Prom 30: National Youth Orchestra / NYO Inspire Musicians, A. Bloch / T. Jackson

[LMcD]

And what a wonderful art form music is when we can hear magnificent music from 18 years olds one night and the same from an 81 year old conductor and pianist the next.
We should be pouring money into music education,,,

[Ein Heldenleben]

Yes, I thought you probably meant her...
... and yes, tears in my eyes too - also when Monsieur Bloch was singling out soloists for calls... and indeed during the Swingles-like encore!

"We should be pouring money into music education."

BTW I am thankful for my grandchildren that they have brilliant music education being in Camden schools.

Good to hear KB . I’ve heard , though I live miles away , that there are excellent things happening in London generally.

[Bella Kemp]

Yes, I thought you probably meant her...
... and yes, tears in my eyes too - also when Monsieur Bloch was singling out soloists for calls... and indeed during the Swingles-like encore!

"We should be pouring money into music education."

BTW I am thankful for my grandchildren that they have brilliant music education being in Camden schools.

It's been quite a week for tears in one's eyes. It was so incredibly moving to see the rioters stopped in their tracks by people of all ages simply and peacefully blocking the streets. That, and this orchestra, promise such hope for the future. Of course there will be setbacks, but - as evidenced in all Mahler's music - even though appalling things happen, goodness is by far the most powerful force and will win through.

[smittims]

I wonder how many others feel as I do when listening to a new work for the first time. I feel uncomfortable not knowing how long it will last, and hence how far through it I am, to understand how the music I am hearing fits into the overall structure. I mention this because I felt it particularly with the two new pieces in this concert, which I watched on TV. I should add that I always listen to a new piece purely as music, regardless of any extra-musical idea or view the composer may want us to agree with or think about .

I thought Orpheus Undone was enjoyable, if not a work of any depth or stature. It was well-written for the orchestra and the orchestration fitted the musical material well. But the Three, Four AND... I thought a poor piece for several reasons. The musical material was banal and derivative, it was too long for what it contained, and there seemed to me to be no musical reason why the musicians should be positioned around the hall. Those not on stage seemed inaudible anyway, which may have been due to microphone limits but also to the heavy scoring forthe main group , which drowned their contribution.

As in other new works I hear, I wondered whether the composer had thought very much about how the work would sound to an audience. It seemed to me that the same music could have been scored for a much smaller orchestra without any loss . I know that the idea was to employ the extra players from 'NYO Inspire' but I think there should have been some musical reason for their being there.

.

[hmvman]

Just caught up with this one via the iPlayer. Really good Mahler 1. I share smittims' opinions of the new works but I might give them another listen to see if they leave any more of an impression.

Great to see all those young musicians giving such committed performances and evidently enjoying themselves too. Hopefully this means that classical music has a bright future.

Agree with kernelbogey re the tv presenters - the 'mute' button was used a lot!

[oddoneout]

Just caught up with this one via the iPlayer. Really good Mahler 1. I share smittims' opinions of the new works but I might give them another listen to see if they leave any more of an impression.

Great to see all those young musicians giving such committed performances and evidently enjoying themselves too. Hopefully this means that classical music has a bright future.

Agree with kernelbogey re the tv presenters - the 'mute' button was used a lot!

But only for those who can afford it sadly. The presence of large numbers of talented youngsters in the RAH is a positive but the withdrawal of access to instrumental tuition for those of limited or no means has closed the door for too many other youngsters, who don't even get the chance to find out if they have a talent, let alone develop it. When I was at the youth /young peoples' orchestra stage the players may have been almost entirely white( but then so was the population from which the players was drawn) but their family circumstances covered a very wide range, from struggling to comfortably off.
Mind you the career (or even just making a living ) prospects now aren't good even for those who have had that opportunity.

[Barbirollians]

The new government has committed to restoring music education - whether they will achieve it is another thing.

[hmvman]

I don't disagree with you oddoneout. Fingers crossed that the new government's commitment to music education is genuine.

[Barbirollians]

An excellent concert .