I was pleased to see Tchaikovsky's 3rd Symphony finally being dusted off. It hasn't been heard at the Proms since 1965 when Malcolm Arnold conducted it (I wonder if a recording of that performance exists somewhere?). If the BSO and Karabits can bring the Albert Hall ceiling down at the end, in the way Beecham did in the Queens Hall in 1932, it ought to be a great revival. Here's Tommy on You Tube doing just that! ...
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I often find that and have to confess it makes the fortunate circumstance of living close to the RAH extra-advantageous - a couple of times a season, I jump on the bike when the first half's done and can be in the Arena by the time the interval's finished. I think I'll be doing that on 2 August (during the first of 2 intervals) for the Rachmaninov PC#3, then back home before the Tchaikovsky starts...Originally posted by Suffolkcoastal View Post
"...the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."
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After 'The Cosmic Dance', Caliban, on your bike!
BBC Proms - Prom 27: Naresh Sohal, Rachmaninov & TchaikovskyComment
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I disagree.Originally posted by Barbirollians View Post
Well, possibly - but I hope they sing them.Seven Wagner operas for crying out loud
One of those irregular verbs - I am an enthusiastic follower of this composer; you are a fan of that one, whom I admire less; they are obsessive about one whom I think is overrated.- no doubt the obsessive Wagnerites will be wetting themselves with glee
Fair point, I think: Verdi is disgracefully ignored in this centenary year.whilst Verdi gets half a programme of arias and one concert of the Four sacred pieces and the odd other bit.
A total of about two-and-a-quarter hours of Music is a strange definition of "endless"; the celebration of Britten and Lutoslawski is part of what makes your "appalling", "lousy" and (on the other Thread) "vile" descriptions utterly without foundation for me, Barbs.Whilst there is endless Lutoslawki and lots of Britten
Again, I can agree with you here - the low profile of "the Classics" is a weird deficiency in this self-styled "World's Greatest Music Festival".The Alpine Symphony again ! They get as fine a violinist as Vilde Frang in and give her the Bruch 1 yawn . A last night of lots of little bits and pieces - what a shame Nigel Kennedy wasn't asked to dust off his Britten Concerto rather than Janine jansen . For no obvious reason meanwhile we get all the Tchaikovsky symphonies and not a single piece of Schubert outside the Lewis/Cooper late nght piano duo and scarcely any Mozart at all and no Haydn .
"Unbalanced"? Well, okay - but "lousy" is a lousy assessment. A wide range of Musics from over seven centuries of the "Classical" traditions (including Elgar's "rarely programmed" Falstaff!); Jazz, Gospel, "World" and "Family Events" - these are all in the spirit of the Festival as imagined by its creators - and I wouldn't be at all surprised if, in thirty years' time, there are glowing memories being shared amongst contributors to whatever is then the equivalent of the Forum of the glory days when, to hear the best Wagner of the Summer, you didn't go to Bayreuth, you went to South Kensington. Why can't they come up with anything as imaginative as that nowadays, they'll all moan!An extremely unbalanced and lousy season.
Yep, too little Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert - and, again, nothing by Ferneyhough, Barrett, Sciarrino, Dillon, Saunders, Cassidy, Parker, Finnissy, Dench, Babbitt, Clarke, Downie ... We can all always make a longer list of what's been missed out, and each of our lists will be very different from each other. But what there is is mouth-watering.[FONT=Comic Sans MS][I][B]Numquam Satis![/B][/I][/FONT]Comment
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I wonder what a balanced programme actually is, Barbirollians and ferneyhoughgeliebte? I would doubt that a perfectly balanced programme exists, at least not for everyone. Any suggestions?Comment
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Well how about a seasonOriginally posted by Charlie View Post
1 Where the anniversary composers are given roughly equal prominence
2 Where there is a broad spread of repertoire and not a close to complete absence of Mozart, Haydn and Schubert
Would be a start . I regard a season as unbalanced as this as a lousy Proms season. That does not mean that there are not attractive concerts in but as a whole season it is poor .
