Elvis plays with Brodsky Quartet, Glasgow, april 26, 2009

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sweetest punch
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Elvis plays with Brodsky Quartet, Glasgow, april 26, 2009

Post by sweetest punch »

http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/fea ... making.php

The audience at tomorrow night's concert by the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra in the Royal Concert Hall, the closing event in the Glasgow venue's International Classical Season, will leave clutching literature unveiling the programme for the Royal Concert Hall's next international season, opening in October and running through to June 2009.

As fully expected, the new season contains a series of irresistible, world-class international classical outfits, mostly playing delectable programmes. Louise Mitchell, director of Glasgow's concert halls, and the person responsible for devising the International Classical Season, has produced a fascinatingly structured season for her audiences, one which opens and closes with orchestral blockbusters featuring the London Philharmonic with Gennadi Rozhdestvensky, followed nine days later by the St Petersburg Philharmonic with Yuri Temirkanov, and, at the far end of the season, the Staatskapelle Dresden with Daniel Harding.

In between these giant buttresses to the season, there will be chamber orchestras, with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and clarinettist Michael Collins, and the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra with pianist/director Leif Ove Andsnes. There will be opera, with a semi-staged performance of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas from Philip Pickett's New London Consort and director Jonathan Miller; and there will be solo piano music from Peter Donohoe in a fascinating programme that combines late Beethoven and the music of Olivier Messiaen.

So far, so superb.

But broaden the picture and take in Louise Mitchell's twin ambitions - to deploy her International Classical Season across the three venues over which she presides, the Royal Concert Hall, the City Hall, and the Old Fruitmarket; and to introduce chamber music into her big season - and suddenly we are confronted with a concert season that is a spectacularly virtuosic display of vision, ambition, innovation, mind-opening versatility and what can only be described as sheer bloody-minded confidence in Glasgow's halls, big and small, and the effectiveness with which they can house and deliver classical music in all its forms, shapes and sizes.

To bring this vision to reality, Mitchell has signed up the great Brodsky Quartet, who already have a strong association with the city through their RSAMD residency, to give not one, not two, but three separate projects across the city's three venues.

The Brodskys, who gave an unforgettable concert in Glasgow just last Friday, will play all 15 of Shostakovich's string quartets in five concerts compressed into just two days. That project will be staged in the City Hall. Two weeks later, the group, famed for their cross-border collaborations with artists across art forms from jazz to rock, will return to the city for a major concert, this one staged in the Royal Concert Hall with their most famous collaborator, Elvis Costello, in a programme that will roll out music from their 15 years of working together, including tracks from Juliet Letters and Moodswings, along with new arrangements and new material. There will also be a major educational strand to this project, intended to seek out new songwriters.

For their third appearance, the Brodskys will take over the Old Fruitmarket, where, with the stratospheric soprano Dawn Upshaw and a maverick ad hoc group of instrumental virtuosi called The Andalucian Dogs, they will participate in an extraordinary concert that will include Bartok's First String Quartet and Hungarian Folksongs, as well as the utterly amazing example of world, ethnic and everything-else piece of music entitled Ayre, and written for the extreme flexibility of Upshaw's voice by the cult (and contentious) South American composer Osvaldo Golijov.
Last edited by sweetest punch on Sat Jun 07, 2008 3:17 am, edited 1 time in total.
Since you put me down, it seems i've been very gloomy. You may laugh but pretty girls look right through me.
GCM
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Re: Elvis plays with Brodsky Quartet, Glasgow

Post by GCM »

I still remember the last time Elvis collaborated with the Brodskys in Glasgow, just prior to the release of the Juliet Letters.
It was a great show.

My pals remember it too, and still remember with glee the fact that they were grooving to the B52's at the Barras while I was enjoying one of Elvis's more obscure side projects.
sweetest punch
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Re: Elvis plays with Brodsky Quartet, Glasgow, april 2009

Post by sweetest punch »

http://www.glasgowconcerthalls.com/whatson/event/76397 (You can book your tickets now!!!)

