Prom 72: Thursday 8th September at 7.30 p.m. (Sibelius, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov etc)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

One of the world's great orchestras comes to the Proms with a programme of familiar classics including Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances, written for Philadelphia.

Charles Dutoit conducts, and violinist Janine Jansen joins the orchestra for the ever-popular Tchaikovsky Concerto.

These works are bookended by Sibelius's nationalistic tone poem and Ravel's apotheosis of the waltz, a piece whose unstoppable whirling may have been intended as a metaphor for the fate of European civilisation.

Sibelius: Finlandia
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto
Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances
Ravel: La valse

Janine Jansen (violin)
Philadelphia Orchestra
Charles Dutoit (conductor).

[Curalach]

Last night (31st August) they gave the second of two concerts in Edinburgh at the Usher Hall. The programme was scheduled to be the same first half as this Prom but with the Symphonie Fantastique in the second half.
In the event, Janine Jansen was indisposed and was replaced at very short notice by Jean-Yves Thibaudet who played a sparkling and powerful performance of the Liszt Piano Concerto No 2.
Whether Janine's indisposition will affect the Prom remains to be seen.

This is a superb orchestra with a rich and very full string sound. Everything in the programme was extremely well played. I felt that the woodwind was a bit recessed which may, or may not, be a result of playing in an unfamiliar hall. It will be interesting to hear responses from the Prom audience.

The Berlioz was immaculately played but therein lay its weakness. It was a totally controlled performance which lacked that "edge of the seat" terror and excitement found by the best conductors of this work, particularly in the last two movements. I kept wishing that the orchestra could be given its head to inject passion into the reading.

There were two encores, before each of which Dutoit consulted a rank and file first violinist. The union rep. perhaps in these troubled times for the orchestra?

[salymap]

Fingers crossed that we get the original programme and not more Liszt. And La Valse has been spoiled for me by frequent outings on the BBC recently. I wish I still had my old Pierre Monteux recording, it was magic.

[Nick Armstrong]

Fingers crossed that we get the original programme and not more Liszt.

OH please, yes! no more It's my last Prom of the season.

Mind you I'd much rather hear the Phillies do more Rachmaninov than yet another Tchaikovsky - if JJ is still ill, I'm praying for Stephen Hough in Rach PC#2 or 3... Or even the PagRhap !

[Curalach]

A friend, whose judgement I respect, was at the Philadelphia's concert in Edinburgh on Tuesday. The programme included the Symphonic Dances which he reported as an outstanding performance.

[bluestateprommer]

For curlach, I can attest to you that I've heard all the major US orchestras, and no other orchestra has the rich string sheen that The Philadelphia Orchestra has, a long legacy dating back to Stokowski. Whether it survives the current stress remains to be seen. In the meantime, dug up some reviews of The Fabulous Philadelphians at the Edinburgh Festival:

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/d76fc5cc-d54b-11e0-bd7e-00144feab49a.html#axzz1WnPhgz4z

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/reviews/Review-Philadelphia-Orchestra-Usher-Hall.6828384.jp

The Philadelphia critic shadowing the orchestra on tour had this recent article:

http://articles.philly.com/2011-09-01/news/30029191_1_jean-yves-thibaudet-ravel-charles-dutoit

Fingers crossed for next Thursday at the RAH.

[Curalach]

Thank you bsp. I have heard most of the major US orchestras but until this week had not heard the Philadelphia Orchestra live. The string sound is simply fabulous. I'm sure they will be well received in the RAH.

[davehsug]

I do hope Janine is there, I've adored her since a heartbreaking performance of the Sibelius with the CBSO in Stoke a couple of years ago!

[bluestateprommer]

I have heard most of the major US orchestras but until this week had not heard the Philadelphia Orchestra live. The string sound is simply fabulous. I'm sure they will be well received in the RAH.

Glad that you got to enjoy them in Edinburgh. Obviously the Usher Hall is more flattering acoustically than the RAH, and even from a "by proxy evaluation", the Usher Hall is better than the Kimmel Center/Verizon Hall, and infinitely better than the Academy of Music. If the Academy had the sound of the Usher Hall, there would have been no need ever to build Verizon Hall (and thus part of the whole mess going on now may have been averted). However, the Academy has all the sonic warmth of Melba toast (i.e. none).

I do hope Janine is there, I've adored her since a heartbreaking performance of the Sibelius with the CBSO in Stoke a couple of years ago!

At the risk of jinxing things, your wish is apparently granted for Janine Jansen, per this run-up article in the Philadelphia Inquirer by David Patrick Stearns in anticipation of tomorrow night (bold mine):

http://articles.philly.com/2011-09-06/news/30118775_1_orchestras-bbc-proms-classical-music

'"It's such a warm atmosphere that you feel like you're standing in your living room. It's really comfortable," said Janine Jansen, the star violinist for the concert, who joins the Philadelphia Orchestra tour after a bout with flu.'

You'll all note the opening of the article, in light of the orchestra's problems:

"Here comes the big one."

By the way, can anyone keep track of any Arena chants that may occur tomorrow night? I'll be interested to hear about them, again in the light of current matters.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Talking of American orchestras, I've listening to a couple of Strauss CDs, with the Minnesota Orchestra conducted by Edo de Waart. The playing is excellent.

[barber olly]

What's the news on Janine?

[Curalach]

What's the news on Janine?

As I understand, she has recovered from a bout of flu and will be performing.

[Nick Armstrong]

As I understand, she has recovered from a bout of flu and will be performing.

About to get my bicycle clips on and head over there... (and the sun just came out )

[bluestateprommer]

What's the news on Janine?

Newest article from David Patrick Stearns in the Philadelphia Inquirer, confirming that Janine J. had the flu:

http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20110908_Violin_soloist_returns_with_fervor_after_fever.html

"It wasn't the heat at the Grafenegg Festival or the stress or anything else: Janine Jansen, the Philadelphia Orchestra's missing-in-action star violin soloist, simply had the flu...

....
Jansen rehearsed with the orchestra during the hottest hours of a 100-plus-degree day, and she worried about the health of her violin, a 1727 Stradivarius known as the "Barrere."

"It was crazy," she said. "The wood of my instrument . . . I'd put my hand to it and it was boiling! This cannot be good for the instrument. But the heat also isn't good for one's self. When I flew home after the evening concert, I thought, 'That's why I feel like this.' "

Of course it wasn't; Jansen would have been sick, heat or no heat, according to her doctor."

T-45 minutes and counting......

[Chris Newman]

I have tried to catch up with this concert on iPlayer but they have put in the wrong tape. They are playing Zubin Mehta's Webern Passacaglia with the Ode to Joy added!