It’s the first of two performances, with Vladimir Ashkenazy conducting.
It’s such a tricky work, but tremendous fun to sing.
Huh, first it’s Gerontius and now it’s Belshazzar, and wasn’t it the Vladster last time too? You’re just trying to make me jealous, aren’t you?
The best of, dude. 
Who’s “we”?
I’d never heard of either Belshazzar or Gerontius before moving to the UK, and have sung both of them several times since (you haven’t done Gerontius until you’ve had Sir Andrew Davis at the helm). Amazing works, and I find it sad that they’re not well known in America. I don’t know what Australian choral culture is like, but in the US it’s pretty dismal.
The a cappella semi-chorus near the end of Belshazzar is my favorite bit. Knock 'em dead.
So, how has it been, and what is it like working with Ashkenazi? Withhold nothing…
Last night went extremely well for 99% of the performance. Full house, very enthusiastic audience, choir on fire etc…
Then we got to the final Alleluia and Ashkenazy just changed everything that we had rehearsed. His prerogative of course, but it was completely unclear what he did want in his new interpretation. So it ended up being a bit of a shemozzle, sadly, because everything had been going so very well up until that point. I expect that our musical director will have a word with the maestro before tonight’s performance.
I heard this piece for the first a few years ago performed by the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra and Chorus at Blossom Music Center. Amazing work.
Cunctator, I am envious! I would love to have the opportunity to sing it.
Yes. He’s the chief conductor of the Sydney Symphony, and the Belshazzar concerts are SSO ones, with us fulfilling our role as SSO chorus. Gerontius was the same. Ashkenazy appears to be rather partial to choral music, which is great news for us, of course. The next concerts in our own subscription series are Handels’ Jephtha in July.
“We” are the Sydney Philharmonia Choir.
Yes, I love this part too. After all of the crashing and banging it’s rather lovely to sing something that’s unaccompanied that the audience can really hear.
PDF version of the program available here, under “read the program”, for anyone who’s interested.
Good stuff. I’m with the BBC Symphony Chorus, which is attached to the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Sadly, we haven’t done either Belshazzar or Gerontius for a few years now.
Did the late Richard Hickox ever grace your podium? I know he was frequently down in your neck of the woods.
Last night was absolutely spectacular!
Yes, most recently for Haydn’s Creation. A very gifted conductor.
A pretty good review from yesterday’s Australian: