in Royal Festival Hall - the 1960's
from Southbank Centre Archive:
Otto Klemperer conducting Mahler's 9th Symphony. The concert started very late! He eventually appeared, supported 2 men, one on each side - very slowly he staggered up the steps to the podium and was 'dumped' into a chair. He raised his baton and the concert started. Unforgettable - a wonderful performance (Philharmonia?) - but how they followed his 'beat' I don't know. But they played their hearts out in response to his waving, quivering arms and hands. Terrific applause, when his arms flopped down to his side. He was escorted out, never to be seen again, despite continuing applause!
cite as
Southbank Centre (ed.), Southbank Centre Archive. In Southbank Centre Archive. https://led.kmi.open.ac.uk/entity/lexp/1401810883944 accessed: 25 November, 2024 (Southbank Centre Archive, http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/about-us/history-and-archive/southbank-centre-archive)
Listening to
hide composers
9th Symphony
written by Beethoven, Beethoven |
performed by Otto Klemperer, Philharmonia Orchestra |
Ninth Symphony
written by Gustav Mahler, Gustav Mahler |
performed by Philharmonia Orchestra |
Experience Information
Date/Time | the 1960's |
Medium | live |
Listening Environment | in the company of others, indoors, in public |
Originally submitted by Ivan Hewett on Tue, 03 Jun 2014 16:54:44 +0100