Prom 24: Bournemouth SO, Klieser / Karabits, 2 Aug 2023

[bluestateprommer]

Wednesday 2 August 2023
19:30
Royal Albert Hall

Ivan Karabits: Concerto for Orchestra No. 1 ('A Musical Gift to Kyiv'; UK premiere)
W. A. Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 4 in E flat major, K. 495
[Encore: W. A. Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 2 in Eb, K. 417 - III. Rondo]

interval

Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2 in e, op. 27

Felix Klieser, horn (Proms debut artist)
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Kirill Karabits, conductor

https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/exjqwh

https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/proms/bbc-proms-2023/prom-22-isata-kanneh-mason-plays-prokofiev/

[french frank]

Wednesday 2 August: "Rachmaninov’s Symphony No. 2 – a passionate, unashamedly emotional score from a man who once declared himself ‘completely under the spell of Tchaikovsky’ – is paired here with a kaleidoscopic tour of the orchestra by the Ukrainian composer Ivan Karabits, father of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s long-standing Chief Conductor, Kirill Karabits.

Premiered in 1981, his Concerto for Orchestra No. 1 was written to celebrate the 1,500th anniversary of the founding of Kyiv in chiming bells, fanfares and marches: a sonic snapshot of a city in happier days. Horn virtuoso Felix Klieser makes his Proms debut with Mozart’s sunny Concerto No. 4." (From RAH website)

[Ein Heldenleben]

Nothing “relaxed” about this Rach 2 - so far it’s edge of seat excitement. I really like Karabits’ approach to this work.

[Nick Armstrong]

Nothing “relaxed” about this Rach 2...

… apart from the tempo of the romantic trio sections of the Scherzo - not previously heard such a contrast with the sprightlier parts. This is not a criticism! It worked!

[Ein Heldenleben]

… apart from the tempo of the romantic trio sections of the Scherzo - not previously heard such a contrast with the sprightlier parts. This is not a criticism! It worked!

Yes a real gear change. I jumped out of my seat at the cymbal clash . I wonder if they have some extras in tonight ? The strings sound so much lusher than they do in Exeter Great Hall. Whatever ..really enjoying it.

[jonfan]

In the hall tonight; the string sound was absolutely gorgeous. 16 firsts, 14 seconds, 10 violas, 10 cellos and 8 basses.
Great playing also from all sections. The final movement just flew by, questioning why anyone thought if should be cut.

[edashtav]

I thoroughly enjoyed KK’s ‘Kool Kat’ interpretation which did not usher its key theme in full romantic glory but allowed it an initial ‘Age of Anxiety’ uncertainty. I feft that allowed the theme to inform but not to dominate in its many utterances; its shape, certainty and romantic intensity changed as the work developed. A fine and radical performance.

The BSO has invested faith and support in disabled and other abled musicians and so it was wonderful to hear Felix Klieser perform Mozartt’s 4th Horn Concerto with brio and assurance. How unusual and delightful to have a whole concerto movement as encore.

Ivan Karabits’ 40 year old Concerto for orchestra was fun, ‘easy listening’. It had energy and vitality and more inner consistency that Derrick Skye’s new piece heard in the first BBC WNO Concert, earlier this week.

[jonfan]

Great summary Ed it’s amazing how Felix K can achieve the subtlety of the horn sound that the use of the hand in the bell secures. Without that the horn can sound very rough.

[Ein Heldenleben]

In the hall tonight; the string sound was absolutely gorgeous. 16 firsts, 14 seconds, 10 violas, 10 cellos and 8 basses.
Great playing also from all sections. The final movement just flew by, questioning why anyone thought if should be cut.

Thanks Jonfan. That’s their standard for a romantic symphony. Yes the strings sounded very lush . Just shows what a difference the acoustic (and audio recording techniques) make.

[edashtav]

Thanks Jonfan. That’s their standard for a romantic symphony. Yes the strings sounded very lush . Just shows what a difference the acoustic (and audio recording techniques) make.

The BSO does supplement its core orchestra on a frequent and necessary basis. On its website, its ‘contracted’ string section looks like 12,7,6, 5, 5

[gedsmk]

I was in the hall. yes, a beautiful sound, and with wonderful balancing of woodwind and brass throughout, and tremendous percussion/timpani contributions throughout. I loved the romantic interpretation which was effective but not overdone. So many details that brought out the genius of Rachmaninov. It must be great fun to play. The relay on BBC Sounds is also very impressive.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I was in the hall. yes, a beautiful sound, and with wonderful balancing of woodwind and brass throughout, and tremendous percussion/timpani contributions throughout. I loved the romantic interpretation which was effective but not overdone. So many details that brought out the genius of Rachmaninov. It must be great fun to play. The relay on BBC Sounds is also very impressive.

Yes I switched from FM to Sounds about 10 minutes in when I realised just how good the sound they were making was !

[Nick Armstrong]

I was in the hall. yes, a beautiful sound, and with wonderful balancing of woodwind and brass throughout, and tremendous percussion/timpani contributions throughout. I loved the romantic interpretation which was effective but not overdone. So many details that brought out the genius of Rachmaninov. It must be great fun to play. The relay on BBC Sounds is also very impressive.

Lucky you! And in the light of what you report, it was a very faithful transmission, because one of the main things to impress me other than the exhilarating pacing of the performance, was the way woodwind lines were brought out in balance with the strings, plus lovely details like muted horns chuntering away in the scherzo. Fantastic playing all round

[symphony1010]

I'm afraid I had to reach for the Previn-LSO after this. The Rachmaninov seemed devoid of passion and the complete commitment required of both orchestra and conductor. So much rushing and no time to let phrases really sing. Going through the motions was all that came to mind and I actually couldn't watch past the first 5 minutes of the slow movement after a lovely-sounding clarinet solo that never seemed to linger and enjoy the moment. The woodwind cor and oboe obbligato passages were played as if they were almost an embarrassment and the players didn't know how to shape the phrases. Obviously the rest of you didn't hear it that way!

[edashtav]

I'm afraid I had to reach for the Previn-LSO after this. The Rachmaninov seemed devoid of passion and the complete commitment required of both orchestra and conductor. So much rushing and no time to let phrases really sing. Going through the motions was all that came to mind and I actually couldn't watch past the first 5 minutes of the slow movement after a lovely-sounding clarinet solo that never seemed to linger and enjoy the moment. The woodwind cor and oboe obbligato passages were played as if they were almost an embarrassment and the players didn't know how to shape the phrases. Obviously the rest of you didn't hear it that way!

No, I can confirm that I, whilst belonging firmly in the Previn lobby, thoroughly enjoyed KK’s radical alternative, and did not reach for my Previn CDs for fear of dimming my happy memories of a fresh viewpoint.