Prom 52 - 21.08.13: Vir, Sibelius, Bantock & Elgar

[Nick Armstrong]

I feel a few "Och, aye the noos", coming on

I know of an excellent ointment that can help.

Sakari Oramo might be the best Elgar conductor around at the moment

His recording of the Enigma Variations with the CBSO (the "filler" for his 'Gerontius' but due to the singers, more impressive) is I think my favourite of all, certainly among recordings of the last 20 or 30 years...

[BBMmk2]

I hope that conductors, artists, orchestras, etc, will have a rethink of Sir Granville Bantock.

[edashtav]

POST POST! Elgar's Enigma Performed with Consummate Style and Affection

I know of an excellent ointment that can help.




His recording of the Enigma Variations with the CBSO (the "filler" for his 'Gerontius' but due to the singers, more impressive) is I think my favourite of all, certainly among recordings of the last 20 or 30 years...

That final comment of yours, Caliban caused me to "catch up" with the Enigma.What a marvellous interpretation with such insights into Elgar's ebb & flow. The balance between instrumental lines was often exquisite and Oramo feel for the work's overall structure was sure-footed. Those fleeting moments of doubt, of clouds crossing the skies, sounds of distant wars, and personal crises seemed to link across the variations to give the work a greater wholeness and intensity. A winning, almost magical performance. (Thank you, Caliban!)

ORCHESTRA:
CONDUCTOR :

[Nick Armstrong]

That final comment of yours, Caliban caused me to "catch up" with the Enigma.What a marvellous interpretation with such insights into Elgar's ebb & flow. The balance between instrumental lines was often exquisite and Oramo feel for the work's overall structure was sure-footed. Those fleeting moments of doubt, of clouds crossing the skies, sounds of distant wars, and personal crises seemed to link across the variations to give the work a greater wholeness and intensity. A winning, almost magical performance. (Thank you, Caliban!)

ORCHESTRA:
CONDUCTOR :

I heard the Proms performance with half an ear but I have it recorded and shall give it a proper listen.

Do try and seek out the CBSO performance, ed.

[cloughie]

Sibelius VC is a work I had tired of but the combination of Batiashvili's playing and Oramo's Sibelius intuition revived the work for me. Oramo's appointment was one of the best decisions the BBC have made in a good while.

[Pabmusic]

I..Do try and seek out the CBSO performance, ed.

I'll second that. It's a lovely performance.

[mrbouffant]

I am agog to know whether the experience was sufficient to compensate for the outrage of mrsbouffant.....

Oh, for sure. Thoroughly enjoyed the concert. The Vir was a skilful experiment in texture and orchestration. However, was it music? Not sure. I like a big tune, and I didn't hear one in that piece.

The Sibelius, as many have said already, was sublime. Not sure I agreed with the yobbish, football-match style, shouting from behind me in Choir West at its conclusion.

In the second half the Bantock was given a decent performance. It's not the most deeply-thought of works, but a favourite of mine all the same.

I really enjoyed the Enigma Vars.. all the little character quirks which I'd read about and never really noticed before in the variations were brought skilfully to the fore.

Where I was sat there was, throughout the latter part of the second half of the concert, a faint electronic ringing sound which I first took to be a mobile phone. However, it seemed to last for 20 minutes + and I wondered in the end if it was some kind of weird feedback or something. Very queer.

The only downside for me at this concert was the young lad behind me who kicked my chair about 30+ times in each half. Despite encouraging his parents (sat either side) to ensure their progeny controlled his limbs, they seemed unable or unwilling to do so. Very annoying. The father had a particularly loud voice and strong opinions on each piece which he shared with his bemused son. I am not sure my 7-year old would understand it if I described the Bantock as lugubrious.

[Nick Armstrong]

Sartre was right. L'enfer, c'est les autres...

V pleased you had a great time notwithstanding!

[mercia]

followed Enigma using an online score for the first time, and was intrigued to see the time signature of Var. VII, a simple 1, one semibreve to a bar - I wondered if this was fairly unique for the time [if you can have 'fairly unique']

[teamsaint]

followed Enigma using an online score for the first time, and was intrigued to see the time signature of Var. VII, a simple 1, one semibreve to a bar - I wondered if this was fairly unique for the time [if you can have 'fairly unique']

Which online score did you follow Mercia?

"Fairly unique" is partially ubiquitous these days !!

[mercia]

Which online score did you follow Mercia?

this piano reduction - I would have followed a full-score except it won't all fit onto my computer screen

http://petrucci.mus.auth.gr/imglnks/usimg/1/10/IMSLP09643-Elgar_op38_enigma_variations_piano.pdf

[Pabmusic]

followed Enigma using an online score for the first time, and was intrigued to see the time signature of Var. VII, a simple 1, one semibreve to a bar - I wondered if this was fairly unique* for the time [if you can have 'fairly unique']

The only precedent I know of is the scherzo of Borodin's 2nd, which is in 1/1 (there's no way that Elgar would have known it in 1898).

* 'Almost unique' might have been better.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

"Fairly unique" is partially ubiquitous these days !!

[mercia]

thanks pab, and my grammar corrected too - two for the price of one

the other small thing that surprised me, if I can put it into words, was Var. X, that little four-note figure in the woodwind replying to the strings, in the piano reduction score is written as four equal notes, which isn't how it is ever played

but I think in the full score there's a line over the first of the four notes, making it longer [but it always sounds as if it is twice as long as the other three notes]

[amateur51]

"Fairly unique" is partially ubiquitous these days !!