Prom 12 - 20.07-13: Viva Verdi!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

7.30pm – c. 9.30pm
Royal Albert Hall

Verdi
String Quartet (version for orchestra) (arr. C.Hermann) (23 mins)
Verdi
Ave Maria (1880) (5 mins)
Verdi
Requiem – Libera me (original version) (12 mins)
INTERVAL
Verdi
Four Sacred Pieces (40 mins)

Maria Agresta soprano, Proms debut artist
Chorus of the Academy of Santa Cecilia, Rome
Orchestra of the Academy of Santa Cecilia, Rome
Sir Antonio Pappano conductor

The Orchestra and Chorus of the Academy of Santa Cecilia, Rome and Sir Antonio Pappano live at the BBC Proms, with an all-Verdi programme, featuring an arrangement for strings of his String Quartet followed by religious pieces, among them his 1880 Ave Maria; the original version of the Libera me from his dramatic Requiem, and his Four Sacred Pieces, with soprano Maria Agresta.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Surely, the BBC could have done a weeny bit more than this in Verdi year?

[teamsaint]

Surely, the BBC could have done a weeny bit more than this in Verdi year?

I didn't know it was a big Gesualdo year. Hindemith close to ignored.Alkan a big anniversary too.
(not suggesting that the BBC should have been wall to wall with those three, just mentioning them in passing.)

[pilamenon]

Why is it being referred to as "Viva Verdi!"? Nothing about that in the Proms guide.

A lovely concert, anyway.

[teamsaint]

Why is it being referred to as "Viva Verdi!"? Nothing about that in the Proms guide.

A lovely concert, anyway.

The Four sacred pieces are something I bookmarked a while back. (Thanks to JLW). And very well worth the effort.

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

Surely, the BBC could have done a weeny bit more than this in Verdi year?

Yes, quite disgraceful treatment when you consider the seven - count 'em - operas Wagner is allotted.

Listening via Radio 3, I was most impressed by Maria Agresta in the Libera me and Ave Maria. Pappano and his Rome forces are a well known quantity, although I'd have liked some operatic fare at some point - an overture or two, perhaps. I'm not convinced the string orchestra arrangement of the String Quartet necessarily works that well.

I've just published our review from our correspondent in the RAH:

http://www.opera-britannia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=969:prom-12-viva-verdi-20th-july-2013-&catid=10:concert-and-recital-reviews&Itemid=16

[Petrushka]

Personally, I wish the Proms wouldn't go so big on anniversaries. Indeed, I'd feel a lot happier if they ignored them all completely and just put on good programmes. By the time the Proms arrive the anniversary element has usually been done to death anyway.

Last night's Verdi programme wasn't really my cup of tea but agree that the Four Sacred Pieces deserve to be heard more.

[Barbirollians]

Personally, I wish the Proms wouldn't go so big on anniversaries. Indeed, I'd feel a lot happier if they ignored them all completely and just put on good programmes. By the time the Proms arrive the anniversary element has usually been done to death anyway.

Last night's Verdi programme wasn't really my cup of tea but agree that the Four Sacred Pieces deserve to be heard more.

I tend to agree about anniversaries and the Proms but it is grossly unbalanced to have seven Wagner operas and this and a Joseph Calleja recital for Verdi alone - good concert as this was and good as Calleja is very likely to be .

[Petrushka]

I tend to agree about anniversaries and the Proms but it is grossly unbalanced to have seven Wagner operas and this and a Joseph Calleja recital for Verdi alone - good concert as this was and good as Calleja is very likely to be .

I agree (even though I am a big Wagner fan) so all the more reason to dump all of these anniversary programmes in favour of some good solid programming. The Proms never used to do all these anniversary concerts (check the archive!) preferring to leave that to Radio 3 for the rest of the year. In any case anniversary programming shows a lack of imagination.

[teamsaint]

The anniversary thing could work well to highlight those who have unjustly dropped out of favour.

But it doesn't work that way sadly.

[cloughie]

The anniversary thing could work well to highlight those who have unjustly dropped out of favour.

But it doesn't work that way sadly.

Or for us to have a listen and decide if they have justifiably dropped out.

[teamsaint]

Or for us to have a listen and decide if they have justifiably dropped out.

quite.
Good point.

[VodkaDilc]

I've just published our review from our correspondent in the RAH:

http://www.opera-britannia.com/index...iews&Itemid=16

Full marks for his final paragraph about the lighting looking like "a tacky and cheap-looking Turkish brothel." Heads should indeed roll, but they will find some research which says that people "love the innovative approach."

[Petrushka]

Full marks for his final paragraph about the lighting looking like "a tacky and cheap-looking Turkish brothel." Heads should indeed roll, but they will find some research which says that people "love the innovative approach."

Never having been in a tacky and cheap looking Turkish brothel it'll be interesting to see this on TV. I've said elsewhere that the lighting is naff and unnecessary. It's about time that the artists themselves made a stand and called a halt. Really can't imagine that they are happy with it but then you never know.

[VodkaDilc]

Never having been in a tacky and cheap looking Turkish brothel it'll be interesting to see this on TV. I've said elsewhere that the lighting is naff and unnecessary. It's about time that the artists themselves made a stand and called a halt. Really can't imagine that they are happy with it but then you never know.

As I remarked earlier (either here or on a posting about the previous night), I did not notice the lighting effects on television - but they were so distracting in the hall. (Even more so than the additional "conductor" who sat next to me.)