Old habits die hard

By David Bray

It was close. Almost broke a 60-year habit but in the end relented and am glad I did. I had been a season subscriber to the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in its various guises since it first played, under in 1947.

I remember the early conductors John Farnsworth Hall and Rudolf Pekárek. When the 2011 subs became due late last year, we decided to give it away, along with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Queensland Opera.
easons included parking problems at QPAC, traffic before and after events, falling standards of pre-performance meals and drinks service, and inevitably the increasing problems of old age, notably too many stairs and general discomfort moving around. Of course cost was considered but was not a major concern.
Note that performance standards were not a factor. The big orchestra was and is wonderfully energised under maestro Johannes Fritzsch, and the ACO continues to challenge as well as delight with its remarkably high standard and the opera company seems to have recovered from what I saw as last year’s very ordinary Merry Widow. Though recent apparent interference with the 2012 schedule to accommodate the Australian Opera is no great help.
There is major and growing competition in this area from the cinema which has for some years been bringing to Brisbane and a few other centres high definition screenings of outstanding productions from world’s best houses. These offer reserved (and comfortable) seating at less than $30, in the daytime. But we couldn’t give up the live performances. The solution was to go to the orchestra’s morning concerts, where the traffic and parking seem to be easier and the hours more suitable for oldies.
A little while ago we were in the Concert Hall for a wonderful concert: Les Preludes by Liszt, Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No 1 (with Paul Dean enjoying being back with the orchestra) and Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Start at 11 a.m., out by 12.20, no exit traffic problems. Same more recently for the Saint-Saens Organ Symphony.
If you haven’t heard our orchestra for a while, be advised that it’s very good. Also note that the daytime concerts include some on Sunday morning. Plenty of walking sticks and frames around and everyone seems happy.