Prom 10 - 19.07.13: Mozart, Schumann & Rachmaninov

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

6.30pm – c. 9.10pm
Royal Albert Hall

Mozart
Symphony No. 35 in D major, K385, 'Haffner' (20 mins)
Schumann
Concerto for Piano in A minor (30 mins)
INTERVAL
Rachmaninov
Symphony No. 2 in E minor (60 mins)

Jan Lisiecki piano
Orchestra of the Academy of Santa Cecilia, Rome
Sir Antonio Pappano conductor

Sir Antonio Pappano conducts his Orchestra of the Academy of Santa Cecilia, Rome, in a programme featuring two major symphonies as bookends. First, Mozart's Symphony 35, 'Haffner', which started life as a serenade, and at the end, Rachmaninov's colossal Symphony No. 2. In the middle, Schumann's Piano Concerto in A minor, a masterpiece of the romantic concerto, with young virtuoso Jan Lisiecki as soloist, making his Proms debut.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Ah, a good old-fashioned Prom.

[VodkaDilc]

My first visit this year. Nice programme - if I can snooze through the first 20 minutes! (or at least have a good look around and get used to the Proms ambience.)

[Barbirollians]

Why so early ? I find I have just missed the first half !

[BBMmk2]

I'll have to catch up. I wont be listening to the first half though, Mozart and Schumann!!

[cloughie]

I'll have to catch up. I wont be listening to the first half though, Mozart and Schumann!!

You're joking - you're a brass man you're supposed to like tunes.

What's not to enjoy?

[BBMmk2]

You're joking - you're a brass man you're supposed to like tunes.

What's not to enjoy?

haha, there are tunes and tunes! I maybe a brass man but its the more serious side of brass I rather like. Especially in the last 15 years or so.

[amcluesent]

Rachmaninov Symphony No. 2 has totally failed to engage me, maybe it's too hot to concentrate?

[Flay]

Rachmaninov Symphony No. 2 has totally failed to engage me, maybe it's too hot to concentrate?

Are you never gonna fall in love with it again? (I wish that song had never been written )

It certainly engaged me, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[cloughie]

Rachmaninov Symphony No. 2 has totally failed to engage me, maybe it's too hot to concentrate?

How on earth , even if it is badly played can Rach Sym 2 not engage you - the 3rd movement is engagement personified - try again on iplayer!

[Petrushka]

What a super Prom! There is always at least one Prom I wish I'd attended instead of one I did. Wish I'd gone to this instead of Monday's offering.

I went through a heavy Rachmaninov 2 period in the late 70s and early 80s when I seemed to play the Previn LP at least every other day and listening to this terrific Pappano performance tonight after a very long gap away from the piece I might start up again. A wonderful work, an engaging first half (pace BBM), a lively encore and you have a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Full marks all round (and to the engineers for bringing it to us in fine sound).

[LeMartinPecheur]

... at least ne rom I wish I'd attended ...

V nice coinage Pet!

= "neon Read Only Memory? Or "lest the rom[ans]" ... (do what? - invade us again??)

Got there in the end though...

[Petrushka]

V nice coinage Pet!

= "neon Read Only Memory? Or "lest the rom[ans]" ... (do what? - invade us again??)

Got there in the end though...

Oops! Has BBM been at my keyboard? Should have read 'one Prom' of course. Now duly amended! Great concert though!

[LeMartinPecheur]

Oops! Has BBM been at my keyboard? Should have read 'one Prom' of course. Now duly amended! Great concert though!

I'm duly envious - had to miss it on R3 being duty bound (so my wife told me) to support small daughter live onstage in Lanson as the Five of Spades (Alice in Blunderland).

An interesting production...

[VodkaDilc]

What a super Prom! There is always at least one Prom I wish I'd attended instead of one I did. Wish I'd gone to this instead of Monday's offering.
.

It was certainly a very enjoyable Prom - though the heat did become a problem during the Rachmaninov! Stunning orchestra and Tony P on top form.

My over-riding feeling though was that I had seen a pianist who was heading for the very top. Jan Lisiecki looked like a talented 6th former who had been allowed to take off his school blazer for the concert, but he played the Schumann with originality and insight. A couple of smudges in the first few pages were soon forgotten and the last movement in particular was highly exciting - not a term I would usually attach to this concerto. The amazing ovation this 18 year old received was richly deserved - and the poetic encore was magical.