Prom 55 - 23.08.13: Lutosławski, Shostakovich & Panufnik

[jayne lee wilson]

Hope to catch at least some of this one, but being up early for builders etc. since Wednesday may find me in bed instead. Or just drinking too much too soon...

Shame the selection of works, certainly in Part One, looks a bit pop, though... still DSCH's (rather slight) 2nd Concerto doesn't get much play. For this relief etc..., but I think I'd rather have the drunken sailor. After Luto's 2nd Symphony.

[amateur51]

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.

They've always known how to charge at Harold Moores, Pet

[Nick Armstrong]

Lutosławski
Concerto for Orchestra

Shostakovich
Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major

INTERVAL
Shostakovich
Symphony No. 6 in B minor

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

I'd forgotten how inviting this one is!

Music-mad godson to be collected off train at Paddington at five to 7... Can we make it down to the RAH for a very late Arena job by 7.30...? 'Twould be a perfect companion concert to tomorrow evening's planned Ravel PC/DSCH 5... Urgent consultations called for on the station concourse assuming Great Western Railways (or whatever they're called) run on time...

Very very tempted!!!

[Simon B]

I'd forgotten how inviting this one is!

Music-mad godson to be collected off train at Paddington at five to 7... Can we make it down to the RAH for a very late Arena job by 7.30...? 'Twould be a perfect companion concert to

tomorrow evening's planned Ravel PC/DSCH 5... Urgent consultations called for on eethe station concourse assuming Great Western Railways (or whatever they're called) run on time...

Very very tempted!!!

Great programme isn't it?

As a frequent sufferer, sorry, customer of Worst Late Western, good luck! Though they did get me from the bottom of my mountain to the bright lights on time this morning. Hopefully, SouthEastern will manage the same from Margate (ask no questions etc) for me shortly so I don't miss the start.

This concert was some way short of sold out in the seats earlier, while that's not a wholly reliable indicator, it's usually suggestive of space in the arena. May even be some nice stalls seats left.

It takes me 17 minutes to walk from Paddington station to the RAH via Lancaster Gate and the park. You might well do it!

[teamsaint]

hope you all get there , and its fab.

I was hoping to be there tonight, but it wasn't to be.

What a feast.
Enjoy. !!

[BBMmk2]

Listening to this, now, have they recorded it for Naxos?

[mlb7171]

I can't see a Warsaw PO recording at all. Lots by Wit...

[BBMmk2]

Well, I thought that the Shosta PC2, was rather rushed and not very accurately played. Personally, I don't know why there is such n applause for his performance?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I can't see a Warsaw PO recording at all. Lots by Wit...

Yes; Wit's NAXOS recording of Lutos' Concerto for Orchestra is with the Polish National Radio Orchestra (and very good it is, too). He recorded his Szymanowski and Penderecki recordings with the Warsaw SO. Sadly, nothing by Panufnik has been recorded on NAXOS by Wit. (In fact, there's very little by Panufnik on NAXOS at all: a missed opportunity, I'd've thought.)

[jayne lee wilson]

Wit has recorded the Concerto for Orchestra in Warsaw (on Dux c/w Cello Concerto, never heard it). The Naxos one is excellent though, with his Polish National RSO, a brilliant album with Mi-Parti and the amazing Trois Poemes d'Henri Michaux - one of my Luto favourites, a visionary avant-garde masterpiece for chorus & orchestra from the early 60s. Snap it up!

Fine performance of the Concerto for Orchestra tonight, disciplined, filigree-precise and very dynamic too.... wild enough? Hmm.... but it's a case of "retired hurt" for me, too exhausted for more (again). Might catch up with DSCH 6 later if anyone tells me it's any good. Grimly consoled by the rep here being either a bit familiar for me or uninspired choices. Why must they drag out the Tragic Overture for Panufnik again? Anyone else collecting the mostly excellent CPO series? Lullaby's OK, but in the 15 minutes given to him, they could have played many better pieces, even squeezed in Symphony No.4 (good contrast to DSCH 6). (Ah but "Tragic" and "Lullaby" do look so appealing contrasted don't they?)

Had a great first 10 or 11 Proms this year, lost my way a bit after that , what with health and old houses to look after... off to placate my weary head with food & wine...

[pastoralguy]

Well, I thought that the Shosta PC2, was rather rushed and not very accurately played. Personally, I don't know why there is such n applause for his performance?

I heard the last 2 movements and can only agree despite being a big admirer of Melnikov.

[Bryn]

Don't forget to check out Malnikov's performance of the first 12 of DSCH's Preludes and Fugues Op 87 on last nights TtN.

[cheesehoven]

A splendid concert. I am less familiar with the concerto than others here, but the soloist held my attention throughout.

[pilamenon]

Fine performance of the Concerto for Orchestra tonight, disciplined, filigree-precise and very dynamic too.... wild enough?

What a sensational Prom!

I've got the recording of the Concerto for Orchestra by the composer with the Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra, and was impressed by the National Youth Orchestra when they did it with Petrenko at the Proms a few years back, but tonight was revelatory in its detail, clarity (recording engineers must have done a great job, too), power and sparkle. I do love this work.

If anything, the playing of Shostakovich 6 was even more magnificent - I cannot imagine ever hearing a more compelling reading.

Don't know the piano concerto that well, but it seemed to get a suitably no-nonsense performance. Of the two Panufnik works, give me the Tragic Overture any day over the Lullaby, which actually made me feel slightly nauseous rather than sleepy. Great encores, and overall, this has to be one of the best Proms of the season.

[Simon B]

Well, I thought that the Shosta PC2, was rather rushed and not very accurately played. Personally, I don't know why there is such n applause for his performance?

Sensational in the hall and everyone I spoke to in the pub after seemed to agree. Also, his encore was almost unbelievable in the moment. Evidently one of those "you had to be there" things. Overall this concert was a highlight of the season IMO.