Prom 41: RPO, Kantorow / V. Petrenko, Tuesday 15 August 2023

[bluestateprommer]

Tuesday 15 August 2023
19:30
Royal Albert Hall

Ligeti: Lontano
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G, op. 58
[Encore: Stravinsky: The Firebird - 'Finale' (trans. Guido Agosti)]

interval

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10 in e, op. 93

Alexandre Kantorow, piano (Proms debut artist)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Vasily Petrenko, conductor

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

https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/proms/bbc-proms-2023/prom-41-beethovens-fourth-piano-concerto/

[french frank]

Tuesday 22nd August, 19.30:

"Tchaikovsky Competition-winner Alexandre Kantorow has been hailed as ‘Liszt reincarnated’ and a ‘fire-breathing virtuoso’. Still in his twenties, the young pianist makes a much-anticipated Proms debut, joining Vasily Petrenko and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra as soloist in Beethoven’s poetic Piano Concerto No. 4.

Music of terror and despair, frenzied horror and – eventually – a flicker of triumph supply a musical portrait of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in Shostakovich’s impassioned Symphony No. 10, while more abstract orchestral soundscapes come courtesy of anniversary composer Ligeti’s Lontano." [RAH website]

[Ein Heldenleben]

Tuesday 22nd August, 19.30:

"Tchaikovsky Competition-winner Alexandre Kantorow has been hailed as ‘Liszt reincarnated’ and a ‘fire-breathing virtuoso’. Still in his twenties, the young pianist makes a much-anticipated Proms debut, joining Vasily Petrenko and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra as soloist in Beethoven’s poetic Piano Concerto No. 4.

Music of terror and despair, frenzied horror and – eventually – a flicker of triumph supply a musical portrait of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in Shostakovich’s impassioned Symphony No. 10, while more abstract orchestral soundscapes come courtesy of anniversary composer Ligeti’s Lontano." [RAH website]

“Liszt reincarnated” ? Come off it …

[french frank]

“Liszt reincarnated” ? Come off it …

S'why I make it clear what the source was!

[Ein Heldenleben]

S'why I make it clear what the source was!

Indeed but the RAH website doesn’t reveal the primary source - something I always found intensely irritating when subbing others’ work . Was it Alexandre’s Mum ? One other point : can he really breathe fire ? While playing ? That’s some party trick…

[Pulcinella]

Bumping this thread in anticipation of tonight's concert, but can't help wondering if Beethoven's poetic concerto needs that much Lisztian fire breathing into it.

After his years of honing a Russian sound out of the RLPO, I'll be interested to hear what sort of sound Petrenko now gets from the RPO.

[Kingfisher]

The usual Shostakovich controversy about whether it really was a portrait of Stalin - more a love letter to his Azerbaijani ‘muse’.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I really liked the playing in that Firebird encore - absolutely amazing. I think it suited Alexandre Kantorow’s musical style better than Beethoven 4. I didn’t like so much the tempo variation in the first movement cadenza or the extra elements he put in though it was a technically perfect rendition. His technique probably rivals that of Liszt if not exceeds it but I’d wager money Franz would have produced a more “classical” , stricter tempo performance.

[edashtav]

I really liked the playing in that Firebird encore - absolutely amazing. I think it suited Alexandre Kantorow’s musical style better than Beethoven 4. I didn’t like the tempo variation in the first movement cadenza or the extra elements he put in though it was a technically perfect rendition.

Like you, I loved the filigree manner in which Kantorow introduced the finale from Guido Agosti's transcription of Stravinsky's "Firebird” which gave him plenty of scope for making its ending, emphatic and conclusive.

I feared that Alexandre might barnstorm his way through Beethoven gentlest piano concerto, however his touch was light, bright and alert. Orchestra and conductior joined in matching Kantorow’s approach, making the performance a total delight for me

[Ein Heldenleben]

Like you, I loved the filigree manner in which Kantorow introduced the finale from Guido Agosti's transcription of Stravinsky's "Firebird” which gave him plenty of scope for making its ending, emphatic and conclusive.

I feared that Alexandre might barnstorm his way through Beethoven gentlest piano concerto, however his touch was light, bright and alert. Orchestra and conductior joined in matching Kantorow’s approach, making the performance a total delight for me

This Shostakovich 10 has started really well….

[Ein Heldenleben]

…And ended really well. What a belter of a performance.

[gedsmk]

…And ended really well. What a belter of a performance.

Appetite truly whetted. Not on Sounds yet. would definitely have gone to this but had to be elsewhere this evening. Vasily Petrenko is an outstanding Shostakovich conductor.

[Kingfisher]

Terrific Shosty in the hall, even from up in the Gods. Lovely woodwind solos.Looking forward to hearing a recording.

Superb Ligeti too.

[Norrette]

…And ended really well. What a belter of a performance.

I agree. Super performance. I couldn't fault it. Hadn't heard the Firebird piece before, I enjoyed it. Full house in the hall, first time I'd seen that for ages (apart from 'last night' of course).

The Beethoven seemed spaced out at first. It might have been my seat, but very soft playing.

[edashtav]

This Shostakovich 10 has started really well….And ended really well. What a belter of a performance.

The last time I heard Shostakovich#10 live from the aproms , I suspect the orchestra was the BPO. I e joyed tonight’s perfirmance just as much!