FHGL - anyone who goes to the opera even occasionally will recognise the difference between a Wagner audience and that for any other composer . Wagner appears to attract passionate obsessives in a way no other composer does . I suspect that explains this grossly unbalanced season - they can guarantee big sell outs for all those works .
The treatment of Verdi is a disgrace . No Haydn at all , no orchestral Schubert - yet some works that were played last year back again . It is a badly planned season .Comment
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There can be "balance" that would still not appeal to everyone. I would suggest that there would need to be Music (orchestral, choral, operatic and chamber) represented from the many and varied Western "Classical" Traditions from the Eleventh Century to the present day. There would also have to be representatives of other Music traditions (Jazz, "World", Rock) that lies outside whatever remains of "mainstream" "popular" broadcasting. And there should be "Family" events which are inviting to audiences who might not otherwise believe that the Proms were "for them". And there should be a performance of the entire Carceri d'Invenzione cycle every year.Originally posted by Charlie View Post
But even when these wide parameters are followed, I can guarantee that there will be years that I would find the Season unbelievably dull, others which I thought were excellent, and the majority (as in this year) which included "unmissable" events and others that I wouldn't mind if I had to miss them.[FONT=Comic Sans MS][I][B]Numquam Satis![/B][/I][/FONT]Comment
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I wonder what happened to the idea of a cycle of RVW symphonies conducted by Andrew Manze with the BBC Scottish SO, which was billed last year thus: "Over the next few seasons Andrew Manze directs all nine Vaughan Williams symphonies with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, of which he is Associate Guest Conductor" ?
After the splendid concert of 4,5,6 last year, I had hoped to see him return this year. Happy to see 1 & 2 turn up in the listings, but no Mr. Manze, alas.Comment
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People who never go to the RAH, listen to or watch the broadcasts telling us what's wrong with the Proms.Comment
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It does look good Veronica ....................for all those who enjoy being woken up around 11pm by the trumpet blasts of Lobet Gott. Not good for those out of towners whose zimmers need to be parked safely by 9.30 however. Perhaps they are trying to attract a younger Bach crowd?Originally posted by Veronika View Post
bws
Chris SComment
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Wish I was in your position Cali, sadly being over 100 miles away, I need to make sure I would like to listen to both halves. I would love to hear the RVW London Symphony live, however I just can't listen to a Concerto for Sitar I'm afraid, I just don't like the instrument. I would also like to have heard the Elgar Falstaff live, as we don't hear it enough, but I'm not interested in the Tchaikovsky, I've heard a good performance live of that already. Why all the Tchaikovsky this year including all the symphonies??? No comments so far on Verdi's poor treatment. Or on the snubbing of Hindemith and virtually so of Poulenc.Originally posted by Caliban View PostI often find that and have to confess it makes the fortunate circumstance of living close to the RAH extra-advantageous - a couple of times a season, I jump on the bike when the first half's done and can be in the Arena by the time the interval's finished. I think I'll be doing that on 2 August (during the first of 2 intervals) for the Rachmaninov PC#3, then back home before the Tchaikovsky starts...Comment
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I am in favour of unbalanced programmes, ferneyhoughgeliebte. The First Night of the Proms has the following programme, for example:
Prom 1: First Night of the PromsJulian Anderson
Harmony (c4 mins)
BBC Commission, World Premiere
Britten
Four Sea Interludes from 'Peter Grimes' (17 mins)
Rachmaninov
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (23 mins)
Lutosławski
Variations on a Theme by Paganini (8 mins)
INTERVAL
Vaughan Williams
A Sea Symphony (66 mins)
52 < 66
Where is the balance there? I suppose that the very word 'classical' implies some kind of balance, or symmetry, although perfect symmetry may not be required! It is therefore better to go for something unbalanced, Barbirollians, because an unbalanced programme is at least achievable!Last edited by Guest; 19-04-13, 13:31.Comment
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Caliban is the master of the 'casual boast'...Originally posted by Suffolkcoastal View Post
...the Caliboast!
It loved to happen. -- Marcus AureliusComment
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You are reading the wrong thread - see the Proms advance thread !Originally posted by Suffolkcoastal View PostComment
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