The WHYY webcasts & the previous 1 season when they had national syndication also impressed me very much. The Strauss & Mozart serenades were great. Too bad they don't get the kind of exposure they deserve. I think that a big part of his legacy are those principals he's hired during his tenure. In my opinion, the current bunch are terrific. It's a shame Sam Caviezel didn't work out as principal clarinetist, but incoming Ricardo Morales from the MET should be outstanding.

I'm looking forward to hearing the orchestra and Sawallish in his last concert as Music Director in May.

BTW, how are balcony seats in Verizon. Does the overhang severely affect the sound in the back of the balconies?

I heard the Schumann 1 last evening along with the Schumann Piano Concerto (Buchbinder was the soloist) and Mendelssohn's Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage. Sawallisch is a terrific conductor and, in my opinion, his full time collaboration with Philadelphia is most mature. I can't imagine a finer ensemble presently performing.

The Schumann 1, arguably the most difficult of the 4 Schumann symphonies was precise and clear

Thankfully, I haven't had much experience at sitting under overhangs in Verizon. I can tell you that I've sat often in the third tier rear balcony and the sound doesn't always project powerfully up there. If you sit in the first couple rows of the second tier or in one of the box seats along the side (but not too close to the stage.....more like half-way back or even a little further) of the second or even the third tier balconies, the sound is pretty good. The hall will never make anyone forget about Carnegie or any of the other great halls, but I think the work they did in the off-season has paid off in that I've been happier with the accoustics this season than I was last season.

I heard the same concert in Philadelphia on Thursday night, February 6th, and I agree with your positive assessment of the orchestra and Sawallisch.

Henry Maurer, Cherry Hill, NJ, USA