Went to an Elgar concert on Thursday, where Hickox was playing
Froissart/Cello Concerto (forget soloist's name) and Symphony No.2
which must surely go down as one of THE great symphonies.

Anyway, I enjoyed his Froissart, though I did not think he managed to give
it enough energy which I think is quite important in that kind of piece.
Very well playe though.

Cello conerto was rather unremarkable in my opinion.  Had none of the
electricity that we come to expect having been blessed with the JB/JdP
recording.

Second Symphony was outstanding though.  From the very first bar he managed
to develop this inexorable and exciting drive in the piece, playing it very
fast.  He had some very distinct views about what should be the focus at
different points and his conducting was very revealing.  I had never
noticed some of the features which he pointed out.  Anyway, he knocked
Slatkin into a cocked hat.

The audience's behaviour was abismal though.  I found myself LEADING the
applause for about 10 seconds until everyone else joined in.  Then about
a third of them jumped up and p***ed off.  So either the performance
was actually awful and I was oblivious to it (which is unlikely) or the
audience was a bunch of morons who, having seen Hilary and Jackie, came
for the Cello Concerto which was ironically not that fantastic and is
IMO nowhere near the piece of art which is the Second Symphony.

However, Roger Hecht, whom I met before the performance, will, I am sure,
when he gets back to a computer, be able to tell me if I am right or not.

David Stewart
[log in to unmask]