Prom 4 - 14.07.13: Les Siècles – The Rite of Spring

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

7.30pm – c. 9.45pm
Royal Albert Hall

Lully
Le bourgeois gentilhomme (11 mins)
– overture and dances
Rameau
Les Indes galantes (16 mins)
– dances
Délibes
Coppélia (15 mins)
– excerpts
Massenet
Le Cid (13 mins)
– ballet music (excerpts)
INTERVAL
Stravinsky
The Rite of Spring (35 mins)

Les Siècles
François-Xavier Roth conductor

An evening of riot and revolution in dance music from the court of Louis XIV to the Ballets Russes. Francois-Xavier Roth directs Les Siècles in the first period-instrument performance at the Proms of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, marking the work's centenary. Scenes from ballets by Lully, Rameau, Delibes and Massenet provide more than two centuries of historical context for the work that scandalised musical Paris at its premiere in 1913.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Variety, yes. But excerpts?

[french frank]

Administrative bump!

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

I'm very excited about this Prom and doubt I'll be the only Forum member in attendance. I've admired Les Siècles and François-Xavier Rothon disc for some time and the chance to see them perform Le sacre on period instruments is something I had to see/hear. Their Firebird recording is exceptionally fine.

[Nick Armstrong]

I doubt I'll be the only Forum member in attendance.

Your doubt is well-founded!

[jayne lee wilson]

I love the French Baroque, Rameau especially, and Les Siecles (thrilled with their Liszt Dante Symphony in the vast apocalyptic reverberance of Caen Cathedral!)
...and having got to the interval, might this be the moment for....?! I can't even recall how long it's been since...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

But why must Part 1 (or Episode 1 ) be like Breakfast or Classic FM? with snippets only?

[Petrushka]

But why must Part 1 (or Episode 1 ) be like Breakfast or Classic FM? with snippets only?

This is poor programming and the Prom fell at the first hurdle in the Attendance Stakes. Didn't want to spend money on train fares, hotels etc just for 35 minutes so one for R3.

[bluestateprommer]

But why must Part 1 (or Episode 1 ) be like Breakfast or Classic FM? with snippets only?

Perhaps it's because the orchestra and conductor themselves chose the whole program, without pressure from anyone at The Proms' management. I offer evidence from Les Siècles' website:

http://www.lessiecles.com/en/season/

"FOUR CENTURIES OF BALLETS
Wednesday 10 July 2013, 08:00 pm
Centre des Congrès de REIMS, Les Flâneries Musicales

LULLY, excerpts of Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
RAMEAU, excerpts of Les Indes galantes
DELIBES, excerpts of Coppelia
MASSENET, excerpts of Le Cid
STRAVINSKY, The Rite of Spring

FOUR CENTURIES OF BALLETS
Thursday 11 July 2013, 09:00 pm
PERPIGNAN, Palais des Rois de Majorque

LULLY, excerpts of Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
RAMEAU, excerpts of Les Indes galantes
DELIBES, excerpts of Coppelia
MASSENET, Le Cid

FOUR CENTURIES OF BALLETS
Friday 12 July 2013, 08:00 pm
MONTPELLIER, Opéra Berlioz / Le Corum, Festival de Radio France

LULLY, excerpts of Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
RAMEAU, excerpts of Les Indes galantes
DELIBES, excerpts of Coppelia
MASSENET, excerpts of Le Cid
STRAVINSKY, The Rite of Spring"

And, of course, Les Siècles then treks across the Channel:

"FOUR CENTURIES OF BALLETS
Saturday 14 July 2013, 07:30 pm
PROMS of LONDON, Royal Albert Hall

LULLY, excerpts of Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
RAMEAU, excerpts of Les Indes galantes
DELIBES, excerpts of Coppelia
MASSENET, excerpts of Le Cid
STRAVINSKY, The Rite of Spring"

Or in French (but of course): http://www.lessiecles.com/saison/

"QUATRE SIECLES DE BALLETS
Dimanche 14 juillet 2013, 19h30
PROMS de LONDRES, Royal Albert Hall

LULLY, extraits du Bourgeois Gentilhomme
RAMEAU, extraits des Indes galantes
DELIBES, extraits de Coppélia
MASSENET, extraits du Cid
STRAVINSKY, Le Sacre du Printemps"

In other words, Les Siècles were already touring with their own program anyway, and it slotted into The Proms' programming nicely. I can't possibly be the only person here who thought of this possibility.....

BTW, some might be amused at Les Siècles' program on Wednesday the 17th, back in France:

"ELGAR / DELIBES / MASSENET
Mercredi 17 juillet 2013, 20h30
Abbatiale de SAINT-RIQUIER, Festival de Saint-Riquier

DELIBES, extraits de Coppélia
ELGAR, Concerto pour violoncelle - Anthony LEROY, violoncelle
MASSENET, extraits du Cid
ELGAR, Pomp and Circumstance"

[Nick Armstrong]

But why must Part 1 (or Episode 1 ) be like Breakfast or Classic FM? with snippets only?

It remains to be seen if the juxtaposition / "theme" works on the night.

And to be fair, "Les Indes Galantes" (for example) is an opera-ballet lasting 3 hours - and they have taken the ballet music from it. It's not really just random 'extraits' / snippets...

[makropulos]

Bluestateprommer:
Indeed you're not the only one who thought it might be Les Siècles' own programme - but thanks for the links and especially the info about the Elgar concert. Hopefully your links will defuse some of the attacks on this terrific programme (which doesn't strike me as Classic FM in the least - not only is it cleverly designed - but when was the last time Le Cid was played on CFM?...). I'm very excited about this imaginative concert (and the objectors can, of course, choose not to listen if they so choose). Delighted, too, that it's on telly next weekend (21 July, 19:30).

[BBMmk2]

I'm actually looking forward to this p[rom. Such a mixture and a good programme too.

[mangerton]

I'm looking forward to this too, but as Petrushka points out, it does seem rather a thin programme. According to the timings above, there are about 90 minutes of music. Even allowing for an interval, how can this be spun out to ending at "c 9.45"? Is that not misrepresentation? Or will there be lots of encores?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Or will there be lots of encores?

As there are "lots of encores" in Part One, perhaps they'll play Jeux after le Sacre?

[Nick Armstrong]

will there be lots of encores?

Hope so; will let you know on returning from the Hall

They're bringing so many instruments for the various 'siècles' involved, hope they use them to the full.