Prom 4: MacMillan/Mahler, Hallé/Hallé Choir & Youth Choir & Children’s Choir, Elder

[bluestateprommer]

Sunday 21 July 2024
19:30
Royal Albert Hall

Sir James MacMillan: Timotheus, Bacchus and Cecilia (London premiere)

Interval

Mahler: Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor

Hallé Children’s Choir
Hallé Youth Choir
Hallé Choir
Hallé
Sir Mark Elder, conductor

https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/e6drn3

https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/proms/bbc-proms-24/prom-4/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00214rd

[Barbirollians]

This is the same programme as in Manchester on 31st May. It was an outstanding concert especially the performance of the Macmillan and I would recommend this Prom highly.

[LMcD]

This is the same programme as in Manchester on 31st May. It was an outstanding concert especially the performance of the Macmillan and I would recommend this Prom highly.

A welcome chance to hear THAT Adagietto 'in context'.

[bluestateprommer]

Found the text for the James MacMillan work, from the Cincinnati May Festival's site here:

Timotheus, Bacchus and Cecilia
Text excerpted from Alexander’s Feast; or the Power of Music by John Dryden (1631-1700):

"Timotheus placed on high
Amid the tuneful quire
With flying fingers touch’d the lyre:
The trembling notes ascend the sky
And heavenly joys inspire.
The song began from Jove
Who left his blissful seats above
Such is the power of mighty love!
A dragon’s fiery form belied the god;
Sublime on radiant spires he rode
When he to fair Olympia prest,
And while he sought her snowy breast,
Then round her slender waist he curl’d,
And stamp’d an image of himself, a sovereign of the world.
The listening crowd admire the lofty sound;
A present deity! they shout around:
A present deity! the vaulted roofs rebound:
With ravish’d ears
The monarch hears,
Assumes the god;
Affects to nod,
And seems to shake the spheres.

The praise of Bacchus then the sweet musician sung,
Of Bacchus ever fair and ever young:
The jolly god in triumph comes;
Sound the trumpets, beat the drums!
Flush’d with a purple grace
He shows his honest face:
Now give the hautboys breath; he comes, he comes!
Bacchus, ever fair and young,
Drinking joys did first ordain;
Bacchus’ blessings are a treasure,
Drinking is the soldier’s pleasure:
Rich the treasure,
Sweet the pleasure,
Sweet is pleasure after pain.

(Sancta Cecilia, ora pro nobis.) (Saint Cecilia, pray for us.)

Thus, long ago,
Ere heaving bellows learn’d to blow,
While organs yet were mute,
Timotheus, to his breathing flute
And sounding lyre,
Could swell the soul to rage, or kindle soft desire.
At last divine Cecilia came.
Inventress of the vocal frame;
The sweet enthusiast from her sacred store
Enlarged the former narrow bounds,
And added length to solemn sounds,
With Nature’s mother-wit, and arts unknown before.
Let old Timotheus yield the prize,
Or both divide the crown;
He raised a mortal to the skies,
She drew an angel down!"

PS: Non-sequitur addition, namely the BBC FOUR link (I couldn't add it to the initial Calendar entry).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0021d9w

[Pulcinella]

Absolutely execrable TV presentation!
No explanation of the MacMillan work; no text as subtitles!
Sadly, all par for the course.

[edashtav]

MacMillan's Trypticon is a generous tour de force which showcases the massed forces of the Hallé's choirs, orchestra and its ever youthful chief conductor, Sir Mark Elder, invidually and corporately to great and , eventually, joyous effect. Three in one, each component examines one character: Timotheus, Bacchus and Cecilia. 4:2:4 syllables and their music seems to derive from the verbal rhythms of their names with three moods: bright, dark and desolate, and finally a paean of praise that Purcell could not excel in his 1692 Cantata 'Hail, Bright Cecilia'.

This was probably its third performance by today's forces as the demand for tickets at the premiere was such that the Orchestra's management wisely chose to schedule a repeat concert. The Proms performance was superb: confident, wonderfully characterised and quite overwhelming in its impact.

What a way to celebrate the 25 year reign of Sir Mark Elder. AVE ATQUE VALE.

[Ein Heldenleben]

MacMillan's Trypticon is a generous tour de force which showcases the massed forces of the Hallé's choirs, orchestra and its ever youthful chief conductor, Sir Mark Elder, invidually and corporately to great and , eventually, joyous effect. Three in one, each component examines one character: Timotheus, Bacchus and Cecilia. 4:2:4 syllables and their music seems to derive from the verbal rhythms of their names with three moods: bright, dark and desolate, and finally a paean of praise that Purcell could not excel in his 1692 Cantata 'Hail, Bright Cecilia'.

This was probably its third performance by today's forces as the demand for tickets at the premiere was such that the Orchestra's management wisely chose to schedule a repeat concert. The Proms performance was superb: confident, wonderfully characterised and quite overwhelming in its impact.

What a way to celebrate the 25 year reign of Sir Mark Elder. AVE ATQUE VALE.

Indeed one minute into Mahler 5 and the prep that’s gone into this is evident ( a lifetime’s)

[Petrushka]

Absolutely execrable TV presentation!
No explanation of the MacMillan work; no text as subtitles!
Sadly, all par for the course.

Agreed. I discovered the text appended by BSP in #4 much too late. Just because it's sung in English it appears subtitles aren't necessary when experience says otherwise.

[edashtav]

I was delighted to read bsp's transcription of the text just before the Prom commenced. It made a terrific difference to my enjoyment and understanding of the new work. BBC please note.

[Ein Heldenleben]

The string playing of the Hallé in that performance was out of this world. The attack , the shading , the phrasing - what a wonderful performance. No hint of flagging in the finale - the concentration of the musicians is extraordinary. Sir Mark how can you even think of retirement ? You have set the Proms alight.

That final rallentando at the end - oh my word overwhelming.

Words are superfluous but , as always . I’d love to hear what others think .
Listened on R3 tonight - Iplayer now - back to the finale

[eighthobstruction]

The string playing of the Hallé in that performance was out of this world. The attack , the shading , the phrasing - what a wonderful performance. No hint of flagging in the finale - the concentration of the musicians is extraordinary. Sir Mark how can you even think of retirement ? You have set the Proms alight.

That final rallentando at the end - oh my word overwhelming.

Words are superfluous but , as always . I’d love to hear what others think .
Listened on R3 tonight - Iplayer now - back to the finale

....Who do you think you are Katie Derham....

[Ein Heldenleben]

....Who do you think you are Katie Derham....

No I’m doing it for free !

Not only that I’ve just heard the finale again on BBC Four where I can say the sound is distinctly inferior to R3 FM.

He’s right about the fountain…

and the importance of Classical Music.

This piece of Elgar as an encore that according to Sir Mark “ we all know “ …I don’t know it !

[eighthobstruction]

No I’m doing it for free !

Not only that I’ve just heard the finale again on BBC Four where I can say the sound is distinctly inferior to R3 FM.

He’s right about the fountain…

and the importance of Classical Music.

Yes, I heard it half radio, half TV (I wanted to see Mark Elder....) yes lousy sound....(woodwind esp)

[Ein Heldenleben]

Yes, I heard it half radio, half TV (I wanted to see Mark Elder....) yes lousy sound....

What’s the Elgar encore 8th ?

[eighthobstruction]

What’s the Elgar encore 8th ?

Turned it off....didn't see end speech either (watched both -mute, really will go to all lengths pos' to avoid KD))....back on for Andrew Davis for sentimental fun/nostalgia...