Boring Bamert signs off with Beethoven

A full house is always guaranteed in most concert halls - that is, if you programme Beethoven's Ninth Symphony for the concert. Boring maestro Bamert in his final concert managed a full house (quite unlike most of his other concerts) - because of the Beethoven 9. Well, the Eighth Symphony that began the concert was just played so-so for me. In my opinion, the size of the MPO was over-large and the tempi were a bit sluggish to say the least. This symphony is one of the most jovial amongst the nine and so it needs a lighter touch. But the sheer size of the orchestra just bogged the whole piece down - too heavy, without rhythmic lift and jollity.

In the second half, the Ninth Symphony is a colossus of a piece - the first ever to use a chorus in such a piece - preceding Mahler and his gargantuan choral-symphonic creations. However, Bamert chose to use a HIP (historically informed practice) manner of playing the whole piece. It just zipped swiftly from beginning to end without much drama. Transitions were not specially taken care of, dynamics were also under-played, the intensity of the piece was simply non-existent and the slow movement lacked any spirituality or repose. Again the final movement passed us by without any great musical interpretation. The most distinguished vocalist was the mezzo, Natascha Petrinsky (who had taken part in our Mahler 2 here years ago). The audience liked the performance but I think they were listening more to the notes that Beethoven wrote rather than what little Bamert was able to bring out from this massive piece.

Anyway, for my musical opinion on Bamert - he had spoilt the good work that Kees Bakels and the MPO began with. The orchestra (whilst still not that good yet) went seriously downhill during his tenure and I am really glad to see him go. Now, we look forward to the new reign of MD Claus Peter Flor (who is one of the best guest conductors to the MPO previously) who will now help to restore what Bamert had destroyed and to rebuild the MPO beyond the standard that they achieved under the Bakels tenure.