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

[bluestateprommer]

To some extent I agree with you about the lack of thrills, but this was a terrific orchestra. They actually listen to each other, particularly the woodwind. They were great in the Tchaikovsky, with really good interchange between them and the soloist. There was also a [lot] of vary careful shading from most players.

The strings are just great too, though I don't think they used any of the tricks from the Stokowski era to get extra sheen on the sound - read Serebrier about this.

The strings are indeed key to "The Philadelphia Sound", as the Richard Strauss phenomenon of "Never look at the brass - it only encourages them" is endemic with US orchestras as a rule. The one grand and glorious exception to this rule among US orchestras is the Philadelphia Orchestra, and even through iPlayer, that sheen shines through.

I'm with Dave2002's overall evaluation. The Sibelius and Ravel worked best overall to me, with Janine J. doing well in a pretty straight-arrow reading of the Tchaikovsky and the Philadelphians with Dutoit accompanying her very smoothly, maybe too smoothly for some. I have to admit some bias that the Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances is (are?) my favorite Rachmaninov work, although Dutoit's attacca linking of the 3 movements was a surprise.

One more report by the Inquirer's David Patrick Stearns, post-Proms:

http://articles.philly.com/2011-09-08/news/30130870_1_philadelphia-orchestra-london-proms-paul-griffiths

You may be amused by this quote:

'"It was awesome," said violinist Paul Arnold. "These concerts are such and extraordinary part of the audience's lives. Music is everything to them. They're educated and very enthusiastic. Would you stand two hours for a concert?"'

[barber olly]

Was M. Dutoit still sporting his Cherry Blossom barnet? Amazing for a man of his age

Something about Charles Dutoit always reminds me of Russ Abbott, maybe its his smile!

[bluestateprommer]

I much preferred the Philadelphia concert to the two Pittsburgh ones. Music making of greater authority with much less striving for effect.

Interestingly, while I obviously didn't see any of the "Pennsylvania orchestra Olympiad" concerts in person, from seeing the livestream of the Honeck/Pittsburgh Mahler 5 from Berlin, I take Alison's point comparing Honeck and Dutoit. Honeck's style can be quite demonstrative, perhaps overly so in places, such as during the Adagietto, although I'm sure that he is sincere and not doing it for show. I would expect the same qualities to have been present for both concerts. Plus, with Dutoit, admittedly he does have decades more of conducting experience, as well as a 30+ year-long relationship with the Philadelphia Orchestra, so that, as the Inquirer's Peter Dobrin wrote years ago, all Dutoit has to do to fix any ensemble problems is throw the orchestra little more than a dirty look.

Also, on the nicer side, besides paying tribute to Louis Lanza, Dutoit had dedicated the Berlioz encore to Sir Colin Davis, a very classy gesture from one CD to another CD.

BTW, if anyone doesn't already know this New Yorker cartoon:

http://www.cartoonbank.com/1988/theater-with-marquee-tonight-philadelphia-orchestra-vs-pittsburgh-symphony/invt/114057/