MISCELLANEOUS POSTINGS

This folder includes miscellaneous articles on jazz and other musical subjects, including performance and album reviews, written by Eric Myers, which may or may not have been published elsewhere. Readers can click on the INDEX button to peruse a list of contents in this folder.

BEETHOVEN’S EMPEROR CONCERTO WITH SIMONE YOUNG & JAVIER PERIANES

Reviewed by Eric Myers

Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House, July 22, 2026

This Beethoven extravaganza, which took place on July 22, 2026 in the concert hall of the SOH, was manna from heaven for a listener such as I, whose favourite classical composer is far and away Beethoven. The program included not only Beethoven’s Symphony No 1, which I believe is little heard, but also two of his piano concertos, rather than the normal one on such a program, played by the celebrated Spanish pianist Javier Perianes. Conductor Simone Young explained on the internet that she had been forced to cancel Perianes twice in the past, and felt she owed him two piano concertos. Accordingly, in a welcome surprise for listeners, two such Beethoven piano concertos, Nos 2 and 5 (the latter being the monumental Emperor) were played…

THE SSO: AN OPEN REHEARSAL AND HIGHLIGHTS OF ITS 2027 SEASON

Reviewed by Eric Myers

August 19, 2026

On August 19, 2026, what was described as an “open rehearsal” took place in the concert hall of the SOH. Conductor Nicholas Ellis spent an hour rehearsing certain sections of Shostakovich’s Symphony No 1 with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. This was the first time that I’d been afforded such an experience. To a fledgling student of classical music, such as I, this provided a fascinating insight into the way a leading conductor handled the orchestra, particularly in the area of phrasing. While I was close to the stage I felt it unfortunate that I wasn’t able to hear clearly what Ellis was saying, as he frequently stopped the orchestra in mid-flight with certain instructions to which we were not privy. Might I suggest that, in future, such an event could include miking the conductor, so that what he says to the orchestra can be shared with the audience?