Prom 10 - 19.07.13: Mozart, Schumann & Rachmaninov

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Just a reminder that this concert is repeated on Radio 3 this afternoon .

And I listened to it this time round. However, I was shocked to hear the announcer referring to Symphony no. 5, the Haffner. Surely I mis-heard?

[VodkaDilc]

And I listened to it this time round. However, I was shocked to hear the announcer referring to Symphony no. 5, the Haffner. Surely I mis-heard?

He/she should have read the programme carefully. In mine it's No 35.

[Barbirollians]

Just as enjoyable on the radio as in the hall. A pianist to watch! (Which, as Barbirollians will be saying in due course, we will be able to do on Thursday on BBC4.)

can we ? In which case I am happy to say so !

A lovely concert I thought - splendid to hear a Mozart symphony at the Proms so charmingly played - an excellent account of the Schumann and not too fast in the finale and a beautifully played not overblown account of the rachmaninov.

[cloughie]

Do you mean the Rachmaninov or the Mozart? Rachmaninov I expect. I found the heat was really getting to me by then and concentration was proving more difficult.

If I have a criticism of the concert, I wonder if the Haffner was a good fit with the rest of the programme. Something of similar length, making use of a bigger orchestra might have worked better - at least for me.

Disagree, Haffner a great lively work to start with.

[Barbirollians]

I thought it was great to hear a symphony orchestra playing Mozart again and they were very light on their feet. I hope to hear some Mozart symphonies from Oramo now he is at the BBC SO .

[edashtav]

Lisiecki and Pappano combine perfectly in Schumann's Concerto

Disagree, Haffner a great lively work to start with.

Hear, hear!

I’d missed this performance until a friend emailed me with a “Head Up”.

Jan Lisiecki impressed me immediately through his shrewd and imaginative combination of poetic beauty & fiery passion. My word, the orchestra under Pappano was marvellous: crisp & characterful. The first oboe shaped the first movement’s principal theme with love and Lisiecki drew sustenance from it. He didn’t “cap” it but complemented adding extra colour to what he had heard. It must be nearly sixty years since I first heard the work in the flesh – I seem to recall Myra Hess was the soloist on that afternoon. She was marvellous in the poetic moments but she was no match for this young man in those passages needing thrust and rhythmic precision. Lisiecki’s virile, passionate moments were exciting and completely convincing. Nothing I heard was routine, everything was re-imagined with consummate artistry. The interplay between the St Cecilia orchestra and the soloist was of a high order. Pappano's insights made me forget that Schumann is supposed not to have been much cop at orchestration. I loved the limpid plasticity of Jan's soulful transition from intermezzo into the finale. This was the best performance that I’ve heard this Prom season. I can't wait to hear this young man again - particularly after his exquisite encore.

[VodkaDilc]

Hear, hear!

I’d missed this performance until a friend emailed me with a “Head Up”.

Jan Lisiecki impressed me immediately through his shrewd and imaginative combination of poetic beauty & fiery passion. My word, the orchestra under Pappano was marvellous: crisp & characterful. The first oboe shaped the first movement’s principal theme with love and Lisiecki drew sustenance from it. He didn’t “cap” it but complemented adding extra colour to what he had heard. It must be nearly fifty years since I first heard the work in the flesh – I seem to recall Myra Hess was the soloist on that afternoon. She was marvellous in the poetic moments but she was no match for this young man in those passages needing thrust and rhythmic precision. Lisiecki’s virile, passionate moments were exciting and completely convincing. Nothing I heard was routine, everything was re-imagined with consummate artistry. The interplay between the St Cecilia orchestra and the soloist was of a high order. Pappano's insights made me forget that Schumann is supposed not to have been much cop at orchestration. I loved the limpid plasticity of Jan's soulful transition from intermezzo into the finale. This was the best performance that I’ve heard this Prom season. I can't wait to hear this young man again - particularly after his exquisite encore.

Completely agree (See my earlier message - No15). What a pianist - and the atmosphere in the RAH as he played the Chopin encore was electric and completely still. Magical!

[edashtav]

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.

Many thanks, VodkaDilc for pointing me to your heart-warming post. Yes - exciting & Schumann's piano concerto rarely inhabit the same crit - but you were right - an exciting performance by a young pianist who is a thrilling talent.

[Nick Armstrong]

I can't wait to hear this young man again - particularly after his exquisite encore.

I agree that he seems to be 'the real thing'.

Glad to have bought tickets a while back to hear his Wigmore début in September - Bach Partita No. 1 in Bb BWV825 and Chopin Op.10 Études...

