Sir Charles Mackerras Memorial Concert, Royal Festival Hall | reviews, news & interviews
Sir Charles Mackerras Memorial Concert, Royal Festival Hall
Sir Charles Mackerras Memorial Concert, Royal Festival Hall
Happy, energetic tribute to the long-serving master conductor
![](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/mast_image_landscape/public/mastimages/da97735e760521771106c5ec07e11677.jpg?itok=FUeXDa7v)
In the last year of his life he was, as a colleague noted when we learned of Charles Mackerras’s death, the wise old gamekeeper in the spring forest of Janáček's Cunning Little Vixen. No wonder Mackerras, we were told last night by his conductor nephew Alexander Briger, wanted that most ecstatic celebration of the natural order for his memorial, just as Janáček had had it played at his funeral. Was it trivialised by an encore number from Mackerras’s deliciously arranged Sullivan potpourri-ballet, Pineapple Poll? Not a jot, mate.
In the last year of his life he was, as a colleague noted when we learned of Charles Mackerras’s death, the wise old gamekeeper in the spring forest of Janáček's Cunning Little Vixen. No wonder Mackerras, we were told last night by his conductor nephew Alexander Briger, wanted that most ecstatic celebration of the natural order for his memorial, just as Janáček had had it played at his funeral. Was it trivialised by an encore number from Mackerras’s deliciously arranged Sullivan potpourri-ballet, Pineapple Poll? Not a jot, mate.
Share this article
Add comment
Subscribe to theartsdesk.com
Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.
To take a subscription now simply click here.
And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?
more Classical music
![Allan Pettersson in action](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Allan%20P.jpg?itok=VoGrVIDE)
![Horn player Ben Goldscheider](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Goldscheider.jpeg?itok=AuRRAY-6)
![Shifting colours in mother of pearl: the Collegium Vocale Gent](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/CVG-choir-2-by-Eric-de-Mildt-2022-scaled.jpg?itok=mYvIRcPw)
![Pianist Julius Drake and baritone Andrè Schuen in an epic recital of Schumann and Larcher](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Aldeburgh%203.jpeg?itok=mtrM4MVu)
![Support group: Monika Henschel being held by sibling twins Markus and Christoph and cellist Mathias Beyer-Karlshøj](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Henschels%20Monika%20lying%20down.jpg?itok=e6qTiWuz)
![Pyrotechnics from flautist Noémi Győri](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Noemi-Gyori%20laszlo%20emmer%20_0.jpg?itok=E9v4hF_B)
![Abel Selaocoe: holding the Dublin audience in the palms of his hands](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Abel%20Selaocoe%20at%20DICMF%201.jpeg?itok=92YqnCev)
![Thoroughly theatrical: Sir Mark Elder with the Hallé](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/22.%20Halle_SMEMahler5_MayJune24_credit_Alex_Burns_The_Halle%20%281200x800%29.jpg?itok=-aDgCr0D)
![Malcolm Martineau and Paula Murrihy - perfect partnership](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Murrihy%201_0.jpg?itok=WKWmji00)
![St Martin's Voices, the professional choir at St-Martin-in-the-Fields](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/St_Martins_Voices_2022_CREDIT_Lia_Vittone.jpg?itok=OZNFnGf2)
![A carnival at close quartets: Ensemble 360 play Saint-Saëns](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Sheffield%205.jpg?itok=yB4uM_sH)
Comments
...
...
...