Prom 51 (21.8.12): Glinka, Howard & Shostakovich

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Tuesday 21 August at7.30 p.m.
Royal Albert Hall

Glinka:Ruslan and Lyudmila – overture (5 mins)
Emily Howard: Calculus of the Nervous System (15 mins) UK Premiere
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7 in C major 'Leningrad' (75 mins)

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Andris Nelsons conductor

Glinka's much-loved and exuberant overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila heads a programme which also includes a fasinating new work by Emily Howard and a monumental, barnstorming symphony by Shostakovich.

Emily Howard's Calculus of the Nervous Sysytem has already received high acclaim at the 2011 Wien Modern Festival. Howard took her inspiration from Ada Lovelace, who was the pioneering mathematician daughter of Lord Byron, and the work's starting point was Lovelace's desire to generate a mathematical model for how the brain gives rise to thoughts, and nerves to feelings. Shostakovich's massive Seventh Symphony in C major, the 'Leningrad', was completed during the Second World War in December 1941, as German troops advanced deep into the city. The CBSO is conducted by its Music Director, Andris Nelsons.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Unlike many, I really admire Shost. 7, despite its Bolero-like first movement. To dwell on this is to miss the point.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Unlike many, I really admire Shost. 7, despite its Bolero-like first movement. To dwell on this is to miss the point.

It's growing on me; there was a very good performance earlier in the year (JL-W alerted me to it) that made me hear things beyond "Daa-da di Da, Da" over "tafitafita, tafitafita" ad infinitum.

[jayne lee wilson]

DSCH 7 is a great tragic masterpiece.
The triumphant ending is so over-the-top, so extreme, it can only be followed by The Day After...

...picking up the pieces among the smoking ruins.

[Simon B]

Nelsons made the Leningrad sound a little, well, Straussian really, a bit too beautiful, ultimately warmly triumphal rather than blaringly defiant when the CBSO did it in Brum last November. Whether this is repeated tonight we shall see shortly. Petrenko is yer man for this at the moment IMO - as JLW will know having been at one of the Liverpool performances in January. Though, as ever, whatever she says about it will be 20 times more eloquent and insightful than I can manage!

I think I've been to every Proms Leningrad since about 1992, it's almost a habit now but breaking it seems wrong somehow. Clearly, I have no problems with repetition...

[Petrushka]

Nelsons made the Leningrad sound a little, well, Straussian really, a bit too beautiful, ultimately warmly triumphal rather than blaringly defiant when the CBSO did it in Brum last November. Whether this is repeated tonight we shall see shortly. Petrenko is yer man for this at the moment IMO - as JLW will know having been at one of the Liverpool performances in January. Though, as ever, whatever she says about it will be 20 times more eloquent and insightful than I can manage!

I think I've been to every Proms Leningrad since about 1992, it's almost a habit now but breaking it seems wrong somehow. Clearly, I have no problems with repetition...

My first 'Leningrad' was at the 1983 Proms (BBCPO/Downes) and I've heard a good few since then here and there from the likes of Jansons (twice), Gergiev (three times), Temirkanov and Rostropovich so I have no problem with repetition either. JLW is right: the Shostakovich 7 is a tragic masterpiece and it should be one of the most overwhelming experiences the concert hall has to offer.

[Serial_Apologist]

The Howard piece was interesting, if a tad threadbare. I was reminded of Aulis Sallinen - the Finnish composer's music.

[teamsaint]

wish they would get on with it.I feel a slow hand clap coming on.......

[Serial_Apologist]

wish they would get on with it.I feel a slow hand clap coming on.......

The German army?

[Alison]

The Glinka just a shade disappointing ? It didnt really take off as expected.

The DSCH 7 has failed to fully engage me like dear old Ted Downes always did. His name always comes up with this work !

Ok, I'm boring and predictable.

Not much tension or atmosphere in the air, nor any great exploration of timbre. Straussian a rather good neat summary.

[teamsaint]

did I mis hear, or did the people discussing Russian literature(?) in the interval really say that he wasn't really a good reader?!

[jayne lee wilson]

Tears in my eyes, my hands are still shaking... ended on my knees, arms outstretched before the final blaze...
An extraordinary 7th tonight, as urgent, tightly shaped and warmly moulded as I've ever heard.
But - powerful!?
Lounge to arena - how many survivors?!

Too shattered for more now...

[pilamenon]

It's the banality, wit, terror and tragedy all rolled into one that make this symphony so unique. There are even moments when I feel it could be Peter and the Wolf.

That lurch into the final blazing home straight turns me inside out every time.

I thought the playing was outstanding - okay perhaps too beautiful for some tastes - but hugely impressive, especially the winds. Opening movement has seldom sounded more exhilarating to me.

[Bryn]

Tears in my eyes, my hands are still shaking... ended on my knees, arms outstretched before the final blaze...
An extraordinary 7th tonight, as urgent, tightly shaped and warmly moulded as I've ever heard.
But - powerful!?
Lounge to arena - how many survivors?!

Too shattered for more now...

But was it any good? I'm saving it for later, if at all. Alison has somewhat put me off giving it a try.

[gurnemanz]

This afternoon, by coincidence, I reached the Siege of Leningrad in Max Hastings' "All Hell Let Loose".
We're planning to go and stand for No 10 on Thursday.