Prom 34 (8.8.12): Schubert, Dubugnon & R. Strauss

**kernelbogey** · 07-08-12, 05:49

The Dubugnon Battlefield Concerto with the Labeque sisters is an interesting centre piece to tomorrow's Prom. Semyon Bychkov conducts the BBCSO.

**amateur51** · 07-08-12, 06:17

Bychkov back at the Proms!

Who can forget his Verdi Requiem last season? And those thoughts lead me automatically to dear Chris Newman and how over-whelmed and thrilled he was by that performance. Nice one, Chris

How I miss his comments and his enthusiasm on this board

**ferneyhoughgeliebte** · 07-08-12, 10:15

Originally posted by amateur51 View Post

How I miss his comments and his enthusiasm on this board

**Petrushka** · 07-08-12, 20:46

Originally posted by amateur51 View Post

How I miss his comments and his enthusiasm on this board

Me too Am51. I was in the Arena for the BBCSO/Belolhavek Prom a fortnight ago and the thought crossed my mind that he would more than likely have been there himself.

Looking forward to listening to Bychkov again this time via R3.

**amateur51** · 08-08-12, 09:28

Originally posted by Petrushka View Post

Me too Am51. I was in the Arena for the BBCSO/Belolhavek Prom a fortnight ago and the thought crossed my mind that he would more than likely have been there himself.

Looking forward to listening to Bychkov again this time via R3.

A lovely thought, Petrushka.

There can be no finer tribute to a friend now dead, I think - missed but constantly in our thoughts

**salymap** · 08-08-12, 13:43

Yes, if it doesn't sound maudlin, I think of him nearly every day over something or other, especially when Czech music or John Ireland and one or two other composers are played.

I am glad his troovi pix have turned up again, although I have them safely on my 'favourites'.

I must listen tonight.............

**ferneyhoughgeliebte** · 08-08-12, 15:25

Originally posted by salymap View Post

Yes, if it doesn't sound maudlin, I think of him nearly every day over something or other, especially when Czech music or John Ireland and one or two other composers are played.

Not maudlin at all, sals; Chris had a very real "virtual" presence on these Boards which is deeply missed - I, too am constantly reminded of his kindness, enthusiasm, humour and generousity of spirit.

I am glad his troovi pix have turned up again, although I have them safely on my 'favourites'.

Yes; I missed these last time round and was delighted to encounter them yesterday.

**Ferretfancy** · 08-08-12, 22:46

Bychkov was on fine form tonight with the BBC SO at their best. The Unfinished received a thoughtful performance, less dramatic than some, but none the worst for that. Ein Heldenleben sounded terrific from the Arena with superb playing from the leader Sergey Levitin in those dazzling violin solos. One of the magical moments where the strings enter just before the coda was very well judged. What a pity that there were quite a few intrusive coughs,some of them from near where I was standing.

What of the Labeques playing the Battlefield Concerto ? Well, sometimes even as listeners we have to suffer for art! The piece itself had its moments, but the seemingly endless crashing and banging from those two really tried my patience.With them it always seems to be push the button and off they go.

**Rasluap** · 09-08-12, 10:19

"Bychkov was on fine form tonight with the BBC SO at their best."

How true! Yet again Bychkov proves that he can extract the best from this orchestra, and they respond so positively to his direction. The quiet playing in opening of the first movement of the Schubert was a delight, and was even more rewarding in the repeat. Hence, it was good to read in the programme that Bychkov is now taking on a more permanent role with them with the unusual title of "Gunter Wand Conducting Chair". Maybe not unusual on second thoughts, when one thinks of the special rapport that was built between Wand and this orchestra.

Pity about the concerto. These vehicles for the Labeque sisters (we had another a couple of seasons ago) give only transitory pleasure: a Battlefield concerto for 2 pianos and (very large) orchestra certainly creates noise but it became monotonous towards the end. By the skin of our teeth - namely the dying but ongoing applause from the arena when the rest of the hall was diving for the exits - we got the short Bernstein encore - which for me gave more enjoyment than the main piece.

I too remember Chris Newman, having had the pleasure of standing with him on a few occasions in the arena - the last being the Noseda Rachmaninov programme last year. I know he would have enjoyed this concert immensely, and be delighted to know that the Bychkov/BBC SO relationship continues to flourish.

