Prom 27 (3.8.12): Wagner & Bruckner

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Friday 3 August at 7.45 p.m.
Royal Albert Hall

Wagner: Siegfried Idyll (18 mins)
Bruckner: Symphony No. 8 in C minor (80 mins) - ed. Nowak, 1955

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Donald Runnicles conductor

Renowned for conducting Wagner and Bruckner, Chief Conductor Donald Runnicles plays the first of this season's BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Proms in repertoire close to his heart.

Wagner's intimate and private Idyll was written in 1870 to celebrate his second wife's birthday just after the birth of their son Siegfried. It is played here with the original 13 instruments but building to a larger string section. In contrast Bruckner wrote his 8th symphony to epic proportions. He is arguably the greatest Symphonist since Beethoven, and Bruckner's 8th is perhaps the most challenging and glorious of all his symphonies. The Nowak 1955 (1890) edition is played here.

[kernelbogey]

I'm contemplating making the journey to London for this Prom, but unsure of Runnicles. Would anyone care to comment on his Bruckner pedigree, please?

[kernelbogey]

Bumping this up for some attention...!

[Flay]

They have done this programme before:

http://www.classicalsource.com/db_control/db_concert_review.php?id=7848

I wish I could be there tonight. The recorder is set in eager anticipation.

[amateur51]

They have done this programme before:

http://www.classicalsource.com/db_control/db_concert_review.php?id=7848

I wish I could be there tonight. The recorder is set in eager anticipation.

I remember listening to this performance the night before I went into hospital for an operation and it became a post-op earworm (if you see what I mean).

I enjoyed it greatly kernel - if you do go I hope that you enjoy it too

[Boilk]

This Concert is being shown on BBC Four starting at 8pm

It is preceded by Rachmaninov's 4th Piano Concerto from the 2008 Proms.

[kernelbogey]

I enjoyed it greatly kernel - if you do go I hope that you enjoy it too

Thanks all. Local logistics have prevented my making the journey to Kensington, but I shall be listening on the wireless.

Thanks, Flay, for the link to the review: it sounds as though we're in for a treat.

BW, kb

[Flosshilde]

Presumably the slightly later start time is because the Siegfried Idyll makes a short 1st 'half'? But then, about half the concerts this week have finished 15 minutes after 10.00pm, a couple at 10.pm, so why not one finishing 15 minutes before 10.00?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I hope you all enjoyed this concert - my last Prom for two weeks. I'm off to the Lake District until the 18th.

[Bryn]

Hmm. No early hours Prom repeats on BBC Four this year.

[Boilk]

Hmm. No early hours Prom repeats on BBC Four this year.

Yes, I noticed that - umpteenth repeats (of repeats) appear to take priority!

Next Friday they're offering Aug 7th's Prom, more Wagner and Bruckner (No.6), and presumably the MacMillan piece too.

[Alison]

Pretty impressive stuff from Donald and his band. They sounded thoroughly rehearsed. Ideal tempi and as usual with this orchestra some fine woodwind contributions. Timpani rather weak. A most enjoyable if not terribly moving performance.

[scottycelt]

Pretty impressive stuff from Donald and his band. They sounded thoroughly rehearsed. Ideal tempi and as usual with this orchestra some fine woodwind contributions. Timpani rather weak. A most enjoyable if not terribly moving performance.

Yes, Runnicles and the BBCSSO are pretty impressive in this work but, for me, they never quite reached the sublime heights that Wand/BBCSO managed a couple of decades or so ago. However, that would be asking just a bit much to expect that every time!

In short, a very fine and thoroughly professional performance ...

[EdgeleyRob]

In short, a very fine and thoroughly professional performance ...

Yes, I thought so too.

[amateur51]

I hope you all enjoyed this concert - my last Prom for two weeks. I'm off to the Lake District until the 18th.

Have a great holiday, EA - hope you get some decent R&R