Simon Rattle led a stellar ensemble to celebrate pianist poet and polymath Alfred Brendel on what would have been his 95th birthday at the Barbican. The evening was a glorious display of silliness, sublime playing and warm affection, capturing Brendel's own contradictions as an artist.
The music was heavily skewed towards classical repertoire, opening with Haydn's Representation of Chaos from The Creation. However, it was later performances that truly delivered the evening's punchlines. A talented group of musicians, including leading orchestral and chamber players, showcased their skill in a sequence that began with Beethoven's Piano Concerto No 3.
The orchestra worked in perfect harmony under Rattle's direction, leaning into surges of sound or dropping back to softest pianissimos. This balance was particularly evident during the tense darkness that opens the concerto. The performance was full of weight and conviction, courtesy of soloist Paul Lewis.
One of the evening's highlights came when the Takács Quartet joined forces with Adrian Brendel for a haunting performance of Schubert's C major Quintet. This piece is notable for its sense of absence – specifically, that the melody seems somehow missing. However, it was precisely this feeling of lack that made the performance so powerful.
Throughout the evening, Brendel's legacy shone through in the music, from his own poems to arrangements by other composers. This celebration not only honored Brendel but also paid tribute to those who were influenced by him. The event will undoubtedly be remembered as a testament to Brendel's enduring impact on classical music.
The concert was not without its lighthearted moments. A military-style band provided an unexpected backdrop to the evening, with the musicians performing in scarlet coats and epaulettes. Such surreal touches added a sense of whimsy to what could have felt like a traditional celebration.
Ultimately, the event was one that Brendel would have undoubtedly cherished – a joyous celebration of music, friendship and community. As the Takács Quartet's performance of Schubert's Quintet so eloquently demonstrated, this is an art form that continues to speak powerfully of acceptance, thankfulness and the human condition.
The evening also highlighted Brendel's connection to those who followed in his footsteps. Imogen Cooper joined forces with soprano Lucy Crowe for a rendition of Mozart's aria Ch'io scordi di te … and pianist Tim Horton performed an emotionally charged duet with his father Adrian Brendel in Liszt's Elégie No 2.
As the evening drew to a close, Brendel would have been delighted by the sold-out audience falling into the trap of Haydn's false ending to his Symphony No 90. A series of Brendel's own poems was also interspersed with miniatures by Kurtág and Ligeti, showcasing the versatility of the composer.
It is clear that Brendel's influence on classical music will continue to be felt for generations to come. The concert served as a fitting tribute to an artist whose contradictions – rigor and mischief, intelligence and humor – made him a true original.
The music was heavily skewed towards classical repertoire, opening with Haydn's Representation of Chaos from The Creation. However, it was later performances that truly delivered the evening's punchlines. A talented group of musicians, including leading orchestral and chamber players, showcased their skill in a sequence that began with Beethoven's Piano Concerto No 3.
The orchestra worked in perfect harmony under Rattle's direction, leaning into surges of sound or dropping back to softest pianissimos. This balance was particularly evident during the tense darkness that opens the concerto. The performance was full of weight and conviction, courtesy of soloist Paul Lewis.
One of the evening's highlights came when the Takács Quartet joined forces with Adrian Brendel for a haunting performance of Schubert's C major Quintet. This piece is notable for its sense of absence – specifically, that the melody seems somehow missing. However, it was precisely this feeling of lack that made the performance so powerful.
Throughout the evening, Brendel's legacy shone through in the music, from his own poems to arrangements by other composers. This celebration not only honored Brendel but also paid tribute to those who were influenced by him. The event will undoubtedly be remembered as a testament to Brendel's enduring impact on classical music.
The concert was not without its lighthearted moments. A military-style band provided an unexpected backdrop to the evening, with the musicians performing in scarlet coats and epaulettes. Such surreal touches added a sense of whimsy to what could have felt like a traditional celebration.
Ultimately, the event was one that Brendel would have undoubtedly cherished – a joyous celebration of music, friendship and community. As the Takács Quartet's performance of Schubert's Quintet so eloquently demonstrated, this is an art form that continues to speak powerfully of acceptance, thankfulness and the human condition.
The evening also highlighted Brendel's connection to those who followed in his footsteps. Imogen Cooper joined forces with soprano Lucy Crowe for a rendition of Mozart's aria Ch'io scordi di te … and pianist Tim Horton performed an emotionally charged duet with his father Adrian Brendel in Liszt's Elégie No 2.
As the evening drew to a close, Brendel would have been delighted by the sold-out audience falling into the trap of Haydn's false ending to his Symphony No 90. A series of Brendel's own poems was also interspersed with miniatures by Kurtág and Ligeti, showcasing the versatility of the composer.
It is clear that Brendel's influence on classical music will continue to be felt for generations to come. The concert served as a fitting tribute to an artist whose contradictions – rigor and mischief, intelligence and humor – made him a true original.
just had to comment on this beautiful tribute to Alfred Brendel 
the way they wove together his own poems with classical masterpieces was pure magic 
it's amazing how one person can leave such a lasting impact on music, I mean, 95 is old age for an artist but i'm pretty sure Brendel would be grinning from ear to ear if he knew how much love and appreciation he was getting tonight 
...i mean, simon rattles orchestra is def one of the best out there but how much of this was actually about alfred Brendel himself? didn't hear any real interviews or statements from Brendel's estate or anyone close to him. what i did see was a bunch of talented musicians playing some classic pieces 
...i wish they'd made more info about the event available to the general public before ticket sales went live.
. I mean, who expects to see a military-style band in a concert hall? It's moments like those that remind us that classical music doesn't have to be stuffy or formal all the time – Brendel himself was known for his wit and humor, after all.
. And yet, at the same time, it felt like we were seeing something new and original – Brendel was always pushing boundaries in his own work, and I think that spirit of experimentation is what's kept him so relevant all these years.
. The performances were just so sublime, it felt like we were all sitting in a classic concert hall from the good old days of vinyl records and cassette tapes... you know, back when music was actually about the artistry and not just some producer pushing some button to make it "radio-friendly" 
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. Paul Lewis as soloist was amazing, his playing had so much weight and conviction 
! It felt like the melody was missing on purpose, it was so hauntingly beautiful 
. The lighthearted moments were a great touch too 
. Overall, it was a joyous celebration of music and friendship 
. How much does it really have to do with Brendel himself, rather than just some generic 'celebration' event that just happened to feature someone named Brendel in the credits?
and those performances of beethoven's piano concerto no 3? 
i also loved the lighthearted moments, like that military band in scarlet coats 
totally added to the whimsy of the whole event. and can we talk about the poetry? 
alfred Brendel's own words woven throughout the music just elevated everything to a new level 
. And honestly, can we just talk about how old Simon Rattle is getting? Like, 75 and still leading ensembles? That's dedication 
. On a more serious note, it's awesome that the concert highlighted Brendel's connection to other artists - it's like he's still got his finger on the pulse of classical music 
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. It felt like Brendel would've loved the energy of the whole thing 
Their rendition of Mozart's aria was absolutely stunning! 
. And have you seen the Takács Quartet performing with Adrian Brendel? That guy looks way too old to be playing music with his son 
. and don't even get me started on the sold-out audience falling into Haydn's false ending... that sounds like a mind control tactic to me 
. something's not adding up here