Tag: Mariss Jansons

Droopy Drawers Of Schubert & Bruckner At The Barbican Hall, 4 November 2001

In bingo parlance, m’lud, “droopy drawers” stands for 44 – all the fours. This concert was playing on the fact that it was utterly focussed on fourth symphonies:

  • Franz Schubert – Symphony No 4 in C minor “Tragic”
  • Anton Bruckner – Symphony No 4 in E flat major “Romantic”

The London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mariss Jansons played the tunes.

Here is a video recording of Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo under Nathalie Stutzmann playing the Schubert.

While here is the London Symphony Orchestra, under Haitink rather than Jansons, playing the Bruckner 4:

It was even the 4th of November, the evening of that concert, so it really was an evening of:

Diana Dors – all the fours.

A Visit To The Proms By Some Big Norwegians, Royal Albert Hall, 12 August 1995

Of course Pauline (The Duchess of Castlebar & Janie’s mum) knew all about the big Norwegians. She’d have done all of that before, but, as we were suggesting it, yes, she would join us at this Prom.

Here is a link to the BBC stub for this Prom.

Latvian maestro Mariss Jansons conducting The Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra in the following programme:

  • Magnar Åm – Study on a Norwegian Hymn
  • Richard Strauss – Also Sprach Zarathustra
  • Jean Sibelius – Symphony No. 2 in D major

Were we excited? Were we excited!

I loved a bit of Also Sprach back then. Here is a video of Mariss conducting the Concertgebouworkest in that very piece:

Even more, I loved that Sibelius Symphony No 2. Still do. Here is Mariss conducting the Big Norwegians from Oslo in the first movement of that amazing symphony:

Bliss.

Adrian Jack in the Independent also thought the Sibelius was bliss.

Jansons Prom Jack IndyJansons Prom Jack Indy 14 Aug 1995, Mon The Independent (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Even The Duchess seemed moved, but perhaps that was an auditory illusion.