Orange County Register

I drove home early last night. Traffic was lighter than usual. Things were starting to go my way. Greeted by the Junior Critic at the front door, I made a beeline to the study and fired up the laptop. Simon Rattle and the Berliner Philharmoniker awaited me therein — or thereon — courtesy of Deutsche Bank and the orchestra’s Digital Concert Hall.

Much to my surprise, the Sainted Spouse then walked in with a bottle of champagne. On a Monday! Things were definitely going my way. In my e-mail inbox I found the link that Deutsche Bank had sent me and I clicked on it. My screen lit up with the video feed. The audience was gathering inside the Philharmonie. It looked a lot like Disney Hall.

I plugged my good pair of headphones into the laptop. The orchestra tuned. Simon Rattle greeted me personally, though he admitted he couldn’t see me. The champagne was poured. Without further ado, Rattle began Brahms’ Third Symphony.

I did not, and do not, intend to review this concert, exactly. I intended to enjoy myself, and enjoy myself I did. Immensely. I did not take notes. Too busy drinking.

The technology really took me there. The video was high def, the sound pretty close to CD quality. (It probably would have sounded better on better equipment than I had. But YouTube, just to offer a reference point, pails in comparison) The camerawork was close to spectacular, well edited to jibe with the musical discourse. Even the lighting was good. I noticed what wonderful hair the orchestra had. This concert was taped last summer, but you can watch Berliner Philharmoniker concerts live for a reasonable fee, and I would definitely do that after seeing this.

It’s a great orchestra of course. Every player is musical it seems, no robots. The playing was perfect, but never cold. Rattle could seem a little affected in some of his dreamy, ethereal motions, but you couldn’t fault the results. Don’t think I’ve heard a better Brahms Third. Or the part I heard.

Dinner was ready by the time the fourth movement came around, and since I wasn’t reviewing (and I was hungry), I went. That was good too. There are distractions at home — a small downside, perhaps, to the online concert. I got back for the performance of Brahms’ Fourth, more champagne, the Junior Critic practicing (audibly) in the other room, the Sainted Spouse ensconced behind me at her computer.

It all seemed damned civilized. Perhaps as good as it gets. This could catch on.

Update: Just to be clear, the YouTube video above is not from the orchestra’s Digital Concert Hall, but it is a good sample of these musicians in action.

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