Prom 9 (20.7.12): Beethoven Cycle – Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2

[Prommer]

He seems to be channelling Furty a good deal this evening...

[teamsaint]

Who on earth are those cretins who Suzie Klein is interviewing? No dress sense and full of their own importance. The interview with Barenboim - now THAT was worth watching.

If you cut out people full of their own importance, there wouldn't be many folk left on the telly.

FWIW, I thought they were OK. have seen much worse critics at the proms....Turnage is at least a man who has been there and done it.I feel inclined to seek out his work now.
Agree that the interview with DB was worth seeing. its always good to get real insight from those who have worked closely with pieces that you are interested in.
also nice to have your own opinions validated by the greats............

[DublinJimbo]

Beethoven 1 hung fire for me until things took wing with the finale. Beethoven 2 was wonderful.

I wasn't convinced by the Beethoven/Boulez combination, and tonight's Boulez really was disproportionally long.

[PJPJ]

DB conducts in quite a Furtwanglerish manner, and the results seem to be refreshingly good.

That may go some of the way to explain why I enjoyed this evening's LvB so much.

[Bryn]

As arrangements for modern forces the Beethoven performances worked well enough for me, though the soft timp. beaters were just not on. DB even conducted Dérive II after the fashion of PB.

[DublinJimbo]

[A]rrangements for modern forces

That's an original take, I must say. One to remember.

[Ariosto]

I think it is time to acknowledge the wonderful performance at this evenings Prom (Friday 20/07/12).

I feel lucky to have lived and experienced the time of Daniel Baremboim - both as a pianist and a conductor, and overwhelmingly as a wonderful musician.

The orchestra is quite wonderful too, such dedicated playing, and enjoyment at making music, playing to each other and making very fine chamber music.

This is what music should all be about. We should feel priviliged to have witnessed the genius of Baremboim and have heard such wonderful playing. Orchestral playing to shame a lot of professional orchestras.

We can experience and learn so much - Beethoven brought to life again, and not dredged up by some dreary dried up old conductor whose is way past his sell by date.

Edit: Bryn - the timps were often distorted (at least on the TV broadcast) - due to the fact that the BBC can no longer hear and broadcast sound properly. They are total amateurs now.

[Alison]

Not many Barenboim performances have enthralled me like that performance of the Second Symphony.

Life enhancing stuff and still seven symphonies left !

[Nick Armstrong]

Who on earth are those cretins who Suzie Klein is interviewing? No dress sense and full of their own importance. The interview with Barenboim - now THAT was worth watching.

Hello, Mrs Alpen!!

Vital to watch on delay so the piffle can be fast-forwarded out - as I have just done.

What a revelation that performance of No 2 was! The last movement! Just terrific!

[Petrushka]

Uncanny that Barenboim looked just like Boulez while conducting Derive 2. A rewarding listen, irritatingly interrupted by an unwanted phone call, so will watch my recording again.

Ariosto is right about the superb quality of this orchestra and the joy they display in their music-making and I am greatly looking forward to seeing them on Monday, Tuesday and Friday in the hall.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Arrangements for modern forces

That's an original take, I must say. One to remember.

A Norringtonism perhaps?

[Ariosto]

You mean dried up?

I *may* of course be reffering to Colin Davis or Mark the Elder or ... or ... or ...

[EdgeleyRob]

Beethoven,fabulous.
Boulez,too long.
Suzy Klein interview,tosh.
Barenboim interview,very interesting.

[Bryn]

A Norringtonism perhaps?

Hardly. His own performances with the Stuttgarters were similarly arrangements for modern forces, though perhaps more in the performance style of Beethoven's time regarding such matters as finger wobbling.

[pastoralguy]

Turnage is at least a man who has been there and done it.I feel inclined to seek out his work now.

Try his opera 'Anna Nicole'. Terrific piece!!