**salymap** · 09-08-12, 10:27

I enjoyed the Schubert, gritted my teeth through the noisy 'concerto' and haven't yet caught up with the Strauss. A good concert though.

**edashtav** · 09-08-12, 10:41

Originally posted by Rasluap View Post

How true! Yet again Bychkov proves that he can extract the best from this orchestra, and they respond so positively to his direction. The quiet playing in opening of the first movement of the Schubert was a delight, and was even more rewarding in the repeat. Hence, it was good to read in the programme that Bychkov is now taking on a more permanent role with them with the unusual title of "Gunter Wand Conducting Chair". Maybe not unusual on second thoughts, when one thinks of the special rapport that was built between Wand and this orchestra.

Pity about the concerto. These vehicles for the Labeque sisters (we had another a couple of seasons ago) give only transitory pleasure: a Battlefield concerto for 2 pianos and (very large) orchestra certainly creates noise but it became monotonous towards the end. By the skin of our teeth - namely the dying but ongoing applause from the arena when the rest of the hall was diving for the exits - we got the short Bernstein encore - which for me gave more enjoyment than the main piece.

I fair summary, Rasluap. Bychkov is good for this orchestra - and now he has a magic Wand. Fine Schubert & Strauss - the latter featuring a number of well-played solos by various section leaders. Like you, I'm no fan of the Labeque sisters and their taste in modern (

) music.

**bluestateprommer** · 16-08-12, 05:18

I suppose I should offer a note of mild dissent to say that after an initial "here we go again" impression of the Richard Dubugnon work (i.e. lots of notes perhaps to minimal effect), after a few minutes, I more or less got into it, and found it almost playful in its lots-of-noteness, even ear-tickling in places. Perhaps not the first impression that one wants for a concerto with the title "Battlefield", but there it is.

Both the Schubert and Richard Strauss received solid readings, if not world-beatingly revelatory. In the Schubert, I thought SB perhaps over-egged the pudding at the end of the 2nd movement, stretching out the tempo to over-emphasize a "valedictory" feel that could only be applied in retrospect, since I'm not aware that Schubert had any intent of just leaving the two-movement torso as it was. Also, I'm wondering if my ears detected a sparing use of vibrato in the slow movement in particular, since the strings had that type of vibrato-less sonority to me over the computer speakers and ear-buds.

Given the creation of the new "Gunter Wand Conducting Chair" for Bychkov, I wonder if it's a back door-ish way of making him the BBC SO's principal guest conductor, without actually offering him that title. For the superstitious out there, the principal guest conductorship of the BBC SO seems to have had the air of a poisoned chalice over many years, as JB once put it:

"I was told that the permanent guest position in this orchestra was a killer, that everyone fails."

Quote reference, for the record: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2007...roms2007.proms

JB was the first to break that "curse", of course, becoming chief conductor of the BBC SO in due course (although him missing 2 of his 4 scheduled Proms this summer is obviously bad luck now). David Robertson just finished as principal guest conductor of the BBC SO, after 7 years, quite a run, but clearly without moving up the next rung on the BBC SO's conducting roster, so the "curse" may have reared its head again. It's a question of whether the BBC SO will appoint a new principal guest conductor around the start of the Sakari Oramo era, although having Oramo and Bychkov at the top of the conducting roster is clearly a sign of good times ahead for the orchestra.

**Roehre** · 16-08-12, 08:33

Originally posted by bluestateprommer View Post

I suppose I should offer a note of mild dissent to say that after an initial "here we go again" impression of the Richard Dubugnon work (i.e. lots of notes perhaps to minimal effect), after a few minutes, I more or less got into it, and found it almost playful in its lots-of-noteness, even ear-tickling in places. Perhaps not the first impression that one wants for a concerto with the title "Battlefield", but there it is.

A very imaginitive concerto Dubugnon's Battlefield certainly is. I immediately listened again, and to me it seems one of those tightly knit works which start flowering in your mind after a bit of concentrated listening and re-listening. Certainly not a work to be "heard only". Too concentrated a music, which then gets the epithet "boring" and "going on and on".
But it is playful, has got his humour, and I am sorry that I am generally unable to attend the Proms, as this is a work I'd love to hear "live".

I couldn't be bothered to listen to either Schubert or Strauss. Heard these too many times already.

Prom 34 (8.8.12): Schubert, Dubugnon & R. Strauss

Prom 34 (8.8.12): Schubert, Dubugnon & R. Strauss

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