1193 and Mozart

After this combination of mass slaughter and spectacular bravery and self sacrifice I was in the mood for Mozart, and for Mozart live at the Sage. I have waxed enthusiastically before at these buildings within a glass shell on the Gateshead bank of the Tyne with the famous Newcastle Road Bridge to the left and the new Millennium pedestrian and cycle Bridge to the Right where is also located the Baltic Contemporary Art centre, across the an elegant hotel and the Law concerts and an area of night life for adults, the Biggs market is for kids. The outer structure is not beautiful or as iconic the gherkin in the city, although designed by the same architectural firm, but inside it beats anything anywhere especially the Royal festival Hall concert building. First there is the sense of space with outside concourse acting as a veranda deck on which to one side it is possible to hold outdoor concerts and inside the vastness has the cultural impact of any cathedral, except it appear taller and longer and wider. At ground floor you do not immediate gain an impression of height of the concert halls. At the Baltic side entrance and the most popular with its access from the car parks there is the public music centre and library where you can or read anything about music, make enquires or use the banks of internet stations. There and large modern toilets as part of the lower structure of the concert halls, modern type of booking and information centres, and cloakroom.

Between the two halls there is an expensive bar and snack meal facility where although my plain and excellent coffee only cost £1.30 a cup of the more frothy kind and a small glass of wine cost the man before me £5.10. To one side there us an open plan restaurant, expensive but on in the same league as haute and nouvelle restaurant in sky at the Baltic. Unless you wish lose weight or are energetic it is wise to use the vast lifts to gain entry into the first level of the concert halls. That to the upper level of the main Hall appears to be the highest and steepest single stretch stairway have ever seen, but the central stairways are more conventional in stages and here there is also the inside veranda with its bar, and discrete coffee and ice cream. At this level between the two main halls there is a rehearsal, experimental music hall where earlier in the day, there had been a symposium on obstetric anaesthetics.

You still do not get any idea of the nature of Hall two from the entrance, or I made way my way for the second occasion to the second of three seating level designed like the Globe Shakespearean theatre and by coincidence or did I select from a plan got the same seat as before overlooking the stage from the side and with the first seat of the front row. The lighting was a softer red tonight not the glowing red for the Ritchie Havens concert. There first surprise is the depth of hall below, as those entering at the main level go down into the main auditorium which also as two separated levels above its floor. However it is when you look up that the WOW factor hits you because above the third level balcony the space between them and the lighting balcony is about the same as the three levels below and the ceiling soars for some distance above the lighting level. The hall is cylindrical with the stage at one end and only allowing for a single row of seats, with one row of standing overlooking. There are two rows of seat is around the rest of the higher levels with standing option and although the hall is cylindrical the layout of the seating suggest twelve angled sides with those at the side appearing longer than those at the ends. My only criticism is that unamplified voice and sound does not carry well to the heights as it does across the auditorium. My created image is a false one because I have failed to mention that the total seats are around 400 with the consequence of a great intimacy especially for those sitting at the front stalls on the same level and a couple of feet away from the musicians.

And so to the music, A Mozart Flute quartet, a clarinet quintet and a quintet for Piano and winds performed by members of the Northern Sinfonia Chamber Concert. A little irritation is that there was no advance publicity on which pieces were to be played nor was a programme available. However I recognised the Flute quartet in D Major 285 as I have a vinyl recording going back to when I was a very young man, and was able to confirm the numbering from the internet as the first reference was to a recording by Laurel Zucker where both this quartet and those in A and C major can be heard 40 mins of music for free, amazing and to be listened again in full tomorrow. I have the Clarinet concerto although the quintet sounded very similar and this was confirmed when I looked up the played piece and heard and read the notes. Both pieces are written for the bassest clarinet which is about a third longer that the usual because of having four additional. In both pieces the work is distributed amongst the players with the clarinet and the flute primus inter pares. These contrasted from the piano and winds quintet which is ensemble. I did not know the Piano and Wind quintet and had difficulty in getting a free online recording until a You Tube excerpt so picture plus the sound. For this performance and the clarinet I had a direct view of the soloist but for the flute I had to strain as the musician was under my direct view so I relaxed closed my eyes and listened intently. As has been commented about Mozart he is never short of notes which reflects his portrayed (Amadeus) excitable hyperactive nature, which is also reflected in his prolific productivity.

I quickly forgot the potential parking problem as the car park was full on arrival and I risked one of the unused places designated for the disabled. I need not have worried as on exiting they were all occupied by owners who were not displaying certificates and every other conceivable area was also occupied including some on precarious slops. On return I took of the suit suitable for the event and comfortable but I must get another for everyday use leaving for the unexpected special, but like having a crazily organised disorder of a home but a front room to admit visitors who of course never come and I would be put out if they did unexpectedly because of the layer of dust. I was pleasantly relaxed but hungry and resisted the temptation for a bacon roll settling for one with cheese. I was in a better state, almost pleased with my being except that I could not answer the question, what have to done for other's today that will be valued by them?