Prom 55 - 23.08.13: Lutosławski, Shostakovich & Panufnik

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

7.30pm – c. 10.05pm
Royal Albert Hall

Lutosławski
Concerto for Orchestra (30 mins)
Shostakovich
Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major (19 mins)
INTERVAL
Panufnik
Tragic Overture (9 mins)
Panufnik
Lullaby (8 mins)
Shostakovich
Symphony No. 6 in B minor (35 mins)

Alexander Melnikov piano, Proms debut artist
Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
Antoni Wit conductor, Proms debut artist

Antoni Wit and the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra make their Proms debuts as the festival continues its focus on Polish music during Lutoslawski's centenary year.
Written for the Warsaw Philharmonic in 1954, Lutoslawski's virtuosic folk-inflected Concerto for Orchestra creates a unique sound-world.
Lauded for his recording of Shostakovich's Preludes and Fugues, pianist Alexander Melnikov is the soloist in the composer's buoyant Piano Concerto No. 2.
Andrzej Panufnik?s Tragic Overture and Lullaby and Shostakovich's Sixth Symphony paint a vivid picture of two nations in parallel periods of anxiety.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

This programme could well be played by our local orchestra. The conductor is a huge fan of all three composers.

But I digress.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Wit is a fantastic conductor - even better IMO than the superb Gardner in Lutoslawski. Pretty damn fine orchestra, too.


(I notice that next Friday morning on R3, Mr Wit's Proms Artist Recommendation is Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition ... in Ravel's orcastration! )

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Now, now, Ferney, watch your language. As a HIPP enthusiast, the operation might... ...

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Now, now, Ferney, watch your language. As a HIPP enthusiast, the operation might... ...

... get me the lead roles in Handel operas?

[Nick Armstrong]

Now, now, Ferney, watch your language. As a HIPP enthusiast, the operation might... ...

An elderly relative tells me that HIPP operations are relatively painless these days...

[Serial_Apologist]

An elderly relative tells me that HIPP operations are relatively painless these days...

Thus reminding me of Ronnie Scott's remark on being asked for his opinions of hip hop - namely that prior to having heard any he'd assumed it to be an obligatory procedure on the NHS for persons of his age group.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

... get me the lead roles in Handel operas?

Precisely.

[Petrushka]

Making a quick dash down to London for this Prom and looking forward to it. I've never seen either orchestra or conductor before but the programme strongly appeals. This will be my third live Lutoslawski Concerto for Orchestra at the Proms but a first for Panufnik.

[Petrushka]

Bumping this one up the page!

[Alison]

Have a good journey, Pet !

[Petrushka]

Have a good journey, Pet !

Thanks Alison, I will. Bit of a mad dash down really as I have to be back fairly early on Saturday morning but one to look forward to. Next Prom is LPO/Jurowski next Friday.

[Alison]

Does one bother with CD shopping in the capital these days ?

[Petrushka]

Does one bother with CD shopping in the capital these days ?

Probably worth a thread of its own. Funny you should ask because HMV is back with a reasonable stock but nothing like as good as once was. Investigative trips to Harold Moores and Foyles have yielded prices that simply don't compete with the likes of Amazon. The bank balance is under a bit of stress (normal for August!) so I've been swerving purchases (mostly). When you see a boxed set I bought for £15 from Amazon for sale at the above named at £39 you know the game is up.

[edashtav]

I'm popping down to London,too, this evening, but without your dash. A fascinating programme - and I'm expecting the Polish crew to apply spit and polish to Pan. & Luto..