Two-parts review with a postscript

My first proper concert outing was Mozart's Don Giovanni in Prague in the summer of 2002. Though since then I have experienced several concerts (of course, to some of them I went with my BBCM friends), this was my first full-sized orchestral experience. I was amazed to find that the stage was so crowded with so many players and with various instruments. The music was wonderful and immense but somewhat familiar to me, so I occasionally conducted the LSO from the stalls.

Before the concert, my mummy told me that the performance was to celebrate the conductor's 75th birthday. I thought it was very funny because the day was exactly my (5th) birthday too. Having been a birthday girl for the whole day, I was really exhausted by the end, but I thought a concert outing on a birthday was as nice as, or maybe nicer, than just to have a party.

After the concert, I met Mr. Haitink for the first time in my life, but I didn't feel like that way. Two of my grandparents are in their seventies and Mr. Haitink was kind enough to say "Happy Birthday" to me when he gave me an autograph. I would like to get a frame for it and hang it on the wall of my room as Agnes does hers.

Miteki Ochi, age 5

This BBCM concert outing was very special to us. It was on Miteki's 5th birthday and I thought I shouldn't miss the chance either to dip my daughter in Brahms's Symphonies for the first time on her special day or to immerse myself in Bernard Haitink's Live. I thought the 4th Symphony was marvellously played, it was really worth recording!

(As for the 3rd Symphony which was played before the interval, the LSO seemed slightly less confident.) I am not a trained musician at all, but I found that Mr. Haitink's conducting was beautifully precise so everyone was able to sit back to concentrate on music.

At the end, as I had expected, Agnes led us backstage to meet the Maestro. Thank you Agnes! It was truly a night to remember for Miteki and me.

Miho Ochi, Miteki's mother

Postscript by Agnes Kory:

I am an experienced listener but I cannot remember when I heard (if at all) a symphony orchestra play for a conductor as the LSO played for Bernard Haitink at this concert. It was chamber music at its best, the whole orchestra was breathing and shaping phrases with the utmost care and sensitivity as Bernard Haitink clearly indicated. Thankfully, the performance was recorded for the LSO Live series (which - among other repertoire -includes all Brahms symphonies with Bernard Haitink).