Prom 61: Adès / Bruckner, BRSO, Rattle

[Petrushka]

I was thinking about this. Kertesz did a very well regarded Bruckner 4 with the LSO. I'm sure there's plenty of Horenstein too. I know Colin Davis recorded the 9th on the LSO Live label.

Haitink did 4, 7, 8 and 9 with the LSO with 4 and 9 appearing on the LSO Live label.

[LHC]

Haitink did 4, 7, 8 and 9 with the LSO with 4 and 9 appearing on the LSO Live label.

Colin Davis also recorded 6 and 9 on LSO live.

I don't recall Gergiev attempting any Bruckner with the LSO, so we were at least spared that. It wasn't until he took over in Munich that he turned his attention to Bruckner.

[Prommer]

I know he was 200 yesterday, so it's topical, but anyone think old Anton is due for a revival of interest? In times when people crave meaning and some kind of affirmation, but have an appetite for complex and varied routes to it?

I read somewhere he goes down badly in America. Less so in Europe...

[Prommer]

Colin Davis also recorded 6 and 9 on LSO live.

I don't recall Gergiev attempting any Bruckner with the LSO, so we were at least spared that. It wasn't until he took over in Munich that he turned his attention to Bruckner.

Ah yes - that makes sense. Thank you.

[Prommer]

Nice 'general listener' Bruckner appreciation from Tom Service now...

[edashtav]

Thomas Adès: Aquifer (UK premiere)
A recent work by Thomas Adès, once the white-hot hope of British music now in receipt of a rainbow of opinion, performed by Sir Simon Rattle friend and Champion of the composer with the outstanding Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Aquifer a spring of fresh water or 'same old, same old'?

Well, 'old' applies, nothing in these 16 minutes to frighten Shire horses. It's scoring was impeccable: Rattle and his band ensured that textures were clear and legible. It is an accessible work which balances counterpoint with harmonic material. Some slides give a poignant twist introducing a quiet, anxious section. Memories of distant storms jostle for attention with fairground music. The music settles and sounds worn down. The early scalic material dominates a slow, long coda that displaces dissonance with consonance and gradually discovers a tonal centre through wind, aggression and a final slide into... was it, 'C'?

Aqiver delivered gushing, old water into recycled bottles.

Sir Simon Rattle presented the Royal Phlharmonic Society's Gold Medal to 'Tom'b Adès. Simon sounded emotional and Tom was an embarrassed Gruffalo.

Oh dear, the interval is dominated by Tom Service talking over Locus Iste. TUT Tut! But.. it is a proper Studio talk. Love him or like him, Tom's knowledge of AB is masterful and disarming.

[Prommer]

Oh Lord, what version is this...

[Ein Heldenleben]

Oh Lord, what version is this...

Long explanation from Rattle in the preamble which I won’t attempt to précis

[Prommer]

He has shortened the finale to 're-balance' the symphony... and added six bars...

[Prommer]

Not bad pacing and playing so far - the tempi fine if a little brisk sometimes. But he tends to miss or plough through any of the more mystical, ethereal passages, almost as if he hasn't noticed them.

No "Geist".

[Ein Heldenleben]

Not bad pacing and playing so far - the tempi fine if a little brisk sometimes. But he tends to miss or plough through any of the more mystical, ethereal passages, almost as if he hasn't noticed them.

No "Geist".

sounds like a member of the audience is about to give up the “Geist” in the slow movement. It’s like a bronchial ward there .

[Darkbloom]

Haitink did 4, 7, 8 and 9 with the LSO with 4 and 9 appearing on the LSO Live label.

Now that you mention it, I remember he did Bruckner 4 with the LSO at the Proms. Haydn symphony in the first half, as I recall. Early 2000s, I think. I didn't know he'd recorded any with them. His Beethoven cycle was really good.

[Darkbloom]

I remember a Bruckner 4 with Barenboim and the VPO that made me understand why they are unrivalled in Bruckner. I don't know if anyone here was there that night, but the violinist on the front desk almost seemed to be in an altered stated towards the end of the symphony. I think you have to really identify with the music at some fundamental level, which is why so many Bruckner performance miss the mark for me.

[Prommer]

I remember a Bruckner 4 with Barenboim and the VPO that made me understand why they are unrivalled in Bruckner. I don't know if anyone here was there that night, but the violinist on the front desk almost seemed to be in an altered stated towards the end of the symphony. I think you have to really identify with the music at some fundamental level, which is why so many Bruckner performance miss the mark for me.

Yes, that was memorable... same season as the Lucerne Mahler 3?? Now we were all in an altered state after that one!

[Prommer]

This is really not bad so far... a great orchestra. Not sure our state is going to be altered, but...