Prom 29: Friday 5th August at 7.30. p.m. (Mahler 2)

[makropulos]

Yes - just watching him now on BBC2 (a few minutes in, as I was listening to the NYO concert - bit of a scheduling issue there....) and thinking exactly the same thing. From a technical point of view the similarity is very striking.

[BudgieJane]

I've been watching it on BBC2 up to now, and it reminds me of why I liked it yesterday when I was in the hall. It's a shame I have to turn it off to hear Nigel on the radio.

[Bryn]

Yes - just watching him now on BBC2 (a few minutes in, as I was listening to the NYO concert - bit of a scheduling issue there....) and thinking exactly the same thing. From a technical point of view the similarity is very striking.

Shame Dudamel did not learn a bit more than stick technique from Abbado when it comes to Mahler's 2nd. Agreed, much of the playing is pretty much sublime, but this is Mahler rev. and arr. Dudamel, surely? Still, as good old RN reminds us as part of his excuse for re-inserting Blumine in the the 1st Symphony (while sticking with the revised orchestration of the rest), Mahler did say to Mengelberg: "Yes, go on changing the music, - even when I am dead!"

[makropulos]

Shame Dudamel did not learn a bit more than stick technique from Abbado when it comes to Mahler's 2nd. Agreed, much of the playing is pretty much sublime, but this is Mahler rev. and arr. Dudamel, surely? Still, as good old RN reminds us as part of his excuse for re-inserting Blumine in the the 1st Symphony (while sticking with the revised orchestration of the rest), Mahler did say to Mengelberg: "Yes, go on changing the music, - even when I am dead!"

Well yes - but what I must say is that watching the performance tonight was something I found extremely emotional, especially from "O Röschen rot" onwards. Not only was the playing sublime but so was all the singing, and there was a wonderful intensity to the whole thing. It's not how I want to hear Mahler 2 done very often but in its way, I'm very much more persuaded than I was hearing it just on the radio. I can certainly see why a lot of the people there thought it was a remarkable occasion.

[Alison]

Certainly not a recording to keep in the archives. Something of a relief when the symphony ended I must say.

Still, many may have been brought to Mahler for the first time.

Some nice faces among the orchestral players.

[Pianorak]

Prompted by "Playing from memory" on pianist Susan Tomes' blog (http://www.susantomes.com/playing-memory/), how unusual is it to conduct Mahler 2 without a score?

[Alison]

Impressive, but not that unusual.

[Anna]

Well yes - but what I must say is that watching the performance tonight was something I found extremely emotional, especially from "O Röschen rot" onwards. Not only was the playing sublime but so was all the singing, and there was a wonderful intensity to the whole thing. It's not how I want to hear Mahler 2 done very often but in its way, I'm very much more persuaded than I was hearing it just on the radio. I can certainly see why a lot of the people there thought it was a remarkable occasion.

Totally agree. I don't really know Mahler but I thought this, and the Choir particularly, were wonderful and yes, a tear in the eye at the end of the singing.

[makropulos]

Totally agree. I don't really know Mahler but I thought this, and the Choir particularly, were wonderful and yes, a tear in the eye at the end of the singing.

Yes! I thought the choir were superb - their quiet singing was terrific with superb concentration (and discipline), their German was pretty decent, and near the end they were quite fabulous. Great to see them singing from memory too - it really seemed to make a difference.

[moeranbiogman]

The NYCGB sing mostly a cappella and often perform entire concerts from memory. They deserve a Prom to themselves - unfortunately we see/hear too little of them at the Proms.

[remdataram]

Having watched tonight on BBC HD I very much agree with the consensus view that this was a marvellous occasion. Anna Larsson was superb, the recording was excellent and the video coverage was also excellent.

That said, if we close our eyes and pretend we didn't know who the conductor was, we would have been much less impressed.

Dudamel, like Abbado, conducts without a score - Abbado no longer needs it, Dudamel most certainly does.

The first three movements were on the verge of boring, then Anna Larsson brought the performance to life, and the finale left a feeling of triumph!

It must have been great to be there, it was well worth watching but not a performance for repeated viewing or even hearing. With Abbado, Haitink, Tennstedt, Klemperer, Solti and Mehta (to name but a few) in the archives, Mr Dudamel has plenty of references in developing his interpretation of an overall performance. I was at the RFH when Abbado stood in for an indisposed Solti - the best Resurrection I've ever heard!

Thank you BBC for a real treat tonight.

[Anna]

So, if I wanted to purchase a Mahler 2, who would it be then? The conductor/orch/choir of choice?

[makropulos]

So, if I wanted to purchase a Mahler 2, who would it be then? The conductor/orch/choir of choice?

Anna - you'll probably get as many different suggestions as there are posters on this board... but here are a couple for starters:

a DVD of Abbado at the Lucerne Festival (coincidentally also with the wonderful Anna Larsson):

http://www.mdt.co.uk/MDTSite/product//2053269.htm

Klaus Tennstedt live with the London Philharmonic on CD - this is an amazing performance:

http://www.mdt.co.uk/MDTSite/product//LPO0044.htm

Both live performances (which certainly helps) and both terrific - I don't think either will disappoint you at all, though there are others that are wonderful too.

[Bryn]

I'd go for Abbado with his Lucerne band, Anna Larson, et al on medici arts DVD or DG CDs. I have the DVD. Norrington is somewhat let down by his soloists, I feel. Otherwise that too is worth hearing.

The Abbado is also available on CD:

http://www.play.com/Music/CD/-/800674/-/Product.html

[Stunsworth]

Thank you BBC for a real treat tonight.

I agree. Watching the broadcast - on the HD channel with surround sound - I can understand why it got the reception it did in the hall - even if there are better interpretations. The choral and vocalist contributions were - IMHO - incredibly moving. I speak as someone whose musical skills almost extend to most of the three chords on a guitar (are there more?). The choir in particular deserve particular praise, I was almost moved to tears myself by their contribution.