Prom 53: 'Late Night Bach', JSB, The English Concert, I. Davies/Bezuidenhout

[bluestateprommer]

Friday 25 August 2023
22:15
Royal Albert Hall

J. S. Bach:
(a) Cantata No. 170, 'Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust'
(b) Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G
(c) Cantata No. 35, 'Geist und Seele wird verdwirret' (first performance at The Proms)

Iestyn Davies, countertenor
The English Concert
Kristian Bezuidenhout, harpsichord and director

https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/emnv9r

https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/proms/bbc-proms-2023/prom-53-late-night-bach/

[french frank]

Friday 25th August, late night Prom at 22.15:

"Counter-tenor Iestyn Davies – whose ‘utterly sublime’ singing and ‘gorgeous tone’ captivated audiences last season – returns with an all-Bach late-night concert.

"He joins period-instrument group The English Concert (currently celebrating its 50th anniversary) for two of Bach’s solo cantatas – both composed in 1726 during his early years as music director at Leipzig’s St Thomas’s Church.

"While the lovely Vergnügte Ruh gazes towards heaven, Geist und Seele marvels at a miracle of creation and God’s goodness. The bustling joy of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 for strings completes the programme." [RAH website]

A perfect end to Radio 3's day?

[bluestateprommer]

A perfect end to Radio 3's day?

Well, one could do much worse :) . Very fine start to this Late Night Prom from Iestyn D., Kristian B. and The English Concert. Didn't think to check the RAH's site to see how many seats have sold, but one hopes that the crowd there now is sizeable.

[Roslynmuse]

Well, one could do much worse :) . Very fine start to this Late Night Prom from Iestyn D., Kristian B. and The English Concert. Didn't think to check the RAH's site to see how many seats have sold, but one hopes that the crowd there now is sizeable.

I was there, and there was a decent sized audience, both seated and promming, and it was a very fine concert throughout - virtuosic playing and singing, and possibly the fastest Brandenburg 3 I have ever heard (final movement arguably just a touch too fast for all the detail to come across, but undoubtedly very exciting).

[Barbirollians]

Rather baffled why such a lovely concert was on so late - when many of the likely audience would think it far too late to be out in central London. Lovely singing and playing throughout and what a sparkling Brandenburg.

[duncan]

It seems to be something of a tradition or habit to put on smaller scale Baroque and earlier performances as late-night Proms. Perhaps it's felt they don't project to the upper circle so little is lost if this is more-or-less empty.

This was a very enjoyable concert with lovely singing and a Brandenburg three that teetered on the edge of frantic but stayed just the right side. It well-attended as far as I could see from a choir seat.