BBCSO/Oramo Dec 11 2015

[Petrushka]

It's been pretty thin gruel on Radio 3 in recent weeks but here's a good full-blooded orchestral concert of mountainous proportions. Rather looking forward to this and hope those who have been clamouring for some Hovhaness will be tuning in. If there are any forumites in the hall perhaps they can advise us what passes for the organ in the Strauss.

Live from the Barbican, Sakari Oramo conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra in Richard Strauss's An Alpine Symphony. Plus Colin Currie in a new percussion concerto by Andrew Norman.

Presented by Fiona Talkington

Hovhaness: Symphony No. 2 (Mysterious Mountain)
Andrew Norman: Switch for solo percussion and orchestra UK premiere

c. 8.20pm - Interval - Swedish Choral Music with Jan Sandstrom's Song to the Mountain Wind. Plus Peter Sculthorpe's ode to the mountainous terrain of his native Tasmania, and an evocation of the voice that Hungarian composer Zoltan Kodaly maintained all mountains have.

Strauss: An Alpine Symphony

Colin Currie (percussion)
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Sakari Oramo (conductor)

[Alison]

Good points Pet, very few posts on recent evening concerts and hardly surprising.

I'm looking forward to tonight. Just a few years ago the thought of the BBCSO playing the Alpine wouldn't raise the pulse.

But Oramo and his band rarely disappoint these days.

[Alison]

Very enjoyable concert.

Oramo really let the musicians play, the opposite of a fussy approach which did not preclude fresh detail emerging in the Alpine.

[Petrushka]

A hugely satisfying Alpensinfonie tonight and a well constructed programme too. The horns in the Strauss had the time of their lives and were in terrific form properly blazing out the 'Bruch Violin Concerto' theme in 'At the Summit' as thrilling as any version I've heard live or on CD apart from Karajan. Any doubts about the organ were easily dispelled as it sounded very much there. People complain about the Barbican acoustic (I don't mind it) but the engineers produced a great sound, rich, full and, at the same time, transparent with much telling detail. My only complaint was that the off-stage horns weren't really distant enough.

A percussion concerto usually has me fearing that I'll be cowering behind the sofa from the anticipated bash-fest but the Andrew Norman piece, while it had its 'let rip' moments, was more interesting for the quieter moments but I'll need to listen again. The Hovhaness symphony is one I've never knowingly heard so it was good to get to hear some of his music to start the concert.

Tonight belonged to Strauss, though. Do have a listen if you missed it!

[Simon B]

Very pleasant evening at the Barbican.

Hovhaness must surely have been *very* familiar with RVW's output but that is no bad thing IMO.

The percussion concerto was less blank crashing-and-bashing than some but it was still the more restrained moments that held my attention.

A satisfying Alpine, relatively straightforward but with plenty of playing of distinction (particularly from the first trumpet and horn).

The BBCSO clearly either like Sakari Oramo a lot or pretend much more convincingly than with several predecessors.

Biggest cheer went to a (presumably) retiring horn player. Now that is a suitable piece to go out on!

[Simon B]

PS, the organ was the usual Barbican electronic effort. It's never going to be like the RAH. Acceptability seems to depend on the player's willingness to be pretty generous with the decibels. It seems to have some Helmholtz resonators or somesuch as well as conventional speakers so it can generate some low frequency wibble if pressed.

The offstage brass were placed just in the wings with the doors wide open rather than more usual arrangements. Very likely a deliberate choice on Oramo's part as the doors could have been closed as usual had he wanted the familiar more distant effect.

[Cockney Sparrow]

[QUOTE=Simon B;525244] The BBCSO clearly either like Sakari Oramo a lot or pretend much more convincingly than with several predecessors./QUOTE]

I'd back the former. At the Sibelius Kullervo prom I was in the stalls at the back of the cellos. The BBCSO were playing out of their skins for him.....

[mercia]

Biggest cheer went to a (presumably) retiring horn player.

Chris somebody, we were told, after 36 years.
So which determined person started the applause then, all alone for several seconds ?

[Petrushka]

Chris somebody, we were told, after 36 years.

Presumably Christopher Larkin?

[Once Was 4]

Presumably Christopher Larkin?

Yes, Chris Larkin who, however, will stay busy with his many other activities including being Chairman of the British Horn Society and a regular performer on the true 'French' horn, the hand horn and the Trompe de Chasse.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Missed it.

[Petrushka]

Missed it.

Not to worry. It's on the I-player: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06r5gm1

[P. G. Tipps]

Not to worry. It's on the I-player: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06r5gm1