Prom 5 (17.7.12): Strauss, Saariaho & Sibelius

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Tuesday 17 July at 7.30 p.m.
Royal Albert Hall

R. Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra (32 mins)
R. Strauss: Four Last Songs (22 mins)
Kaija Saariaho: Laterna magica (22 mins) - UK Premiere
Sibelius: Symphony No. 7 in C major (23 mins)

Anne Schwanewilms soprano
BBC Philharmonic
Juanjo Mena conductor

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Definitely my kind of concert, though very few singers ever live up to my ideal in Strauss's late cycle.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Definitely my kind of concert, though very few singers ever live up to my ideal in Strauss's late cycle.

An introduction to the Saariaho piece by the composer herself is here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_yz7Cik0Bc

... and a taster of one of her recent orchestral pieces for anyone who's never heard her work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZA4qjOlcd4&feature=related

[Petrushka]

Definitely my kind of concert, though very few singers ever live up to my ideal in Strauss's late cycle.

Anne Schwanewilms' performance of the Strauss Four Last Songs appeared on a BBCMM CD a year or two back and in my view she most definitely has the right voice. A beautiful performance.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

In that case this is a concert not to be missed.

[amateur51]

An introduction to the Saariaho piece by the composer herself is here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_yz7Cik0Bc

... and a taster of one of her recent orchestral pieces for anyone who's never heard her work:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZA4q...eature=related

Many thanks for this ferney - what an interesting person & an interesting piece

[Serial_Apologist]

Very strange programming, this concert!

Many people who love Strauss can't stand Sibelius; and vice versa.
And in probability many who love either Strauss or Sibelius would hate the modernism of Saariaho.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

But does that really matter? Should the BBC divide the Proms into segments - a Breakfast/CFM concert on one day, followed by a Boulez-style concert on another. I think a sensible mix is always better. How else will many of the concert-going public learn new music? I know - it's up to them - but surely concert promoters can give a little push now and then.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

But does that really matter? Should the BBC divide the Proms into segments - a Breakfast/CFM concert on one day, followed by a Boulez-style concert on another. I think a sensible mix is always better. How else will many of the concert-going public learn new music? I know - it's up to them - but surely concert promoters can give a little push now and then.

Yes, and the premiere of Schoenberg's Five Orchestral Pieces appeared in this programme:

Engelbert Humperdinck - Hänsel und Gretel
Bizet - Carmen, Suite No. 1
Bizet - Carmen, Suite No. 2
Saint-Saëns - Samson et Dalila
Gounod - Hymne à Sainte Cécile
Schoenberg - Five Orchestral Pieces, Op. 16
Mendelssohn - Concerto for Piano No. 1 in G minor, Op 25
Brahms - Hungarian Dance No. 5 in G minor: Allegro, WoO 1.5 (orch. Albert Parlow)
Brahms - Hungarian Dance No. 6 in D major: Vivace, WoO 1.6 (orch. Albert Parlow)
William Aiken - Sigh no more, ladies (arr. Henry Wood)
William Aiken - Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? (arr. Henry Wood)
Wagner - Huldigungsmarsch, WWV 97
Granville Bantock - Comedy Overture 'The Pierrot of the Minute'
John Hullah - Three fishers went sailing
Graham Peel - In summertime on Bredon
Léo Délibes - Coppélia

[Petrushka]

Very strange programming, this concert!

Many people who love Strauss can't stand Sibelius; and vice versa.
And in probability many who love either Strauss or Sibelius would hate the modernism of Saariaho.

Then there are those like me who love all three!

Actually, it was programming like this that broadened my musical knowledge no end when I was first getting to grips with classical music in the very early 1970's.

[Roehre]

Then there are those like me who love all three!

Actually, it was programming like this that broadened my musical knowledge no end when I was first getting to grips with classical music in the very early 1970's.

That makes two of us Petrushka

[Roehre]

During the interval the fragments said to be from Sibelius 8 will be performed and AFAIK discussed

[Barbirollians]

A fascinating programme I reckon.

[Nick Armstrong]

During the interval the fragments said to be from Sibelius 8 will be performed and AFAIK discussed

I'd flagged this elsewhere then properly forgot - have now set to record

Many thanks for the renewed reminder

[Richard Tarleton]

Prom 5

Whatever happened during Beim Schlafengehen?