Prom 65: Bruckner 8, BBC SO, Bychkov, Monday 4 September 2023

[gedsmk]

Have been to several concerts this season and enjoyed the music very much. Would have preferred Haas (Wand) to Novak though. The behaviour of the seated crowd was by far the worst of the season: doors banging, people walking in and out during the Adagio, phones ringing; walking sticks, programmes, and phones dropping on the floor, to say nothing of the bravo idiot.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Have been to several concerts this season and enjoyed the music very much. Would have preferred Haas (Wand) to Novak though. The behaviour of the seated crowd was by far the worst of the season: doors banging, people walking in and out during the Adagio, phones ringing; walking sticks, programmes, and phones dropping on the floor, to say nothing of the bravo idiot.

Did any one actually walk out during the adagio and then come back in with a pint or popcorn?

[Bryn]

. . . Would have preferred Haas (Wand) to Novak though. . . .

Prefer Bruckner to Haas's 'corrections' of Bruckner's own decisions, myself.

[makropulos]

Prefer Bruckner to Haas's 'corrections' of Bruckner's own decisions, myself.

I'll say [a Dresden] Amen to that.

[edashtav]

Oh I don’t know Ed, it sounded ok up in the circle…..

Plenty of flexible tempi I thought, and the rest of what you could hear through the sounds slush puppie slurping, folks wandering in and out in boots and heels, etc was reasonable enough.
and “ bravo man” , who was actually sat next to me, but lost out to an even better “Bravo Man” by a split second, thought it was, well, worthy of a loud and rapid fire “ bravo” .
And who am I to argue ?
Had many worse nights out. Me, not him.

“Plenty of flexible tempi” Oops, many ‘trad” Brucknerians regard such ‘happenings’ as close to the 7 Cardinal sins, as you, as a Sotonsaint will appreciate. Yes, as sins go, they were beautifully engineered but …

[edashtav]

Boyd Tonkin in a lengthy, positive, arts-desk on-line review opined,”With its explosive timpani, tank-division horns and earth-trembling low strings, the Eighth will never rest easy on the ear – or in the mind. Firm, precise, never sluggish, Bychkov let us appreciate and enjoy each stage of this giant journey rather than aiming for one heaven-storming climax after another. I relished his granular detailing. As for the big metaphysical picture: let that take care of itself.”

[Ein Heldenleben]

Boyd Tonkin in a lengthy, positive, arts-desk on-line review opined,”With its explosive timpani, tank-division horns and earth-trembling low strings, the Eighth will never rest easy on the ear – or in the mind. Firm, precise, never sluggish, Bychkov let us appreciate and enjoy each stage of this giant journey rather than aiming for one heaven-storming climax after another. I relished his granular detailing. As for the big metaphysical picture: let that take care of itself.”

I’m with Boyd , I enjoyed last nights perf - flexible tempi or not. I did think in places the orchestra sounded a bit tired esp brass toward the end. They have however had some very big symphonies to play recently and it’s hardly surprising.

[Keraulophone]

Does anyone remember Jascha Horenstein's Bruckner 8 with the LSO in the Proms a VERY long time ago? The date, 10th September 1970 is engraved on my memory, probably because I was playing in it ( horn and Wagner tuba). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doqGV_tVwCI

I listened to the last movement last night and had a similar to others' 'Russian' reaction to the angry brass and momentary bliss.

CRIKEY, what a difference listening to the CD of Tony's Horenstein performance! It must rank as one of the very greatet Proms performances of anything. The first movement alone has left me almost in a state of shock. I'm going out for a walk. Incidentally, in the comments on YouTube, David Gray tells us he played first horn in this performance and later spoke to the timpanist Kurt-Hans Gödicke about aspects of his 'timping'.

[edashtav]

I’m with Boyd , I enjoyed last nights perf - flexible tempi or not. I did think in places the orchestra sounded a bit tired esp brass toward the end. They have however had some very big symphonies to play recently and it’s hardly surprising.

The BBC SO does. get mid-Proms breaks. Its last big symphony night was, I think, Aug 19. Time enough lips to be salved and saved?

[Ein Heldenleben]

The BBC SO does. get mid-Proms breaks. Its last big symphony night was, I think, Aug 19. Time enough lips to be salved and saved?

Too much Algarve sunshine maybe ?

[kernelbogey]

Yes indeed I do!
Does anyone remember Jascha Horenstein's Bruckner 8 with the LSO in the Proms a VERY long time ago? The date, 10th September 1970 is engraved on my memory, probably because I was playing in it ( horn and Wagner tuba). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doqGV_tVwCI

On his Xth call, Horenstein lifted the score from his desk, and held it over his head, to a huge roar.

[Barbirollians]

A great year for live Bruckner 8s - BBC Legends also released the Halle/Barbirolli from RFH May 1970 . A performance that never ceases to astonish me . RO called it the biggest, bravest Bruckner 8 on record as I recall.