Prom 23: Monday 1st August and 7.30 p.m. (Beethoven, Saint-Saëns, Liszt)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Presented by Martin Handley

Energy and Romantic drive characterise the music of tonight's Prom with the BBC Philharmonic, conductor Gianandrea Noseda and pianist Stephen Hough . Beethoven's exhilarating Fourth Symphony is the perfect curtain-raiser to Saint-Saëns's sparkling Fifth Piano Concerto, with its colourful reminiscences of his foreign travels. The second half continues this season's anniversary exploration of Liszt's major works with his turbulent Dante Symphony, bringing to vivid musical life the dark world of the Inferno and Purgatorio sections of the Italian Renaissance poet's Divine Comedy.

Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 in B flat major
Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No. 5 in F major ('Egyptian')
Liszt: Dante Symphony

Stephen Hough (piano)
Julia Doyle (soprano)

CBSO Chorus (women's voices)
BBC Philharmonic
Gianandrea Noseda (conductor)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Quite a "big" programme this evening. But which is "the" major work, I wonder.

[mercia]

according to the Proms archive the Dante hasn't been performed (at the Proms) since 1986, whereas the Faust Symphony seems to get quite a regular outing. Is the Faust generally considered the more 'popular' or 'better' of the two?

[Ventilhorn]

Quite a "big" programme this evening. But which is "the" major work, I wonder.

I shall enjoy the Beethoven and then retire to TV for the rest of the evening.

Far too much French music in this opening fortnight for my taste. Apart from Ravel, that is.

VH

[Tevot]

Hi there please disregard my last post - for some bizarre reason I read 4th Piano Concerto instead of Symphony

Best Wishes,

Tevot

[Ventilhorn]

It does seem curious putting two piano concertos back to back -

Perhaps if Stephen Hough wanted more time at the keyboard they could have programmed The Choral Fantasia instead of the Saint Saens?

OMG Please! No, no, and thrice NO!
The trailer for Beethoven 9?

I can't believe it. You must be joking! (in the words of John McE)

VH

[Roehre]

according to the Proms archive the Dante hasn't been performed (at the Proms) since 1986, whereas the Faust Symphony seems to get quite a regular outing. Is the Faust generally considered the more 'popular' or 'better' of the two?

Not to my knowledge. A point detrimental to the Dante is, that the conductor has to make a choice which final pages he prefers, consequently triggering a discussion regarding his choice, and which of the finales is "the best" (a kind of discussion similar to the order of the inner movements in Mahler 6). I know of at least one conductor who prefers to not to perform the Dante at all, in stead of being subjected to the comments related to this item.

[Roehre]

Perhaps if Stephen Hough wanted more time at the keyboard they could have programmed The Choral Fantasia instead of the Saint Saens?

Would be a nice programme, and the Proms could claim a world premiere if the alternative opening for strings (either string quartet or string orchestra [Beethoven's own alternative btw, given in the score]) were played in stead of the piano "extemporisation" with which it usual starts.

I would place the Choral fantasia at the beginning of the programme, followed by the 4th before the interval, with the Dante following the interval (or drop Beethoven 4 and perform the Egyptian anyway).

But to be honest, the Saint Saens is not too often performed, and as it is a lovely concerto, I think the present programme is preferable.

[and as Encore the Purgatorio from Mahler's 10 would be nice choice ]

[mercia]

the conductor has to make a choice which final pages he prefers

oh right, interesting. I knew the Faust has two versions but not that the Dante does too. I see from the programme notes that the Dante could have had an extra "Paradise" movement but Liszt was dissuaded by Wagner from including that.

[mercia]

well the audience certainly enjoyed the Saint-Saens! huge cheer. it's a bit wacky, but thoroughly enjoyable. i'm sure I detected a bit of Debussy-influence in the middle movement even though the programme notes said I shouldn't.

[Alison]

Bland woodwind in Beethoven 4 I thought.

Spoilt it ... a bit.

[Petrushka]

Sorry, gave this Prom a wide berth. I'm allergic to Saint-Saens and Liszt and the LvB 4 wasn't enough to justify a listen.

The Proms seems to have hit one if its periodic flat spots over the past week and only caught Saturdays. The rest of this week and into next week looks like a return to quality.

[Chris Newman]

I quite enjoyed this one. The radio balance was a bit hit and miss. The much neglected Saint-Saens was a bit of fun worthy of revival. I cannot get on with the nebulous Faust symphony but rather liked the Dante. Good luck with your next jobs, Giandrea Noseda, and thanks for the Rachmaninov last night.

[pmartel]

I quite enjoyed this one. The radio balance was a bit hit and miss. The much neglected Saint-Saens was a bit of fun worthy of revival. I cannot get on with the nebulous Faust symphony but rather liked the Dante. Good luck with your next jobs, Giandrea Noseda, and thanks for the Rachmaninov last night.

I'm in Canada and decided to route my computer through my stereo, a vintage Marantz 2230 and Energy 22 speakers.

The Beethoven was hit and miss and found the sound better in the 3rd and 4th movements as I thought I was hearing things. Saint-Saens was nicely performed and the Dante Symphony had the best sound of them all and beautifully performed

[pilamenon]

I quite enjoyed this one. The radio balance was a bit hit and miss. The much neglected Saint-Saens was a bit of fun worthy of revival. I cannot get on with the nebulous Faust symphony but rather liked the Dante. Good luck with your next jobs, Giandrea Noseda, and thanks for the Rachmaninov last night.

I share your assessment, Chris. The Beethoven didn't quite sparkle the way the 1st and 7th did under the Welsh band the other night, but the piano concerto was great stuff. Definitely worth more outings when played as exuberantly as it was by Mr Hough tonight. I admired the Dante symphony, which I'd never heard before, and was thankful that it was more concise than the Faust one. Nor can I imagine it being played much better than this.

I've really enjoyed many of Noseda's Proms with the BBC Phil, and second your best wishes for him. Hopefully, he'll be back to guest conduct.