Prom 65: Saturday 3rd September at 7.00 p.m. (Elgar, Berkeley, Rachmaninov, Kodaly)

[Ferretfancy]

Some of us managed to have a chat with the cimbalom player afterwards following his excellent performance right down at the front left of the platform. It's a fascinating instrument.

[Petrushka]

Some of us managed to have a chat with the cimbalom player afterwards following his excellent performance right down at the front left of the platform. It's a fascinating instrument.

There can't be that many cimbalom players around and the names I remember from previous concerts/recordings are John Leach and Heather Corbett.

[Simon B]

It was Ed Cervenka (also a regular percussionist in the major orchestras in the North of England) as it always seems to be every time this piece is played these days. He must have cornered the (admittedly small!) market.

How about the theremin for an even smaller market to corner in an orchestral context?

[salymap]

Years ago I saw and heard Kodaly conduct Hary Janos at the RAH. I don't know what the original arrangements were but at the performance the cimbalom player was 'borrowed' from the Hungaria Restaurant in Piccadilly, London.

[Roehre]

Years ago I saw and heard Kodaly conduct Hary Janos at the RAH. I don't know what the original arrangements were but at the performance the cimbalom player was 'borrowed' from the Hungaria Restaurant in Piccadilly, London.

That's similar to what Van Beinum and Haitink did in Amsterdam in the 1950s and '60s - there was one problem however: that guy didn't read music , and so had to be taught note by note what to play .

[Ventilhorn]

It makes it difficult to read the score when the lights are as low as they were today. I was alright, I was on the rail and we had plenty of light. But others elsewhere would have had trouble.

Tough!

VH

[BudgieJane]

Tough!

Do you really want people using torches to read scores with? In order to keep their hands free, they'd need to use one of those headband type torches, and they're a menace in crowded areas.

[Ventilhorn]

Do you really want people using torches to read scores with? In order to keep their hands free, they'd need to use one of those headband type torches, and they're a menace in crowded areas.

If you don't want to watch the conductor and the players, I feel that you might just as well save the entrance fee and travel costs and listen at home in the comfort of an easy chair under a nice bright standard lamp - or is it the atmosphere that you seek? Sweaty bodies jostling for position along the front rail, with people coughing into the back of your neck.

To each his/her own of course, but I'm sure that those who do want to watch (as well as hear) the proceedings would prefer the platform alone to be well lit so that they can concentrate their attentions there.

VH

[cavatina]

The lights were back to normal in the second half of the concert. If I had to guess, I'd say the hall was dark for the Berkeley because of this:

"One of Berkeley's most frequently performed orchestral works, the Organ Concerto was inspired by the Easter ritual of bringing light into a darkened cathedral."

You think? Anyway, I found the piece to be very moving with many interesting, subtle effects, and it's one of my favourite new works this season...I'm definitely going to "listen again" more than once. If anyone is interested, here's the composer's website:

http://www.michaelberkeley.co.uk/

[BudgieJane]

If you don't want to watch the conductor and the players, I feel that you might just as well save the entrance fee and travel costs and listen at home in the comfort of an easy chair under a nice bright standard lamp - or is it the atmosphere that you seek? Sweaty bodies jostling for position along the front rail, with people coughing into the back of your neck.

To each his/her own of course, but I'm sure that those who do want to watch (as well as hear) the proceedings would prefer the platform alone to be well lit so that they can concentrate their attentions there.

I'm sorry to say that you totally misunderstand my reasons for wanting to read a score while the orchestra is playing in front of me. Don't worry, you're not alone; I've had many people ask me about it, including several BBC people (including Roger Wright; the latest was Tom Service a few days ago). And you also seem not to understand that I can quite easily look at the orchestra occasionally and not lose my place in the score. The excellent light we get on the front rail is overspill from the platform, for which I and several others who read scores in the first few rows are grateful.

There is no "jostling for position" on the front rail. Once we are admitted to the auditorium and establish our positions that's it.

Why would I want to listen at home? Everybody knows (because so many on these forums tell us on a daily basis) that the sound quality of a concert heard at home, whether on the radio, television, or via the internet, is terrible. Entrance fee? I've got a season ticket; that's £190 for 74 concerts. Travel costs? That would be £0.00 then, as I have a freedom pass. Sweaty bodies? You get them everywhere these days, especially on public transport. You get used to it.

[Bryn]

Everybody knows (because so many on these forums tell us on a daily basis) that the sound quality of a concert heard at home, whether on the radio, television, or via the internet, is terrible.

When the SIS engineers get it wrong, criticism ensues. However, the sound via the HD Sound stream is rarely as bad as that heard at the front of the arena.

[morebritishmusicplease]

Generic

I listened to some of the Berkeley but got bored quite quickly. Contrary to the experience of some on here, I found it to be undistinguished music of a generic 'modern' style with gestures towards tonality, but basically sitting on the fence and trying to be all things to all people. A lot of established 'new music' composers were producing pieces like this in the late 80's, and frankly, most of them are as unmemorable as this one, it seems to me. When I remember premieres of works by Walton, Tippett, Britten, etc, at the Proms, it strikes me we live in an age of pygmies as regards contemporary composers!

[cavatina]

When I remember premieres of works by Walton, Tippett, Britten, etc, at the Proms, it strikes me we live in an age of pygmies as regards contemporary composers!

I might not agree with your views on Berkeley--but will say if you didn't hear the Tippett performed at Cadogan today, you'll definitely want to fire up your I-player...it was marvelous.

[mercia]

today

yesterday?

[cavatina]

yesterday?

I was up most of the night and lost track; sorry.