Prom 33 - 8.08.13: Beethoven, Berlioz

[Ferretfancy]

You are, of course, correct, Ferret, in that listening in the home cannot really recreate the aural experience in the hall. However, the broadcast orchestral balance was better than it often is and I was listening on very high quality equipment at a high bit rate through Internet radio and at a realistic volume. I love the Bavarians and have been to hear them in their hall in Munich but here at this Prom it all sounded so manicured; everything was immaculate without a note out of place; yes, there were some exciting sounds but not always in the right places and given that we were graced with encores in both halves of the concert it was a crime not to do the repeat in the March to the Scaffold. I just thought most of it was, whilst extremely musical, just frightfully dull. I am extremely glad that you and others got more from it!

Thanks for that very fair comment, Laurie. I certainly agree with you that it was highly manicured playing.but they are a wonderful orchestra and maybe my placing in the hall helped, I certainly did not find it dull, the slow movement usually has its longeurs for me, but not on this occasion., One thing that I do find with Jansons is that his live concerts impress me more than his recordings, so perhaps the visual stimulus does enhance satisfaction. Never mind, we both love the music !

[Flay]

How is it that performers don't cough, but audiences can't even make the effort to remain un-tussed? I'm just listening to the re-broadcast of Egdon Heath and there are far too many bronchitics!

Coughing is a far greater sin than applauding between movements ^*

(^* Unless one is recovering from constipation)

[marvin]

I don't know whether it was my imagination, my ears or my TV recording of this concert, but was Uchida's articulation in the last movement a bit off at times? It's almost as if her fingers weren't quite always making the necessary depression of the keys. I cannot with my limited musicological expertise put it any more clearly. However I love her and her performances and her ability to be so gracious and I did not find here facial expressions off putting at all.

[David Underdown]

Well actually, one fo the BBC Phil? violinists did have a coughing fit onstage recently. Cough sweets were passed back from the front-desk.

[Sir Velo]

How is it that performers don't cough, but audiences can't even make the effort to remain un-tussed? I'm just listening to the re-broadcast of Egdon Heath and there are far too many bronchitics!

It's called concentration.

[Flay]

Cough sweets were passed back from the front-desk.

I stand (quietly) corrected.

"Cough sweets" worry me. One could easily be aspirated during a coughing fit. A swig of water would be safer.

[Nick Armstrong]

"Cough sweets" worry me. One could easily be aspirated during a coughing fit

... requiring an extempore performance of Johann David Heimlich's energetic motet "Gegrüßet seyst du holdseelig Fischersfreund"...

[edashtav]

I will certainly supply the Bar to your well-merited Ferney Gong - I read your post yesterday in circumstances where I couldn't reply, but I too extended a virtual and a in recognition of your noble and selfless action on behalf of other concert-goers

And talking of Bar: what are you having? ? ?

Hope the cough's cleared up!

No longer coffin, so I don't need a bier. X I'm lacking sparkle, so please order me a ...

[Nick Armstrong]

No longer coffin, so I don't need a bier. X I'm lacking sparkle, so please order me a ...

Excellent news.

coming up

[Ferretfancy]

Excellent news.

coming up

I had a throat and chest infection which effectively stymied the first couple of weeks. I had thought of going along and coughing all the way through the Ring, "That'll get 'em" I thought ,but I was too weak to get there.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

How is it that performers don't cough, but audiences can't even make the effort to remain un-tussed?

I have very bad hay fever in the early summer, and avoid going to concerts in late June and July for this reason. However, from time to time, I have professional playing work during this period, but the occasion demands that I don't sneeze or cough, so I don't. It's probably the same for many performers, but is difficult to explain.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I have very bad hay fever in the early summer, and avoid going to concerts in late June and July for this reason. However, from time to time, I have professional playing work during this period, but the occasion demands that I don't sneeze or cough, so I don't. It's probably the same for many performers, but is difficult to explain.

Yes - I suspect performers' nerves have a lot to do with the phenomenon Flay points out.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

What were your reasons for mentioning Clifford Curzon, EA? I saw him several times mainly late on in his career and he seemed to me either raptly absorbed or full of his delight in the music (for instance, when playing his favourite Brahms intermezzi or Schubert impromptus). My main concern was whether his nerves, or perhaps the technical frailty that seemed to affect him in later years, would precipitate some disaster, but I always enjoyed watching him play.

He appeared to talk to himself, though I suspect he was counting to keep in time.

[Flay]

... requiring an extempore performance of Johann David Heimlich's energetic motet "Gegrüßet seyst du holdseelig Fischersfreund"...

[Nick Armstrong]