BRAHMSATHON
On Saturday 27th January 2007,
we assembled in the coldest church in England (the heating
was broken) and played some Brahms:
- Piano Concerto No. 1
- Requiem (no choir - Suzy and her amazing four-voiced piano sounded better)
- Tragic Overture
- Academic Festival Overture
- All four symphonies
- St. Anthony (Haydn) Variations
- Violin Concerto
- Double Concerto
Total playing time: 6 hours 20 minutes (give or take)
The plan for this musical marathon was to perform all of
Brahms' orchestral works in one day. As it turned out, no
soloist could be found for the Second Piano Concerto, and
so the Requiem was substituted. As far as we are aware, the
Brahmsathon was a unique musical event, and one fit only
for the most dedicated and/or foolhardy players. Phoenix is
proud to have so many of these...
The object was to raise funds for two worthwhile causes.
One was the orchestra itelf, to help secure its future and
its ability to continue to perform in some of London's most
prestigious venues. The other was Jessie's Fund, a UK charity
helping seriously ill and disabled children by using
music as a form of communication and for therapy.
The original goal was to raise £5000 from the event to be
split evenly between the two charities; in the end we were
delighted to have secured £9500, thanks to all our many
generous donors and sponsors who helped us to meet and then
considerably exceed the target.
Thanks are also due to: Masa, Mike, Warren, Kate and
Richard for being excellent guest soloists ad conductor.
Big thanks to Lev for his accomplished wrist action,
conducting a total of 9117 bars! And thanks to all the
devoted Phoenix players who made this wonderful event
happen (and loved it so much that they are now lobbying
hard for a Tchaikathon.
It was an act of certifiable lunacy, of course, and we were
all freezing and exhausted afterwards, but it was worth it.
Wasn't it? of course it was!