Berlin in Lights at Carnegie Hall

November 19, 2007 at 9:59 PM

From November 2-18, the culture of Berlin was brought to various New York institutions. The Museum of Modern Art ran a series of films focused on the capital, the Goethe-Institut showcased photography from Berlin, and Carnegie Hall presented the music, offering performances by one of the world’s greatest orchestras.

The Berlin Philharmonic performed three sold-out concerts during the week of the 11th. Tickets were not cheap, running from $62 to $210. Luckily, as a student subscriber, I got my tickets to the last concert for only $15. I didn’t have great seats, but I had a pretty impressive view from three tiers up. ;) Darn good for fifteen bucks.

The last time I heard the Berlin Philharmonic was in May, and I was spellbound for ages afterwards. Normally, I’m not can’t-breath-can’t-stop-grinning-excited for concerts, but this time was different. I was more excited than when I... well, I can't even remember the last time I had been that excited. I wanted to re-experience what I had felt for the first time when I heard the orchestra in May—that mix of lightheadedness and awe and joy, that insane jumble of emotions. I was dying of anticipation. I warned myself that I was thinking too much. Just sit, and enjoy the concert.

The concert began with György Kurtág’s Stele, Op. 33, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle. I had never heard it or of it before, and I don’t remember much about what happened during the fifteen or so minutes it lasted. I believe I just sat and listened when all of a sudden the piece ended and I was left confused with a question mark over my head. The concert was quite interesting that it started slightly past eight, and the intermission came at around 8:20. The second half (of rather 8/10) of the program consisted of Mahler’s 10th Symphony. Mahler died before he got to finish his 10th (the score played was the one completed by Deryck Cooke.) All I can say is: MARVELOUS. The solos were breathtaking (flutes and cellos, oh boy!), and Sir Simon Rattle became a soloist in that he played one instrument: The Orchestra. Each separate section was in such perfect unison with the others (violas included xD), and what crescendos! This description is going to sound crazy, but as I was watching the violin section, I felt that their bow arms were, well, swimming. Hmm… I really am losing it, aren’t I? At the end of the Mahler, Rattle held his arms in the air for a couple of minutes (audience was deadly silent) before dropping them (audience bursted into applause). A standing ovation was totally deserved, and the applause was nearly as loud at the Berlin Philharmonic fortissimos. ;) Bravo!

From Donna Clegg
Posted on November 20, 2007 at 2:17 AM

Your review is great - I wish I had been there too - even in the cheap seats.

From Joe Fischer
Posted on November 20, 2007 at 3:24 AM

Oh Linda,sounds absolutely wonderfull !
Very nicely done article.
Thanks !

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on November 20, 2007 at 7:29 AM

You're so lucky getting a $15 ticket to hear the Berlin Philharmonic. I've never heard them in person. I wish I could have been there. Your description of the music sounds great.

From Megan Chapelas
Posted on November 21, 2007 at 7:34 PM

Linda, your description of the violin section as 'swimming' isn't odd at all. In fact, that was what struck me when I first saw them - the fact that the orchestra seems to move so fluidly, breathing the music together.

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Berlin in Lights at Carnegie Hall

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