Afternoon Concert - general thread

[JasonPalmer]

Listening now, go on, put down the cd and listen to radio 3 eh

Ian Skelly concludes this week of Afternoon Concert featuring performances from the Netherlands, with the Royal Concertgebouw performing Sibelius's Fourth Symphony, written in 1910 and a product of a difficult period in the composer's life.

Also today, Les Ambassadeurs La Grande Ecurie perform more of a concert recorded at the Utrecht Early Music Festival, and today's concerto is Bartok's Third Piano Concerto performed by Jean-Efflam Bavouzet with the KBS Symphony Orchestra.

Presented by Ian Skelly.

Including:

Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata No. 12 'The Ascension'
Petra Mullejans (violin)
Freiburg Baroque Orchestra
Lionel Meunier (conductor)

Liszt: Von der Wiege bis zum Grabe, S. 107, symphonic poem
Vienna Philharmonic
Riccardo Muti (conductor)

David Matthews: Le Lac Op.146 for soprano and ensemble
Ailish Tynan (soprano)
Ulster Orchestra
Jac van Steen (conductor)

c.3pm
Sibelius Symphony no.4 in A minor, Op.63
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Klaus Mäkelä (conductor)

Les Ambassadeurs La Grande Ecurie Quatrieme Suite in D major
(Jean-Philippe Rameau - Ouverture (from Zaïs), Jean-Philippe Rameau - Menuet (from Le Temple de la Gloire), Jean-Philippe Rameau - Rondeau (from Dardanus), Antoine Dauvergne - Entrée de Chasseurs (from: Enée et Lavinie), Jean-Joseph de Mondonville - Musette (from: Titon et L’Aurore), Joseph-Nicolas-Pancrace Royer - Chaconne, Jean-Philippe Rameau - Tambourin)
Les Ambassadeurs La Grande Ecurie
Alexis Kossenko (conductor)

c.4.00
Bartok Piano Concerto no.3 in E major, Sz.119
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano)
KBS Symphony Orchestra
Yoel Levi (conductor)

[smittims]

Bravo for broadcasting 'From the cradle to the Grave' instead of yet another recording of 'Les Preludes'.

It's a marvellous piece, the perfect tonic for those who think they don't like Liszt's music. I find it goes through my head for days after I've heard it. I don't think anyone's come so close to it as Haitink in his old Philips recording with the LPO.

[Nick Armstrong]

Cracking Sibelius 4 this afternoon from the Royal Concertgebouw under Klaus Mäkelä

[Alison]

Cracking Sibelius 4 this afternoon from the Royal Concertgebouw under Klaus Mäkelä

Yes! I’m thinking of KM as the new Concertgebouw chief, whatever the silly delay imposed, and on this evidence he is worthy NOW of such a position.

[Alison]

Bravo for broadcasting 'From the cradle to the Grave' instead of yet another recording of 'Les Preludes'.

It's a marvellous piece, the perfect tonic for those who think they don't like Liszt's music. I find it goes through my head for days after I've heard it. I don't think anyone's come so close to it as Haitink in his old Philips recording with the LPO.

[smittims]

Well , they played it all right, but oh dear, what happened to the recording? The solo flute in the first movement , and the solo clarinet and bassoon at the start of the third, were closer and louder than the full orchestra, which, even though playing forte with bass drum and cymbals (scarcely audible) sounded as if they were playing in an offstage room the door of which was slowly and silently closed. And what was that curious noise in the third movement, like someone distantly thrashing a wardrobe?

I'm sure Liszt intended more dynamic contrast than this. My fifty-three-year old copy of 6500 189 has a splendid dynamic range.

[Ein Heldenleben]

A very interesting series of pieces this and some exceptional playing throughout. Very good work on the part of the producer to source so many outstanding performances from so many disparate sources, I particularly enjoyed the Sibelius and the Bartok.

[JasonPalmer]

Listening now, lovely piano music, hurrah for radio 3

[smittims]

I would never want to usurp Jason's position as cheer-leader for Afternoon Concert , but I think I ought to say how much more I enjoyed yesterday's programme than some others.

I admit to being less than kind about David Matthews' music , so it's a pleasure to say how much I enjoyed his 'Nachtgesang' broadcast just after 3pm. and the 18th century chamber work after that.

[edashtav]

I would never want to usurp Jason's position as cheer-leader for Afternoon Concert , but I think I ought to say how much more I enjoyed yesterday's programme than some others.

I admit to being less than kind about David Matthews' music , so it's a pleasure to say how much I enjoyed his 'Nachtgesang' broadcast just after 3pm. and the 18th century chamber work after that.

I admit to having inclined to your position over David Matthews’ compositions in the past rather than Jayne Lee Wilson’s admirable enthusiasm although I’ve long retained an affection for his 4th symphony. However, like you, I responded positively to yesterday’s recent pieces: the night song and Concerto for orchestra.

Even more endearing was hearing David’s astonishing energy and commitment to finding, restoring and show-casing long lost scraps from the masters, e.g. Mahler’s partial orchestration of Schubert’s Death and the Maiden quartet. I relished the Reger’s orchestral arrangements of Schubert songs and thought his Earl King was masterly.

David is a wonderful musician from tip to toe and he’s not an epigone.

However, despite his amazing fluency and facility, his well-wrought scores are just a tad short of compelling because they break insuffient new ground.

He deserves better reward for his zeal and endeavour.
Let’s hope Jayne plays catch-up!

[jayne lee wilson]

I'd rather program all the marvellously varied Ten Symphonies (well, the 9 on disc at least...), in order.... as it happens, I'm casting around for new season after all the (still ongoing) Schubert, Mozart Piano Concertos (Levin).... so we'll see....

But I never heard the 2019 Concerto for Orchestra, so I may track back to seek out....

[jonfan]

I’m not sure if New Generation afternoon performances belong here but there was a very good Sea Pictures from Helen Charlston on Monday afternoon displaying a wide vocal range with power and expression to go with it; a bright future.
The conductor was Adam Hickox, very ably following in his father’s footsteps; his own man and a bright future for him as well.

[smittims]

That's good to hear. 'Sea Pictures' is more difficult to sing than first appears. It is in fact quite a work-out for the voice. Gladys Ripley is still my favourite, though Roderick Williams did a fine job of it more recently.

[Nick Armstrong]

I very much enjoyed the Schumann Canonic Studies orchestrated by Tom Coult in the live concert from Salford this afternoon by the BBC Philharmonic under Andrew Gourley

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001l4md?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

They put me in mind of the Schoenberg orchestration of Brahms’s G minor Piano Quartet (which I’ve always loved)

[Serial_Apologist]

I very much enjoyed the Schumann Canonic Studies orchestrated by Tom Coult in the live concert from Salford this afternoon by the BBC Philharmonic under Andrew Gourley

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001l4md?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

They put me in mind of the Schoenberg orchestration of Brahms’s G minor Piano Quartet (which I’ve always loved)

& thanks - will have a listen tomorrow.