What a night! After a restful afternoon on Monday we headed out for the the Philharmonie leaving plenty of time to account for public transport, roadworks, other delays, etc. A short walk then to the bus stop on Unter den Linden where we got the 300 bus – final destination the aforementioned hall.
This building was completed in the early 1960s and has the hallmark of other large scale performance areas of the era. It is, unlike some, very well staffed so it was very easy to deposit our coats in the cloakroom and go up a few flights to get to where the entrance to our seats were.
The seats were as well placed as we expected from the purchase, surprisingly comfortable and with plenty of leg room.
There is of course a mighty organ and I would be intrigued to hear it in action. The hall itself apparently holds 2,440 people and it was a sold out performance.
The performance itself was way beyond even our high expectations. The opening clarinet concerto was superb and was made all the more interesting by the soloist (Francesco Spendolini) playing a ‘basset clarinet’. Slightly longer than a normal clarinet and thus able to reach lower notes his instrument was a faithful replica of the one that would have been used by Anton Stadler for whom Mozart wrote the piece. It is worth mentioning the orchestra (Le Concert de Nations) at this point. A small band of around 20 players that made a huge sound. Their long standing rapport with the conductor Jordi Savall was clear,
After a short interval the orchestra returned with the choir – The Capella Nacional de Catalunya. I have seen many choral performances in recent times but this group were quite the most entrancing – all exceptional and, clearly, enjoying themselves.
The audience obviously enjoyed the performance as much as we did and applauded the band, this soloists and the conductor enthusiastically. The biggest roar of approval and the point where almost everyone rose to their feet came when the choir were indicated. Rightfully so! All in all it was a great evening that will live long in our memories.
Our return to the hotel was quick and painless and, of course, we were so wound up it took ages to get off to sleep. Tuesday promises calmer, dryer weather and it may, eventually, warm up. We have only a loose plan for the day and it will likely involve churches, cathedrals and the like. In the evening we do have a booking at a local recommended restaurant.
Retired Software Testing expert. Archetypal Grumpy Old Man with the potential to be irritated by just about anything under the sun
Assorted ramblings 
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