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

[bluestateprommer]

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

https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/e9r5q9

https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/proms/bbc-proms-24/prom-55/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0022cl8

[richardfinegold]

Now this sounds exciting! Short fare, though

[Petrushka]

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.

[bluestateprommer]

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:

https://bachtrack.com/review-smetana-ma-vlast-petrenko-berliner-philharmoniker-prague-spring-may-2024

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

https://www.digitalconcerthall.com/en/concert/55084

[LMcD]

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.

[Historian]

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.

[Prommer]

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

[Ein Heldenleben]

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.

[gedsmk]

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.

[Ein Heldenleben]

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.

[Prommer]

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo35g7Cvn1c

[Nick Armstrong]

Exquisite encore

[Ein Heldenleben]

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 .

[Prommer]

And this for the Ma Vlast...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76R0N2GN6Jo

[Maclintick]

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…