Alfred Brendel's legacy was celebrated by a sold-out crowd at the Barbican in a concert that embodied his contradictions: rigorous intellectuality and mischievous whimsy. The evening's musical selection leaned towards classical repertoire, with pianist Simon Rattle expertly guiding an orchestra of Brendel's colleagues, proteges, and friends through a range of works.
The show opened with Haydn's Representation of Chaos from 'The Creation', before taking a series of unexpected turns that brought both humor and poignancy to the proceedings. The orchestra was characterized by its responsiveness to Rattle's conducting, moving seamlessly between dramatic outbursts and quiet introspection.
There were moments of planned comedy, including an ongoing bit involving six pianists and their stools, which apparently aren't as interchangeable as one might think. However, these lighthearted interludes often worked more convincingly when paired with genuinely affecting musical performances, such as Brendel's own poems read by Harriet Walter and accompanied by the piano playing of Pierre-Laurent Aimard.
The evening's highlights included a trio of virtuosic performances: Tim Horton duetted with Brendel's cellist son Adrian on Liszt's Elégie No 2, while Till Fellner and Paul Lewis collaborated on Schubert's A minor Allegro, D947. These musical interludes showcased the skill and precision that made Brendel such a renowned pianist.
The pièce de résistance came in the form of the Takács Quartet playing with Brendel himself, performing Schubert's C major Quintet. This movement spoke eloquently of absence, acceptance, and thankfulness, its sense of longing and gratitude conveyed through music that was both deeply personal and universally relatable.
Throughout the concert, it was clear that Brendel's spirit – his mischievous mind and rigorous intellectuality – had infused every performance with a unique energy. While some moments were lighthearted and comedic, others were more solemn and heartfelt, a testament to the enduring power of music to evoke emotion and connection in those who experience it.
The show opened with Haydn's Representation of Chaos from 'The Creation', before taking a series of unexpected turns that brought both humor and poignancy to the proceedings. The orchestra was characterized by its responsiveness to Rattle's conducting, moving seamlessly between dramatic outbursts and quiet introspection.
There were moments of planned comedy, including an ongoing bit involving six pianists and their stools, which apparently aren't as interchangeable as one might think. However, these lighthearted interludes often worked more convincingly when paired with genuinely affecting musical performances, such as Brendel's own poems read by Harriet Walter and accompanied by the piano playing of Pierre-Laurent Aimard.
The evening's highlights included a trio of virtuosic performances: Tim Horton duetted with Brendel's cellist son Adrian on Liszt's Elégie No 2, while Till Fellner and Paul Lewis collaborated on Schubert's A minor Allegro, D947. These musical interludes showcased the skill and precision that made Brendel such a renowned pianist.
The pièce de résistance came in the form of the Takács Quartet playing with Brendel himself, performing Schubert's C major Quintet. This movement spoke eloquently of absence, acceptance, and thankfulness, its sense of longing and gratitude conveyed through music that was both deeply personal and universally relatable.
Throughout the concert, it was clear that Brendel's spirit – his mischievous mind and rigorous intellectuality – had infused every performance with a unique energy. While some moments were lighthearted and comedic, others were more solemn and heartfelt, a testament to the enduring power of music to evoke emotion and connection in those who experience it.
alfred Brendel's legacy is being celebrated and it's so cool to see all these talented musicians come together to pay tribute! the way Simon Rattle guided the orchestra was pure magic 
i loved how they mixed up the classical repertoire with some unexpected turns - it kept me on the edge of my seat 
and those moments of planned comedy? genius 
especially when paired with the emotional musical performances... gave me chills 
anyway, it's clear that Brendel's spirit is still alive and well, bringing people together through music 
. but then again, I kinda feel like it was all a bit too polished? like, where was the raw edge or the uncertainty? Brendel's music was always about exploring contradictions & pushing boundaries, so wasn't this concert just too... safe? 
just watched this amazing concert at the Barbican... Simon Rattle is a genius 
. But what struck me most was how Alfred Brendel's legacy lived on through this music - all those beautiful classical pieces performed by his colleagues and friends 
. Plus, the emotional depth he brought to certain pieces was breathtaking 
. According to my stats, there were over 10 million classical music fans in attendance worldwide last year alone 
. Also, did you know that the average age of classical music concert-goers has dropped by 4 years since 2020? 
. Anyway, Brendel's legacy is still alive and thriving, and we're all better off for it 
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But what really stood out for me was the emotional depth of the performances – it's clear Brendel's spirit is still present in this music 
The way those six pianists tried to swap stools mid-concert had me LOLing 
it was soooo cool! simon rattle did an amazing job conducting everyone - he's like a wizard or something 
and that takačs quartet & brendel combo was pure magic 
I'm not sure what's more impressive - Brendel's piano skills or Simon Rattle's ability to keep a straight face during those six pianists and stools shenanigans 
. But seriously, the fact that they could seamlessly switch between drama and quiet introspection is just masterful control. I loved how the concert balanced humor with genuinely moving performances - it felt like Brendel was still with us, but in his own mischievous way 
. And that Takács Quartet and Brendel's C major Quintet? Absolutely sublime 
. The way Brendel's legacy was celebrated with a sold-out crowd at the Barbican shows that the art form can still be enjoyed by people of all ages 
. And seeing Brendel himself perform with other musicians like Tim Horton and Till Fellner was truly special... it's amazing to think that his spirit is still alive in music