BBC4 BPO/Rattle 2004 Prom Friday, Nov 11 19.40

[Petrushka]

Just a mention for this BBC4 programme tomorrow (Friday) night. Repeated 00.45 Saturday morning.

Schoenberg: Variations for Orchestra
Beethoven: Symphony No 9

Berliner Philharmoniker/Sir Simon Rattle

BBC Proms September 5 2004

I was there that night and had what was the worst Albert Hall seat ever. 2nd Tier box right at the back and at the back of the box as well. Could hardly see or hear anything very much so looking forward to this broadcast. Let's hope BBC4 can raid the Proms archive for more like this.

[Nick Armstrong]

Let's hope BBC4 can raid the Proms archive for more like this.

[BBMmk2]

Indeed, let's hope, Petroushka!!

[Alison]

I recall this performance of the Ninth caused no little controversy on the old BBC board.

[PaulT]

I am totally confused. Somehow I missed the Schoenberg - surely I didnt fall asleep at 7:40 in the evening? And the concert was supposed to be introduced by Tommy Pearson but someone else did it. What's going on?

[Petrushka]

I am totally confused. Somehow I missed the Schoenberg - surely I didnt fall asleep at 7:40 in the evening? And the concert was supposed to be introduced by Tommy Pearson but someone else did it. What's going on?

Bizarre! This wasn't a straight repeat of the original broadcast at all. The Schoenberg wasn't on at all and Simon Russell Beale introduced.

There is enough duff information in Radio Times as it is. Does no-one check these things?

[Norfolk Born]

Bizarre! This wasn't a straight repeat of the original broadcast at all. The Schoenberg wasn't on at all and Simon Russell Beale introduced.

There is enough duff information in Radio Times as it is. Does no-one check these things?

Clearly not. There were mistakes in THREE of the clues to this week's Radio Times Prize Crossword.

[remdataram]

I don't read music but know what I like.

I enjoyed the prom but will remember it for some amazing changes in tempi and Rattle's incredible facial expressions - he could really frighten children.

I was moved to check the recent thread on favourite Beethoven recordings, Rattle gets barely a mention, maybe his interpretations become overcooked in his quest to find something new to say?

No I'll duck for cover.......

[Chris Newman]

The Schoenberg certainly disappeared. A pity. I was looking forward to that.

[Nick Armstrong]

Rattle's incredible facial expressions - he could really frighten children.

....maybe his interpretations become overcooked in his quest to find something new to say?

No I'll duck for cover.......

I'll duck with you ! I find Rattle unwatchable; and the trouble is, having seen him, I find it next to impossible to separate the facials from the performance - I can't help feeling that all the overt, gurning expressions are reflected in superficial expressivity plastered on to the music.

There'll be incoming from the 'knocking him just because he's British' brigade... Tin hats on, remdataram !!!

[amateur51]

[/B]

Clearly not. There were mistakes in THREE of the clues to this week's Radio Times Prize Crossword.

Crikey!

You can't imagine how reassuring and delightful I find this info

[Norfolk Born]

FYI:
24 Across: Note the amound needed to look after aristocrat (4,5) [Misprint]
2 Down: Examination that you late for (4,6) (Misprint]
7 down: Sad angels at round church material (7,5) [Impossible anagram]

[amateur51]

Alternative viewpoint incoming!

I've always found Rattle's performances of Beethoven symphony no 9 to be revelatory. He and CBSO once performed it as part of the Towards The Millennium series after a performance of Edgard Varèse Déserts . The ear-cleaning effect of Déserts made the Beethoven sound newly-minted - an extraordinary evening

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mseJTBYOIZQ&feature=related

I greatly look forward to catching up with this performance which I remember enjoying on the radio.

[ardcarp]

Rattle's incredible facial expressions

What matters is that a great orchestra and a great conductor produce great music...by whatever means. However, it seems conductors (in front of great orchestras) reach such a peak of incredibleness that they don't actually need to conduct any more...just to stand there, maybe twitch a bit, but most of all to EMOTE permanently. I have to agree, remdatarum, that Rattle has become unwatchable....unless, that is, one wants oneself and one's family to be in a state of hysterics...which rather detracts from the music.

RATTLETRAP is the word we have coined for his mouth. It seems to suggest a cross between a permanent state of erotic arousal (one hesitates to use the 'o' word in this hallowed Forum) and the winner of a gurning competition. What would he do in the Liebstod from Tristan for goodness sake?

[aeolium]

Rattle's incredible facial expressions

"Arthur Nikisch, according to Furtwängler, was the only conductor who presented a thoroughly unforced appearance; Furtwängler regarded himself, in this respect, as Nikisch’s pupil, and believed that any contraction of muscle on the part of the conductor would show up in the sound of the orchestra as if reproduced on a photographic plate."

(from an article by Alfred Brendel about Furtwängler)