Prom 5 (17.7.12): Strauss, Saariaho & Sibelius

[gurnemanz]

She seemed suddenly not to be able to head for higher notes and appeared to dive an octave lower. There was a second less obvious glitch. I was a bit on edge for "Im Abendrot" fearing another mishap but she carried it off fine.

[johnn10]

It struck me as a rather wayward performance at times

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I'm not sure that running the two Strauss items consecutively was the best way of programming.

[Stephen Smith]

She must have had a vocal glitch, yes she went down an octave and there was further instability (I turned the radio off - couldn't bear to hear a performer in such difficulty so not sure for how long - but was then enjoined to put the radion on again). I was in Harold Moore's last week and they were playing her recording of the 4 last songs on Orfeo (Gurzenich Koln . Stenz) - and was so taken with it I bought it.
Per the announcer she took of her jacket after the 1st song (hung on conductor's railing) - she may have been unwell ?? - & also per the announcer the foremost Soprano for Strauss at the moment .

Also the Proms program says it is recorded for transmission on BBC 4 on 19 July. I have been disappointed at the Proms in this piece (K Mattila underpowered at the big moments), but I would like to hear her in the opera house.

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

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

Many thanks for the renewed reminder

This was very much a condensed form of the Radio 4 documentary, the main difference being we got to hear the Sibelius 8th sketches uninterrupted by the presenter or her guests.

The Strauss Four Last Songs were going sublimely until Anne Schwanewilms ran into difficulties in 'Beim Schlafengehen' where she suddenly took a phrase an octave lower and lost her voice later in the same song.

[cloughie]

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.

What a strange observation, I don't know of anyone in this situation, and most are tolerant enough to give the Saariaho a try.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The Strauss Four Last Songs were going sublimely until Anne Schwanewilms ran into difficulties in 'Beim Schlafengehen' where she suddenly took a phrase an octave lower and lost her voice later in the same song.

Yes, it must be quite mortifying for a soloist when things go as badly wrong as that.

[cloughie]

This was very much a condensed form of the Radio 4 documentary, the main difference being we got to hear the Sibelius 8th sketches uninterrupted by the presenter or her guests.

The Strauss Four Last Songs were going sublimely until Anne Schwanewilms ran into difficulties in 'Beim Schlafengehen' where she suddenly took a phrase an octave lower and lost her voice later in the same song.

I was slightly disappointed with the 4LS not on the form she was in the BBCMM performance, however it was preferable the the overblown, vibrato-laden performances we've often experienced at the Proms over the last few years!

[Nick Armstrong]

The Strauss Four Last Songs were going sublimely until Anne Schwanewilms ran into difficulties in 'Beim Schlafengehen' where she suddenly took a phrase an octave lower and lost her voice later in the same song.

Oh Lor, poor thing. I heard something about her having to remove her jacket half way through, with the conductor hanging it on the podium rail... do you think she had a touch of the vapours under the wretched telly lights?

Because of course it will all be visible in widescreen close-up on Thursday evening http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01ky1kh

Doubly mortifying for her, EA

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Because of course it will all be visible in widescreen close-up on Thursday evening http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01ky1kh

Surely they won't show it. It would be most cruel.
Mind you, it presents the ideal opportunity for a crass interviewer to push a microphone in front of her and say "How do you feel?"

[cloughie]

Oh Lor, poor thing. I heard something about her having to remove her jacket half way through, with the conductor hanging it on the podium rail... do you think she had a touch of the vapours under the wretched telly lights?

Because of course it will all be visible in widescreen close-up on Thursday evening http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01ky1kh

Doubly mortifying for her, EA

Indeed so as I believe she is a sensitive Strauss interpreter!

[gradus]

I imagine/trust that there will be technical difficulties with the recording; what is to be gained by re-broadcasting the Strauss songs.
You can't be sure though, some years ago the dear BBC actually announced that the pianist, name obligingly given to make sure the audience knew who had tripped up, had forgotten the music half-way through the performance and the item would not be broadcast, one hopes for better now.

[Nick Armstrong]

Mind you, it presents the ideal opportunity for a crass interviewer to push a microphone in front of her and say "How do you feel?"

Wonder how the crinkly-eyed smiley Ms Derham would deal with it...

[Nick Armstrong]

Surely they won't show it. It would be most cruel.

Will be very interesting to see what happens on Thursday evening...

[Simon B]

Must be horrible for a soloist to suffer a problem like that under such high profile circumstances. She took her jacket off after the first song, presumably feeling the heat. After the second she was looking around for water, also talking to Mena. Unfortunately, the water was there, but obscured by aforementioned jacket. Then after her serious difficulty in the third she, well, as subtly as possible had a damn good cough. A great pity as it was going sublimely (if perhaps at too restrained a power for those further away) until all that.

She recovered her poise amazingly well for the final song - better than me. You can't appreciate that of all music when tensed up! Gorgeous orchestral playing though, especially the horn solos.