Prom 55: R. Schumann / Smetana, Berlin Philharmonic, Ólafsson / K. Petrenko

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  • bluestateprommer
    Full Member
    • Nov 2010
    • 3007

    Prom 55: R. Schumann / Smetana, Berlin Philharmonic, Ólafsson / K. Petrenko

    Saturday 31 August 2024
    20:00
    Royal Albert Hall

    Robert Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor, op. 54
    [Encore: J. S. Bach: Organ Sonata No. 4 in E minor, BWV 528 - II. Adagio (arr. August Stradal; first performance at The Proms)]

    Interval

    Smetana: Má vlast (complete)

    Víkingur Ólafsson, piano
    Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
    Kirill Petrenko, conductor

    The first of the Berliner Philharmoniker’s two Proms this season sees Kirill Petrenko lead the orchestra in Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto – featuring soloist Víkingur Ólafsson – and Smetana’s majestic sequence of six symphonic poems, Má vlast.




    Starts
    31-08-24 20:00
    Ends
    31-08-24 22:30
    Location
    Royal Albert Hall
    Last edited by bluestateprommer; 31-08-24, 19:44. Reason: added encore; adjusted (speculatively) end time
  • richardfinegold
    Full Member
    • Sep 2012
    • 7649

    #2
    Now this sounds exciting! Short fare, though

    Comment

    • Petrushka
      Full Member
      • Nov 2010
      • 12232

      #3
      Originally posted by richardfinegold View Post
      Now this sounds exciting! Short fare, though
      Not short at all. The Schumann lasts approx 30 minutes (plus a likely encore) while the Smetana usually clocks in at around 75 minutes.
      "The sound is the handwriting of the conductor" - Bernard Haitink

      Comment

      • bluestateprommer
        Full Member
        • Nov 2010
        • 3007

        #4
        Originally posted by Petrushka View Post
        Not short at all. The Schumann lasts approx 30 minutes (plus a likely encore) while the Smetana usually clocks in at around 75 minutes.
        I suspect that rf had his tongue planted firmly in cheek with his quip ;) . That aside, KP and the BPO had the honor of opening this year's Prague Spring Festival with their reading of Ma vlast, which at least one reviewer liked:



        For anyone who's a subscriber to the Berlin Phil's Digital Concert Hall:

        Kirill Petrenko conducts Bedřich Smetana’s complete cycle “Má Vlast” (My Country) with the famous “Vltava” (The Moldau).

        Comment

        • LMcD
          Full Member
          • Sep 2017
          • 8396

          #5
          Originally posted by Petrushka View Post

          Not short at all. The Schumann lasts approx 30 minutes (plus a likely encore) while the Smetana usually clocks in at around 75 minutes.
          An hour and three quarters of music is pretty generous these days.

          Comment

          • Historian
            Full Member
            • Aug 2012
            • 641

            #6
            Very much looking forward to being there this evening. Interested to hear Olafsson 'in the flesh' as distinct from regularly on R3. I have never heard Ma Vlast live and I'm sure Petrenko and the Berliner Philhamoniker will do it justice. Their Mahler 7 in 2022 was wonderful.

            Comment

            • Prommer
              Full Member
              • Dec 2010
              • 1258

              #7
              Oh what a fabulous, old school programme...a treat.

              Comment

              • Ein Heldenleben
                Full Member
                • Apr 2014
                • 6733

                #8
                Superb performance from Víkingur Ólafsson of this notoriously difficult concerto. That first movement Cadenza which is unflashy but hideously difficult despatched with such elan (and ,bravely, so little pedal ) . Maybe the occasional bit of rather odd left hand staccato but arguably the pianistic highlight of the season (along with Ben G in Busoni) . Piano managed to stay In tune for the second movement so clearly he wasn’t bashing it à la Russienne. And in third the wonderful power and accuracy of those opening chords, Just wondered whether it wasn’t a tad too fast ?

                But my word the polish , sheen , intonation and accuracy of the Berliners . Those woodwind , so prominent in the Schumann , they are just in a different league from some of the bands we’ve heard in this season . The clarinet and oboe players - clearly world class virtuosi.

                Comment

                • gedsmk
                  Full Member
                  • Dec 2010
                  • 203

                  #9
                  In my very humble opinion that piano concerto was .... unconvincing. Rather wilful choices of emphasis, some choppy phrasing, moments of lack of ensemble. The last movement was the most convincing but I won't be listening to Ólafsson's take on this again for a while. As for the encore, out of its context hard to judge, but those thumping left hand octaves didn't do Bach any favours. I wonder if the arranger included "FF" as a dynamic? I rather doubt it but am open to correction on that. A less histrionic rendition (a la Yunchan Lim) I think would have been more effective.
                  Last edited by gedsmk; 01-09-24, 10:40. Reason: added review of the encore - as part of the debate!

                  Comment

                  • Ein Heldenleben
                    Full Member
                    • Apr 2014
                    • 6733

                    #10
                    Originally posted by gedsmk View Post
                    In my very humble opinion that piano concerto was .... unconvincing. Rather wilful choices of emphasis, some choppy phrasing, moments of lack of ensemble. The last movement was the most convincing but I won't be listening to Ólafsson's take on this again for a while.
                    Ooh great a debate for once …one thing :he only played one wrong note - a tiny smudge in the finale . There was a perf a few seasons back where the pianist sprayed wrong notes around like confetti at a society wedding.

                    Comment

                    • Prommer
                      Full Member
                      • Dec 2010
                      • 1258

                      #11
                      By the way, check this out, as a curiosity - Eschenbach playing the piano, Carlos Kleiber conducting!

                      Robert Schumann ( 1810 - 1856 )Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op.5400:00 I. Allegro affettuoso14:28 II. Intermezzo: Andantino grazioso20:01 III. Allegro vivaceCh...

                      Comment

                      • Nick Armstrong
                        Host
                        • Nov 2010
                        • 26520

                        #12
                        Exquisite encore

                        "...the isle is full of noises,
                        Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
                        Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
                        Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."

                        Comment

                        • Ein Heldenleben
                          Full Member
                          • Apr 2014
                          • 6733

                          #13
                          Originally posted by Nick Armstrong View Post
                          Exquisite encore
                          He said it should it really be played on the organ and then , somehow , produced a weight of sound that matched any organ I’ve heard . Absolutely tremendous playing .

                          Comment

                          • Prommer
                            Full Member
                            • Dec 2010
                            • 1258

                            #14
                            And this for the Ma Vlast...

                            The opening concert of 1990 Prague Spring International Music Festival on 12th May 1990 at Smetana Hall in Prague.Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884):Fanfares from t...

                            Comment

                            • Maclintick
                              Full Member
                              • Jan 2012
                              • 1065

                              #15
                              Originally posted by gedsmk View Post
                              In my very humble opinion that piano concerto was .... unconvincing. Rather wilful choices of emphasis, some choppy phrasing, moments of lack of ensemble. The last movement was the most convincing but I won't be listening to Ólafsson's take on this again for a while.
                              I’m afraid you’re being far too polite, Gedsmk. I thought this was one of the splashiest performances of the Schumann concerto I’ve heard. Now enjoying the Smetana…

                              Comment

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