Prom 1: The First Night, BBC SO/BBC SC/BBC Singers, S. Bevan/I. Kanneh-Mason/Chan

[bluestateprommer]

Friday 19 July 2024
18:30
Royal Albert Hall

Handel (arr. Charles Mackerras): Music for the Royal Fireworks – Overture
Bruckner: Psalm 150
Clara Schumann: Piano Concerto
[Encore: Gershwin (arr. Grainger): "The Man I Love"]

Interval

Ben Nobuto: Hallelujah Sim. (BBC commission, world premiere)
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in c, op. 67

Sophie Bevan, soprano
Isata Kanneh-Mason, piano

BBC Singers
BBC Symphony Chorus
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Elim Chan, conductor

https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ejc2rz

https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/proms/bbc-proms-24/prom-1/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0020xfb

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00216m5

[Petrushka]

Once upon a time, the First Night of the Proms was an 'occasion', usually a big choral blockbuster to get the season off to a flying start.

This has to be the most boring First Night Imaginable. For the first ever time, I won't be switching the TV on for the First Night. A further incentive to not bother is provided by Clive Myrie and Sandi Toksvig, the horror of their giggling nonsense from last year still fresh in the memory.

Still, several boxes have been ticked so everything's OK then.

[Barbirollians]

I cannot agree - glad to see the back of the tedious formula of choral blockbusters on the first night . Elim Chan is a very good conductor . Isata KM an excellent pianist and the Clara Schumann concerto is worth a whirl and why not Beethoven 5 on the first night ?

[LMcD]

Any particular reason for the early start?

[Pulcinella]

A Times2 article on Elim Chan from today's paper:

https://www.thetimes.com/article/88e76bc9-b3d3-4ce3-b652-5ac1eac81064?shareToken=a1444d126487b1e41cd5880a9903c33b

[LHC]

Any particular reason for the early start?

So that BBC2 can switch to the golf at 9:00 pm?

[LMcD]

BBC2 coverage starts at 7.00 p.m. - half an hour after Radio 3.

[Darkbloom]

I cannot agree - glad to see the back of the tedious formula of choral blockbusters on the first night . Elim Chan is a very good conductor . Isata KM an excellent pianist and the Clara Schumann concerto is worth a whirl and why not Beethoven 5 on the first night ?

Yes, I'm thinking of promming for this. I'm not familiar with the conductor and I'm not sorry to see some slightly different programming for the First Night, even if the pieces aren't exactly daring. The Handel is always worth hearing and the Schumann and Beethoven are pieces I only listen to in moderation these days, to keep them fresh, so it looks quite appealing, although the early state is annoying. It looks like being a nice day too, and they have been in short supply this 'summer' so I'll probably take advantage.

[Darkbloom]

I saw Schumann Piano Concerto and assumed it was 'that' one. Oh well, even more reason to go as it's not a piece I'm familiar with.

[LMcD]

I saw Schumann Piano Concerto and assumed it was 'that' one. Oh well, even more reason to go as it's not a piece I'm familiar with.

'That' one features in Prom 55.

[duncan]

A Times2 article on Elim Chan from today's paper:

https://www.thetimes.com/article/88e76bc9-b3d3-4ce3-b652-5ac1eac81064?shareToken=a1444d126487b1e41cd5880a99 03c33b

I don't know Elim Chan but reports from the rehearsals are very positive. I'll be there.

[cria]

I don't know Elim Chan but reports from the rehearsals are very positive. I'll be there.

I liked her comment that when assistant cond to Gergiev he turned up less and less for rehearsals so it was excellent training!

[Darkbloom]

This has been the first time I've used the RAH website to book for a Prom. I haven't gone for a few years and always got them in the queue on the day. Is it always as rubbish as this? I had to log back in because the site kicked me off.

[Darkbloom]

I liked her comment that when assistant cond to Gergiev he turned up less and less for rehearsals so it was excellent training!

He had rehearsals? I'd never have guessed from some of his performances.

[Ein Heldenleben]

This Bruckner Psalm 150 sounds
- very difficult for the chorus to sing with a FF BFlat for the sopranos - that’s cruel isn’t it ?
- there’s a repeated first violins figuration early on which sounds straight out of one of the symphonies but I can’t remember which one…

My word the sops end on a FF top C !
Bravi ladies of the chorus …