Prom 42: Beethoven 9 'By Heart', Aurora Orch/BBC Singers/National Youth Choir, Collon

[Ein Heldenleben]

Well I’m glad you enjoyed it Edashtav

But for me - Over accented with a poor first violin sound , unsubtle with an over employed staccato through out , lacking in either tempo variation or flexibility of phrasing. One of the worst Beethoven Ninths I have ever heard . Like being hit repeatedly over the head with one of the scores the orchestra makes such a show of eschewing. It’s almost as if a computer is playing the music. It’s Beethovens Ninth as Acid house.

Not even the stellar cast of singers could rescue it.

The timp player is good though. Ditto first horn.

Rather weirdly they repeated fhe last minute with what sounded like some out of tune improv from the fiddles as the performers dotted themselves around the hall.. I guess you had to be there.

Obviously it will be an official triumph.

…and now like a healing balm Paul Lewis in the Op 78 F# major to show us how Beethoven should be played . Subtlety of phrasing, rubato , expressivity , touch ,sense of structure…
The way he leads us into the first movt recap with a subtle rit . Completely beyond tonight’s time beater ..

[edashtav]

Well I’m glad you enjoyed it Edashtav

But for me - Over accented with a poor first violin sound , unsubtle with an over employed staccato through out , lacking in either tempo variation or flexibility of phrasing. One of the worst Beethoven Ninths I have ever heard . Like being hit repeatedly over the head with one of the scores the orchestra makes such a show of eschewing. It’s almost as if a computer is playing the music. It’s Beethovens Ninth as Acid house.

Not even the stellar cast of singers could rescue it.

The timp player is good though. Ditto first horn.

Rather weirdly they repeated fhe last minute with what sounded like some out of tune improv from the fiddles as the performers dotted themselves around the hall.. I guess you had to be there.

Obviously it will be an official triumph.

…and now like a healing balm Paul Lewis in the Op 78 F# major to show us how Beethoven should be played . Subtlety of phrasing, rubato , expressivity , touch ,sense of structure…
The way he leads us into the first movt recap with a subtle rit . Completely beyond tonight’s time beater ..

We have set up a dichotomy. Others may sort fact from fiction.

[jonfan]

Totally with Ed on this and cannot add anything to his superb analysis of the first half
and the symphony. Just to say there was an infectious wildness to everything and the chorus one of the best I’ve heard, the sopranos scaling the heights with ease. Look forward to seeing the whole event,

[edashtav]

Yes, the Chorus was one of the best I've heard Too, and better than any in which. I have sung second bass.

[Darkbloom]

I always find these differences of opinion fascinating. I enjoy the Furtwangler 1942 'Nazi Ninth' but there are other people who find it the most cacophonous garbage they've ever heard.

[LMcD]

It’s a gimmick to seek attention.

(You're right, of course).

[Pulcinella]

Five stars from Rebecca Franks in The Times:

https://www.thetimes.com/article/908395a5-c6c4-467c-b575-43f2e6fdc81f?shareToken=71f0f31c2c58223ddd6efb378cf0e53d

[jonfan]

It’s a gimmick to seek attention.

So when a soloist plays without music that’s really what they’re doing?

[edashtav]

Five stars from Rebecca Franks in The Times:

https://www.thetimes.com/article/908...6efb378cf0e53d

[gurnemanz]

Five stars from Rebecca Franks in The Times:

https://www.thetimes.com/article/908...6efb378cf0e53d

And Guardian

[Ein Heldenleben]

Yes I read all the reviews and I’m sticking to my position . Both the Guardian and Times review the whole performance in including all the elements that can’t be seen on Radio. There’s relatively little on the actual music in these very brief reviews. The in-house experience might have been five stars but the musical one at home was far from it. I’m with the Telegraph review that wanted more lyricism and stillness in places . Beethoven has to be more than hard- driven. Listen to the lovely trio in the second movement where the finale big tune is pre -empted - that went for nothing the other night in the helter skelter tempo.

[Pulcinella]

Yes I read all the reviews and I’m sticking to my position . Both the Guardian and Times review the whole performance in including all the elements that can’t be seen on Radio. There’s relatively little on the actual music in these very brief reviews. The in-house experience might have been five stars but the musical one at home was far from it. I’m with the Telegraph review that wanted more lyricism and stillness in places . Beethoven has to be more than hard- driven. Listen to the lovely trio in the second movement where the finale big tune is pre -empted - that went for nothing the other night in the helter skelter tempo.

Presumably the ensemble was spot on though, as they players will have been able to keep their eyes on the conductor instead of the music.

[edashtav]

And Guardian

[Ein Heldenleben]

Presumably the ensemble was spot on though, as they players will have been able to keep their eyes on the conductor instead of the music.

Well they didn’t quite start together and the horn player very slightly split the first note. I guess it was one of those pesky natural horns and he was also rather over exposed in the balance. Though I wouldn’t criticise the ensemble playing at all. Just didn’t like the rather under nourished staccato first violin sound through out .

[jonfan]

I too noticed the uncertain start. First horn is usually Annemarie Federle and it sounded as though modern instruments were used throughout the band. The fiendish Horn 4 solo in the adagio was superb, though at the andante speed the terrors were quickly over!