[bluestateprommer]

From attending Prom 2 back in 2011, I got a very strongly favorable impression of the Santa Cecilia ensemble with (now Sir) AP, and hearing this Prom on iPlayer confirms that sentiment. Excellent, warmly refined ensemble, well on display here. I noted how Pappano was sparing with repeats throughout Mozart 35, no doubt saving full powers for the Rachmaninov later on, in a good rendition, if nothing more to me (but then good is OK, and the strings negotiated the high transition to the final statement of the intro very well, where I've heard live US bands muck up that bit more than once).

Regarding the Schumann, I thought that JS generally gave a clean, no fuss performance, understandably faltering just at the very end, but doing very nicely indeed in his encore. Stupendous work from the orchestra and Sir A. in the Rachmaninov, IMHO, with the encore as the perfect palate cleanser. I suppose that this program is what one would call a "popular Prom", certainly fitting as one of their 'Classical for Starters' listings, but then there's no harm in a well put-together popular Prom.

[cloughie]

From attending Prom 2 back in 2011, I got a very strongly favorable impression of the Santa Cecilia ensemble with (now Sir) AP, and hearing this Prom on iPlayer confirms that sentiment. Excellent, warmly refined ensemble, well on display here. I noted how Pappano was sparing with repeats throughout Mozart 35, no doubt saving full powers for the Rachmaninov later on, in a good rendition, if nothing more to me (but then good is OK, and the strings negotiated the high transition to the final statement of the intro very well, where I've heard live US bands muck up that bit more than once).

Regarding the Schumann, I thought that JS generally gave a clean, no fuss performance, understandably faltering just at the very end, but doing very nicely indeed in his encore. Stupendous work from the orchestra and Sir A. in the Rachmaninov, IMHO, with the encore as the perfect palate cleanser. I suppose that this program is what one would call a "popular Prom", certainly fitting as one of their 'Classical for Starters' listings, but then there's no harm in a well put-together popular Prom.

How condescending - let's have the odd prom with works full of tunes that easy listeners can enjoy! No wonder these boards are accused of cliquiness and musical snobbery. I would say it was a great prom for anyone who likes music even for those who like me were classical starters around 55 years ago!

[Alison]

A bit harsh there Cloughie ! I didn't read BSP's posting that way.

[Hornspieler]

Must confess I found it difficult to get into the symphony.

It all got going in the encore.

Fabulous pianism in the first half though.

I thought the Haffner symphony was lively (the orchestra apparently ignoring AP's mouthings and arm waving) but two things worried me:

a) Why use natural trumpets but not natural horns?
b) A marked inconsistency among the strings about the use or non-use of vibrato - even among desk partners.
Nevertheless, a good opener.

Schumann Piano Concerto: A talented young pianist with a fine technique, but he did seem to be too busy playing the notes to do much else. Much better with his encore.

Rachmaninov 2nd symphony: This is one of the composer's works which I find wanting.
The first movement has nothing to say and spends a long time saying it before fizzling out.
The second movement presents us with a lively tune but goes on saying it, with short intermissions, too many times.
The third movement? UGH! That mawkish six note theme is uttered in every possible shape and size without any real substance to support it.
and the Finale: An untidy resume of that which has gone before but offering nothing new of interest

I love the 1st and 3rd symphonies, the first three piano concertos and the Paganini Variations and I rate the Symphonic Dances as one of the major works of the mid 20th Century.

Some nice moments in this concert overall, but I do not rate this orchestra amongst the leading orchestras in Europe.

I agree with Alison. The best item was the encore and it was apparent to me that the players felt more at home with Johann Strauss than with Serge Rachmaninov.

HS

[edashtav]

Rachmaninoff 2nd symphony: This is one of the composer's works which I find wanting.
The first movement has nothing to say and spends a long time saying it before fizzling out.
The second movement presents us with a lively tune but goes on saying it, with short intermissions, too many times.
The third movement? UGH! That mawkish six note theme is uttered in every possible shape and size without any real substance to support it.
and the Finale: An untidy resume of that which has gone before but offering nothing new of interest

I love the 1st and 3rd symphonies, the first three piano concertos and the Paganini Variations and I rate the Symphonic Dances as one of the major works of the mid 20th Century.


HS:

I agree with your strictures re Rachmaninov's 2nd Symphony and applaud your view that his Symphonic Dances is an important work. I'm much looking forward to hearing it during PROM 68 at the start of September.

[gradus]

My reaction to the Rachmaninov (as seen on BBC4) was to think what a masterpiece it is. It sounded complete with no (to me) obvious cuts and many in the orchestra seemed bound up in the piece, swaying and moving as the music moved them. I especially enjoyed the (to me) refined sound made by the lovely playing of the horns and the brass.