Live in Concert 2.02.14: LSO - Elgar, Britten, Maxwell Davies

[EdgeleyRob]

What a lovely little talk, wish it were longer... amusing anecdote about Hans Keller...! (Maybe he missed The Sonata Principle ...)

Listened again to Max 10 earlier today - what a WONDERFUL piece. I urge everyone to listen to it whatever your tastes, at least... is twice too much to ask? It may indeed be death-haunted, but the experience of its beauty and savage passions is life-affirming in that musically alchemical way.

Let's hope for a recording soon - very soon! ..

I listened earlier Jayne,aided by your wonderful guide (post #24).
Yes an amazing piece,obviously very dark and brooding at times,those brass fanfares very striking.
Despite the subject matter a very uplifting listen.
I must get to know more of his work.

And it's just made for the Proms, surely.

Applies to sooooo many British symphonies.

[Roehre]

I do think symphony 10 is one of PMD's most important scores.

Contrary to JLW I do think it's not a simple 4 part work in one continuous movement.
IMO it's 1 + (2+3+4). The transitions are at the places as JLW mentions, but IMO the first movement is the basis for the 2dn, compound one. In this the choral/vocal parts surround/encapsulate the scherzo-mvt, but IMO essential is that as far as I am able to "reconstruct" after two hearings, nearly, perhaps all the material from this 2nd one stem in one way or another from the first.
That not only a referral to Mahler 8, but more importantly, to PMD's Symphony no.0 in all but name (his own words!) Worldes Bliss too.

But I further agree fully with JLW's wunderful description, and do think it possibly opens a new stylistic perios in PMD's symphonic writing too. His symphonic journey, from a 4 mvt symphony no.1 (we leave the Sinfonia, the Sinfonia concertante as well as Worldes Bliss out of this) through multi-mvt symphonies (2,3) and one mvt structures (4-9) to a long one mvt vocal/choral work which this no.10 is, IMO equals now RVW's cycle.

[jayne lee wilson]

I don't hear it as a 4-part one-movement structure.... as I tried to make clear in post no.24, it is in 4 movements played continuously, the first movement providing "some moods and materials for the succeeding shorter movements to explore and build upon". So really I'm with you on a 1 + (2+3+4) shape, Roehre...

But "that's but a trifle here".. what really matters is that people listen to it as much as possible, maybe following it up with further exploration, to remind R3 that what we need is more concerts and creative challenges like this.... AND more of Penny Gore's style of quietly authoritative & informative presentation.

[teamsaint]

the talk and the new Symphony both inspiring stuff. A second listen for me tonight for sure.
Thanks for the comments ,JLW and Roehre.

The new work and its inspiration seem dramatic contrast to the contemporary antics of our politicians and other "leaders". A lesson to be learned there, I think.

[edashtav]

{..} the Elgar In the South was thrilling, a magnificent performance with sonics to match. Stunning performance and playing from the LSO.

Absolutely correct - Pappano had something new to say about In The South and the LSO produced playing that was sonorous and enlightening.

[edashtav]

{...}
Outstanding sonics tonight and performances to match - powerful, precise, passionate, with Vengerov OUTSTANDING in the Britten. Very near to tears at that long-breathed, gently sustained, conclusion.
(Perfect presentation from Penny Gore too.)
!

Vengerov's playing was heavenly. His shaping of the violin's opening theme set the tone - such a sweet tone, allied to an almost magical feel for line and emphasis. I have never heard this brittle work better played. ASTONISHING!

[Quarky]

What a lovely little talk, wish it were longer... amusing anecdote about Hans Keller...! (Maybe he missed The Sonata Principle ...)

Listened again to Max 10 earlier today - what a WONDERFUL piece. I urge everyone to listen to it whatever your tastes, at least... is twice too much to ask? It may indeed be death-haunted, but the experience of its beauty and savage passions is life-affirming in that musically alchemical way.

Let's hope for a recording soon - very soon! And it's just made for the Proms, surely...

Yes have listened again, and "death-haunt" didn't grate this time.

I understand Max composed this while undergoing chemotherapy. Chemotherapy involves very powerful drugs, so it is a tribute to him that his system was strong enough to carry on working. I have a lady friend who recently underwent this treatment, and her reaction was not nearly so robust - but understandable in the case of a female who values her looks .

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

There are different types of chemotherapy (like Alan Bennett, I cannot summon sufficient affection to call it "chemo") which affect different people in very different ways. For some, the worst they suffer is two or three days of extreme tiredness, and for the other days between treatments there are no other side effects. Others feel this exhaustion all the time. Orally taken drugs, too, often have less effect on everyday activity than injected treatments. It's sod's law, rather than "strong/robust systems" - but chemotherapy is a shitty treatment for an even shittier disease, and I rejoice that PMD has managed to produce such a defiant "up yours" response having gone through such an experience.

[Boilk]

There are different types of chemotherapy ... which affect different people in very different ways.

A big factor in varying responses to the chemical onslaught of chemo"therapy" is how toxic the recipient's body already is (through long-term lifestyle and dietary factors) before it has to contend with the additional burden of chemo"therapeutic" toxins, be they oral or intravenous. Some patients happily have the more robust immune systems needed to pull through completely, which is hopefully the case with PMD.

[amateur51]

What a remarkable concert all round!

I loved the performance of Alassio - Pappano keeps it moving throughtout, brings out some parts I hadn't heard clearly before and it appears has enthused his Italian orchestra about the piece too, but it's no longer on youtube

The performance of Brtten violin concerto was also extraordinarily rapt, Vengerov very much back on form, speaking in advance of how Rostropovich had pressed him to look at the piece which Vengerov loved from the start.

As for the Maxwell Davies Tenth, I've listened to it twice now, one after the other in quick succession and its impact builds very successfully I thought tho I wish I understood the words, Max's pre-premiere talks were very useful. I'll seek out the words for my next listen.

What an evening, and as others have remarked, how wonderful that the composing got Max through that terrible illness and the treatment. I've had several friends who have responded differently to chemotherapy. One in the early 1980s experienced total loss of his chestnut wavy hair and what returned was flat and sleek and blue, like a British Blue cat. Another friend in the late-1990s who reported an altered sense of smell and taste, felt that his body reeked of metal, and the taste of beer became most unpalatable but thankfully red wine did not

I love the idea of Max's getting up and at his hospital composition table by 07:00 to get down to work. Hurrah for Italy, Borromini and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies!

[teamsaint]

In case folks had missed this, Symphony #10 is available on itunes in September.

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/sir-peter-maxwell-davies-symphony/id909315862

Good news, but a real shame if it is only available via Apple.

[jayne lee wilson]

On the LSO Live website page it says, "digital only release..." If it's lossless or higher-rate, great, but otherwise...
Hmm. I'll wait and see for a bit. Good that it's out though!

[Petrushka]

On the LSO Live website page it says, "digital only release..." If it's lossless or higher-rate, great, but otherwise...
Hmm. I'll wait and see for a bit. Good that it's out though!

It was extremely surprising that the PMD 10 wasn't scheduled at the 2014 Proms as it would have been a 'must go' for me. I'm hopeful of a CD release at some stage from LSO Live but until then I'm happy enough with my recording of the radio broadcast.

[Alison]

This is splendid news as my off air recording went wrong!

[teamsaint]

oh look what I have found, PMD fans !! A bank holiday treat.

and its all official and everything .

Op 327 ? I had no idea. The man is a music machine !!