Prom 49: Saturday 20th August at 7.30 p.m. (Brahms/Haitink 2)

[Ferretfancy]

jayne lee wilson

How I agree! I don't remember a better performance of this symphony, it was riveting in the hall.

Two nice points for those who did not see it on television. The cellist in the slow movement of the concerto was naturally given a bow by Haitink, whereupon Ax dragged hin forward to share his applause, a very generous moment. The other event was that just before the concert started there was a loud group shout from the rear of the Arena :-
"ARENA TO AUDIENCE! NO COUGHING !!! " I didn't notice any, and before part two it was :- "ARENA TO AUDIENCE ! THANK YOU FOR NOT COUGHING!!!" This could be worth repeating instead of heave ho!
This was one of those evenings when love and commitment to the music reigned supreme.

[Bryn]

... One of the best live 4ths I've heard, a great achievement.

I can but concur. Quite superb.

[makropulos]

I can but concur. Quite superb.

I can only (and happily) agree - a marvellous performance for so many reasons.

[marvin]

And no childish inter-movement applauding from the juvenile elements of the promenaders, I presume?
These people really do lower the standards of the proms nowadays allied with some very indifferent performances from some orchestras and soloists alike.
The Haitink concerts have been revelatory with the magical Emanuel Ax as soloist in two marvellous concerti.

[Ventilhorn]

Came over very well here too on HDs, plenty of power in the Handelian sections of (ii), weighty enough where apt... optimodded FM often sounds all on one dynamic level in the B flat.

I videoed both of these two concerts and was quite amazed at the difference in sound balance. This was a magnificent performance by all. In the previous concert, perhaps both orchestra and soloist were feeling their way a bit - and it showed.

Permit me to answer Richard J's admonition to me (message #31 on the Prom 47 thread)

Originally Posted by Ventilhorn
When will these soloists realise that sometimes they are only the accompanist and someone else has the tune?
I think the Axeman kept his foot down on the loud pedal from start to finish.

First of all, please don't insult Emanuel Ax by calling him that name. I am amazed by your 'loud pedal' comment, as from the Side Stalls I was struck in many passages by the delicacy of his touch. In no way did he overpower the orchestra. Perhaps the electronic wizardry that enabled you to hear the concert was at fault.


[QUOTE}I played both concertos with Julius Katchen on several occasions and I can assure you that during my horn solos, he never took his eyes off me.

.
Not sure what the relevance of that is. If you are trying to say that Ax wasn't interested in what the orchestra were doing, that is patent nonsense. One could see in both concerts that whenever Ax stopped playing he turned to the orchestra and was absorbed in their playing.[/QUOTE]

Regarding the first quotation, I apologise unreservedly for any insult to Mr Ax, who I did also state is a pianist for whom I have the greatest admiration. Perhaps the piano was over-miked but there was no such problem for me in the 2nd piano concerto.
Re Richard's second statement, I agree that the soloist was looking lovingly at the orchestra, but only when he was not playing himself. He seemed to me to be quite unaware of who had the tune when what he was playing was clearly an accompanying passage.

I don't compare live performances with recordings and I certainly prefer the former as a true artists interpretation of the work.

So for me, listening in direct comparison, the second night's performance was a thrilling tribute to Bernard Haitinck, Emanuel Ax and the C O E and I agree totally with all those who have registered their delight and approval.

VH

[Norfolk Born]

I can only (and happily) agree - a marvellous performance for so many reasons.

[Richard Tarleton]

"ARENA TO AUDIENCE! NO COUGHING !!! " I didn't notice any, and before part two it was :- "ARENA TO AUDIENCE ! THANK YOU FOR NOT COUGHING!!!" This could be worth repeating instead of heave ho!
This was one of those evenings when love and commitment to the music reigned supreme.

A marvellous concert indeed. I listened to the piano concerto twice - on R3 and later on TV. I heard a fairly loud cough in the very opening bar of horn solo on the radio, but it was not so obvious later on TV.

[BBMmk2]

I will have to wait till later.

I waited for the televised performance. Perhaps I should have had the Radio on instead!

The PC 2 was great though. Really quite fantastic performance. It good to hear Brahms's music on a more reduced scale. The musical lines and thought, seem to come over more clearly?

[Alison]

How one would like to hear the remaining symphonies under these players.

You do woffle on VH !

Looking forward to Petrushka's report when he gets home.

[verismissimo]

On TV the concerto came across (from both soloist and orchestra) as real chamber music. Wonderful.

[Pianophile]

There was indeed a real feeling of chamber music in the concerto. Emmanuel Ax's account was magisterial. I'm surprised to read comments about the balance on radio and TV being in favour of the piano, as the balance in the hall seemed ideal to me.

Glorious Brahms 4 too. A memorable evening all round.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Perhaps this concert was one of the season's finest gems?

[Alison]

Hang on, one of those Arts Desk pseuds knows better.

http://www.theartsdesk.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=4375:bbc-proms-ax-chamber-orchestra-of-europe-haitink&Itemid=27

[Alison]

Amidst the florid writing all those critics actually seem to want is
excitement !

Oh, and there are other ways of playing the works. Gee, thanks.

Our jayne said a lot more with a quarter of the words.

ps

On reflection you dont woffle as much as some, Ventil !! x

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Hang on, one of those Arts Desk pseuds knows better.

http://www.theartsdesk.com/index.php...tink&Itemid=27

Maybe, but she can only say what she thinks. Everyone's reaction will be different, and Ismene Brown's is worth considering, even if different from yours or mine.