The International Classical Season 2008/2009 Elvis Costello with the Brodsky Quartet
Sunday 26th April 2009, 7.30pm
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall : Auditorium
2 Sauchiehall Street G2 3NY
Glasgow, G2 3NY
0141 353 8000

Highly acclaimed singer-songwriter Elvis Costello joins the internationally renowned Brodsky Quartet for an evening to celebrate their longstanding collaborative link. The programme will include tracks from their hugely successful recordings - The Juliet Letters and Moodswings, alongside new material built up over the last fifteen years.

Costello is well-known for his musical eclecticism and his innovative and influential songwriting capabilities. Having originally been linked with the punk and new wave explosion, his music has since drawn on dozens of genres.

The Brodsky Quartet are known both for their love and mastery of the classical quartet repertory, as well as their pioneering collaborations with a diverse range of performing artists, which has given them an unrivalled opportunity to influence and inspire some of the newest work for string quartet.
Since you put me down, it seems i've been very gloomy. You may laugh but pretty girls look right through me.
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And No Coffee Table
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Re: Elvis plays with Brodsky Quartet, Glasgow, april 26, 2009

Post by And No Coffee Table »

I wasn't aware until yesterday that the Brodsky Quartet's lineup has changed again: Andrew Haveron, who replaced Michael Thomas in the late '90s, has been replaced by Daniel Rowland.
johnfoyle
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Re: Elvis plays with Brodsky Quartet, Glasgow, april 26, 2009

Post by johnfoyle »

Who's going? I am.
The imposter
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Re: Elvis plays with Brodsky Quartet, Glasgow, april 26, 2009

Post by The imposter »

i'll be at the Glasgow show..It Would be nice to meet the great Mr Foyle!

you're not going to all the shows are you.? that's heavy dude!
johnfoyle
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Re: Elvis plays with Brodsky Quartet, Glasgow, april 26, 2009

Post by johnfoyle »

See you there!
snapyou
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Re: Elvis plays with Brodsky Quartet, Glasgow, april 26, 2009

Post by snapyou »

I'm going:debating whether i should take the gf(not an EC fan but she enjoyed his last show there with the orchestra)
or my best mate (who does like a bit of EC).
Think i'll wait to see the set lists from the gigs this week till I decide.

I remember the first time he performed The Juliet Letters there(one of their first shows together)
and was the only time I've seen EC nervous:he was shaking like a leaf at the beginning.
johnfoyle
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Re: Elvis plays with Brodsky Quartet, Glasgow, april 26, 2009

Post by johnfoyle »

See everyone there!
GCM
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Re: Elvis plays with Brodsky Quartet, Glasgow, april 26, 2009

Post by GCM »

I am sure someone, perhaps the chap who was next to me, will post a setlist later on.
Elvis was on good form in front of a less than full house and the Brodskys sounded just fine.

Amusing incident just two songs in, with what sounded like an inebriated Glaswegian woman calling out, " I wanted to see Elvis Costello, not this classical stuff" or words to that effect. She refused to behave and the argument continued for a while with the rest of the audience shouting her down and Elvis even offering her a refund before telling the Quartet to start up Rocking Horse Road. She and her two pals were escorted out during the song.

Elvis later thought she had been on the "Electric Irn Bru".

Highlights for me tended to coincide with Elvis picking up one of his acoustic guitars. I really liked "Sulfur to Sugarcane" from the new album and premiered on Spectacle plus a new song I hadn't heard before. Two loads of encores, a stadning ovation and that was it after about 2 and a half hours.

