Prom 4 (16.7.12): Respighi, Ravel and Adams

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Monday 16 July at 7.30 p.m.
Royal Albert Hall

Respighi: Roman Festivals (22 mins)
Ravel: Piano Concerto in G major (22 mins)
John Adams: City Noir (34 mins)

Imogen Cooper piano
Juilliard Orchestra
Orchestra of the Royal Academy of Music
John Adams conductor

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

A very interesting concert, though as a greedy person, I would say it's rather short. The Ravel was a work I first heard in 1971 at the RAH with Bernstein playing the piano with a conductorless VPO.

[teamsaint]

A very interesting concert, though as a greedy person, I would say it's rather short. The Ravel was a work I first heard in 1971 at the RAH with Bernstein playing the piano with a conductorless VPO.

Completely agree. Interesting programme but I am constantly surprised at the brevity of many concerts.
I would be interested to know how programmes today compare in length to those of, say, 30 or 50 years ago.

[Extended Play]

Completely agree. Interesting programme but I am constantly surprised at the brevity of many concerts.
I would be interested to know how programmes today compare in length to those of, say, 30 or 50 years ago.

Short measure indeed, compared with 50 years ago:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/archive/search/1950s/1957

[Extended Play]

Short measure indeed, compared with 50 years ago:

www.bbc.co.uk/proms/archive/search/1950s/1957

Was always hopeless with maths. Here's the link to exactly 50 years ago. Just look, for example, at Proms 15, 33 and 35 -- but really, any one of the season would point up the comparison with today.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/archive/search/1960s/1962

Have just looked at the programme list again -- it's pointless to single out any one concert: all amazing

[teamsaint]

certainly interesting to look back at old listings. In general they look roughly as adventurous as now, but the concerts are good deal shorter now. If that is correct, I wonder why ?

[BBMmk2]

Economic factors?

[mercia]

looking at some of those 1950s/60s seasons one wonders how the BBCSO found time to rehearse all those works
or perhaps they didn't need to

[Osborn]

Any later & you may not get home by public transport - my last train from London is C9.30pm

[Ferretfancy]

looking at some of those 1950s/60s seasons one wonders how the BBCSO found time to rehearse all those works
or perhaps they didn't need to

mercia,

I went to my first Prom in 1949, up in the Gallery where the echo wasn't so bad, this of course was long before the mushrooms under the ceiling. The poor old BBC SO played for most of the season, as I remember it there was a week or so with the LSO and a visit from the Halle. It was a great way to hear live performances of the standard works, and I was always thrilled by those evenings. However, although there were some great nights, I suspect that we might be a bit dismayed by the performance standards if a time machine was available for us to travel back.
I'm thinking mainly of the orchestral standard, there were always great soloists at the Proms, and I certainly don't blame the BBC SO, they really needed more rest days!

[bluestateprommer]

John Adams just led this same program in NYC at Avery Fisher Hall this past Wednesday night:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/14/arts/music/city-noir-by-john-adams-at-lincoln-center-festival.html

In principle, there might be room for a solo piano encore by Imogen Cooper, if everyone applauds long enough and stamps their feet :) .

[hmvman]

In principle, there might be room for a solo piano encore by Imogen Cooper, if everyone applauds long enough and stamps their feet :) .

I'll be there applauding and stamping away then!

[ucanseetheend]

Completely agree. Interesting programme but I am constantly surprised at the brevity of many concerts.
I would be interested to know how programmes today compare in length to those of, say, 30 or 50 years ago.

I'm surprised folk are willing to pay to see what often amounts to 75 minutes of music. Whats the matter with musicians and conductors these days , no stamina? In the old days ....

[Barbirollians]

There is probably room for the whole of Gaspard de la Nuit !

[cloughie]

There is probably room for the whole of Gaspard de la Nuit !

Or at least Sonatine!