When I came back to classical music a few years ago, I read Jim Svedja's
"Guide to the Classical Repertoire," where he refers to Vivaldi's music
as being for "BMW drivers." I didn't (and don't) know exactly what that
means, but perhaps it created a bias that took a while to overcome.

Now I am collecting some of the wonderful Opus 111 series, and I also
have two discs from the Venice Baroque Orchestra, featuring Giuliano
Carmignola.  I love them all, and I am no nearer to being a BMW-owner.

So about a year ago when the programs were listed for the first year at
Disney Hall, I knew I would have to attend the 2/8 concert - a visit by
Carmignola and the VBO in an all-Vivaldi program.  Somewhere along the
way Cecilia Bartoli scheduled a recital for that afternoon, so I went
to both (the VBO played at 7:30).  What a day.

The VBO were to be led from the keyboard by Andrea Marcon, but he was
announced as ill, and in fact, many of the small group (I counted 16)
coughed during the concert, and when Carmignola joined them as soloist
after a sinfonia and concerto for strings, he also looked a bit under
the weather - continually wiping his brow and letting out at least one
wicked cough.  For once, the orchestra was as noisy as the audience!

Nonetheless, the concert was splended.  Disney Hall may have intimacy
built into its design in terms of audience closeness to the stage, but
it is still a big hall.  At times, the music felt a bit distant for me,
up in the balcony.  The eeire, almost droning adagios and largos of
Vivaldi didn't communicate quite as well as the percussive, dancing
allegros.

The first half featured violin concertos 257, which doesn't seem to be
recorded at the moment, and 177, which was on a recent Carmignola disc.
The second half was given over to the "Four seasons," which everyone may
know (wink wink).  Carmignola wanted no applause between sections of the
individual concertos, so the set truly came across as a suite. It even
felt vaguely symphonic - a warm opening ("spring"), slower music ("summer"),
and ending with a dramatic flair ("winter").

With the orchestra not seeming in the best of health, and myself rather
tired, I left amid the cascade of applause that followed the "Four
Seasons." I learned from the newspaper review that Carmignola and the
VBO went on to do several encores, all Vivaldi!  That's what I get for
rushing to the parking lot.

HOWEVER - on 2/14 I returned to Disney Hall for Gergeiv leading the LA
Phil in a rare Rimsky-Korsakov "opener" - the tuneful march "Dubinushka,"
Prokofiev's Symphony 7, and "Pictures at an Exhibition." This concert
also ended with a wild standing ovation that went on for minutes, and
I stayed, but there was to be no encore.  I suppose Gergiev had had no
time to prepare one with the Phil.  A shame. I saw Gergeiv and his Kirov
at Carnegie Hall two years ago in an all-Prokofiev program, and the
evening ended with a blistering "Ruslan and Ludmilla" overture.  I was
hoping for a reprise, or something similar.

I didn't know Prokofiev's 7 very well, though he is one of my favorite
composers, so I had got out my only version, from Jarvi's complete set.
I heard attractive moments, but couldn't seem to grasp the larger
structure.  Boy, did Gergiev put it across.  This was the sort of
performance that makes one wonder why a composition isn't part of the
standard repertoire.  The charm and vivacity of the animated sections,
suggesting children at play, effortlessly blended with the somewhat more
nostalgic, aching music.  I will have to look around for another recorded
performance of this symphony, but what I hope is that Gergiev puts
together a symphony cycle.

Frankly, I was prepared to be bored by the "Pictures" - not that I dislike
the piece, but I have heard it (only on recordings) a few too many times.
Yes, Gergiev brought it to roaring life.  His baton came down a fraction
of a second after he turned to conduct, and we were off.  People all
over my section were leaning forward, drawn into the performance.  A
palpable tension filled the hall as the climax approached.  I have seen
some standing ovations at Disney Hall, more than I recall at the Dorothy
Chandler, but usually those SOs happened gradually - a few folk stand,
then a few more, then a section, etc. I'd say almost 90% of the audience
stood AS ONE at the end of the "Pictures."

But no encore.  Oh well.  Gergeiv had to have been exhausted - he is a
very physical conductor.  I would like to have been in one of the rear
orchestra view seats for this performance - he must have been something
to watch.

So two fine February Disney hall concerts.  Upcoming for me - Miguel
Harth-Bedoya conducts Golijov, Piazzolla (the wild bandeneon concerto)
and Ginastera, and Mathias Goerne sings the baritone half of "Knaben
Wunderhorn" on a program with Shostakovich 9, as Salonen continues the
five-year Shostakovich cycle.

C Mullins
Los Angeles