Personally, as a veteran of 36 shows, I thought it was great but it was a bit self indulgent for me. The songs sound better with Steve, Pete and Davey playing but if this is what Elvis is doing right now than I'm there to hear him.
johnfoyle
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Re: Elvis plays with Brodsky Quartet, Glasgow, april 26, 2009

Post by johnfoyle »

http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/fea ... t_Hall.php

Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartet,

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

KEITH BRUCE, Arts Editor April 28 2009
Star rating: *****

Last year Costello brought his orchestral and big band book to play with the RSNO in what proved a stunning concert. As part of the Brodsky Quartet's series of appearances in the city, he returned with a new book of arrangements of material spanning three decades, from regular set-opener Accidents Will Happen to new and, as yet, unrecorded songs. Those who came expecting The Juliet Letters (the song cycle he wrote with the Brodskys) were rewarded with six of those songs, but few of the other songs shared the same original release in what was a remarkable career overview.

Highlights were too many to mention, but the great Rocking Horse Road (from Brutal Youth) and perennial New Lace Sleeves (from Trust) stood out in the first half, and there was more than a nod to his new domestic happiness with tunes from North, a couple by wife Diane Krall and My Three Sons in an arrangement that introduced a Welsh hymn tune into a song that borrowed the title of a US TV series.

There was a strong political line running through the selection too. Pils and Soap had revised lyrics and a Janacek treatment, and a new version of Shipbuilding included a tango section, lest anyone had forgotten the South Atlantic adventure that inspired the song. That theme continued in the selections from upcoming album Secret, Profane and Sugarcane, with the Brodskys playing bluegrass in an arrangement by Paul Cassidy.

Most of this was missed by the ranting woman who interrupted proceedings early on, objecting to the classical instrumentation. Like the "Judas" hurled at Dylan (but not as succinct) it was evidence only of cloth ears (and over-refreshment).
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oliversa1
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Re: Elvis plays with Brodsky Quartet, Glasgow, april 26, 2009

Post by oliversa1 »

I was there, ranting woman and all, had long weekend travelled up from Ellesmere Port and rushing back yesterday to the Manchester show (struggling in work today).

Highlight of Glasgow, meeting Elvis outside afterwards, very pleasant had loads of time for everyone and having photos taken with them.

He is still the KING.

Had better seat in Manchester, sat just behind you John, I thought better concert than Glasgow.

He did mention on Sunday that he is planning a tour in the UK for later on this year.
Don't Start Me Talking, I Could Talk All Night.
johnfoyle
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Re: Elvis plays with Brodsky Quartet, Glasgow, april 26, 2009

Post by johnfoyle »

I've added this show's program note to wiki-

http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/inde ... 2C_Glasgow

- along with some images -

http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/inde ... 26_Glasgow

including -


Image
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verbal gymnastics
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Re: Elvis plays with Brodsky Quartet, Glasgow, april 26, 2009

Post by verbal gymnastics »

oliversa1 wrote:He did mention on Sunday that he is planning a tour in the UK for later on this year.
He must have taken notice of what I said to him in London :lol:
Who’s this kid with his mumbo jumbo?
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Causeway
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Re: Elvis plays with Brodsky Quartet, Glasgow, april 26, 2009

Post by Causeway »

Hello

I was in the audience for this one and would like to thank Elvis Costello and the Brodsky's for a superlative evening. The experience has left me seeking out my copies of North and Punch The Clock, The Juliet Letters was always a favourite anyway.

We were seated in the balcony not too far from the 'ranting' lady, I thought Elvis handled the interruption very well and it gave him opportunity to display a wry and feral wit and it was splendid of him to dedicate a song to her later in the performance.

I'm sorry I didn't get to see him afterwards but we just wandered off with birds still singing upstairs. :wink: Hopefully I'll have more savvy next time round.
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oliversa1
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Re: Elvis plays with Brodsky Quartet, Glasgow, april 26, 2009

Post by oliversa1 »

Me and Elvis outside stagedoor in Glasgow
Elvis and Me in Glasgow2.JPG
Elvis and Me in Glasgow2.JPG (131.88 KiB) Viewed 15246 times
Don't Start Me Talking, I Could Talk All Night.
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