Prom 56 = 24.08.13: Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester

[edashtav]

Wresting the mind away from that ineffable image, to last night's concert....

Well the Ravel performances were the unforgettable highlights, for me. The piano concerto is one of those pieces that's been close to my heart for nearly 40 years, and the performance was an utter delight. It was just about as good as it gets, I think - stunning piano playing, admirable balance with the orchestra, instrumental solos perfect from start to finish. Just magic. And the duet encore, another of my 'desert island' pieces, was an enthralling bonus.

The Shostakovich was a clear, strong reading of the piece... I know what the comments above are getting at, I agree that for me this piece needs to be more dangerous, more neurotic or at least emphatic. But it sounded magnificent in the hall - and my 15 year old companion, who was new to DSCH5, turned to me after each movement with a delighted grin all over his face: it was great as an introduction to the piece.

We enjoyed the Wagner too, they did the swaggering, rousing stuff very well: a good opener. The principal trumpet, who didn't put a note wrong all night started it with a beauty and confidence that marked out the whole concert.

But the Ravel was in a different league. Perfection.

Oh, I wish that had been so, Caliban. Like you, I'm utterly smitten by Ravel's concerto, but it's a difficult work for the pianist and the orchestra. Pretty full marks to Thibaudet, he did the languorous moments in the first movement beautifully but I questioned their relationship, in terms of speed, with the rest of the movement. From where I sat, high at the front of the circle- long-mid-off to the conductor, I was disappointed with a no. of the solo lines from the orchestra. and some of the "ripieno" playing. I don't want to single out individuals for blame, but a chortling running passage got into a tangle in the same movement. But... last night's orchestra were no worst than the RPO under Dutoit were for Martha Argerich a season or two ago. ... Actually, I've never heard a really good live performance - have I been spoiled by CDs and their "retakes"?

[VodkaDilc]

Good point, thanks. I didn't get to read the programme.

I thought the bassoonist who took most of the solos was an absolute star too - he really NAILED that solo in the Ravel, swaying and giving it a real sax-style swing!

The only one who worried me slightly was the first horn in the Shostakovich. Was it towards the end of the first movement, in a prolonged quiet passage, that things got a bit dicey? Not a criticism though - that's about the last instrument I would ever want to play in public.

[Nick Armstrong]

The only one who worried me slightly was the first horn in the Shostakovich. Was it towards the end of the first movement, in a prolonged quiet passage, that things got a bit dicey? Not a criticism though - that's about the last instrument I would ever want to play in public.

Yes - he was the only one who had problems all night, or so I thought....

Oh, I wish that had been so, Caliban. Like you, I'm utterly smitten by Ravel's concerto, but it's a difficult work for the pianist and the orchestra. Pretty full marks to Thibaudet, he did the languorous moments in the first movement beautifully but I questioned their relationship, in terms of speed, with the rest of the movement. From where I sat, high at the front of the circle- long-mid-off to the conductor, I was disappointed with a no. of the solo lines from the orchestra. and some of the "ripieno" playing.

Blimey, ed! The RAH acoustic must have been doing something really strange then! We were sitting front stalls, quite close... I'm HYPER-sensitive to things awry in this piece, I think. It's as if we heard different performances!

[edashtav]

We enjoyed the Wagner too, they did the swaggering, rousing stuff very well: a good opener. The principal trumpet, who didn't put a note wrong all night started it with a beauty and confidence that marked out the whole concert.

Well, the Rienzi , with its exposed, simple lines, is a brute of a piece to come to "cold" at the start of a concert. Yes Mr. Trumpet started extremely well with a note shaped as beautifully as Alison Balsom, herself.
Didn't he fall from grace for you stallsters, a few bars later through, possibly, some condensed water in his tubes. It sounded like that from mid-off. But... on balance a fine trumpeter, I agree.

[VodkaDilc]

Blimey, ed! The RAH acoustic must have been doing something really strange then! We were sitting front stalls, quite close... I'm HYPER-sensitive to things awry in this piece, I think. It's as if we heard different performances!

Halfway back in stalls, section L, it sounded very well balanced - hence my comments about being disappointed by the R3 perspective on it.

[edashtav]

.




Blimey, ed! The RAH acoustic must have been doing something really strange then! We were sitting front stalls, quite close... I'm HYPER-sensitive to things awry in this piece, I think. It's as if we heard different performances!

I don't want to "name names", Caliban and I accept that your information re the no. of recordings that you have of the Ravel, that you know it backwards. However, I'm shocked that you didn't notice the female wind player who "dried up" half-way through a phrase in the Ravel, so badly so that her immediate neighbour, a kindly lad to her left, immediately leaned towards her and commiserated. I noted that PJ didn't ask her to take a bow. She was not included in the orchestra for the DSCH.

P.S. My friends say I'm hyper-critical and always have been.

[Nick Armstrong]

Halfway back in stalls, section L, it sounded very well balanced - hence my comments about being disappointed by the R3 perspective on it.

Quite

[edashtav]

P.S. The Piccolo was in tune!

[Nick Armstrong]

She was not included in the orchestra for the DSCH

summary justice!

Ah well... Maybe it was like Cortot's slips - the spirit of the piece was so perfectly realised, that (aided perhaps by the accidents of the funny old RAH acoustic) the ear edited out some actual bloopers... I've heard a few duff readings of the piece live - lumpy solos, lumpy piano playing... - but this was most definitely NOT duff.

Talking of PJ and bows: does he not have the most bizarre way of bowing you've ever seen? Left knee forward, and left hand plus baton on that knee, right shoulder lower and right arm hanging... I thought he was leaning to pick up money or a flower someone had thrown Most odd!

[edashtav]

summary justice!

Ah well... Maybe it was like Cortot's slips - the spirit of the piece was so perfectly realised, that (aided perhaps by the accidents of the funny old RAH acoustic) the ear edited out some actual bloopers... I've heard a few duff readings of the piece live - lumpy solos, lumpy piano playing... - but this was most definitely NOT duff.

Talking of PJ and bows: does he not have the most bizarre way of bowing you've ever seen? Left knee forward, and left hand plus baton on that knee, right shoulder lower and right arm hanging... I thought he was leaning to pick up money or a flower someone had thrown Most odd!

PJ was quite an actor, Cailiban, wasn't he. Yes, I noticed the "Edwardian" bow, but also, in Rienzi, he adopted the pose of a Victorian Military Bandmaster - Godfrey of the Grenadier Guards came to mind!

Live performances can be funny things to assess, objectively - on Friday, I was as satisfied by the WPO's support of Melnikov as I was dissatisfied by the GKJOs contribution last night. On both nights posts have been split. I can report that I exited for cool air in the interval last night expressing my anger to a friend with whom I was sitting. On Friday night, had I found a friend I'd have been gushing.

On balance, both performances seem to have melded good and bad.

[Nick Armstrong]

PJ was quite an actor, Cailiban, wasn't he. Yes, I noticed the "Edwardian" bow, but also, in Rienzi, he adopted the pose of a Victorian Military Bandmaster - Godfrey of the Grenadier Guards came to mind!

My comment after the Wagner was "bit of a blade, isn't he..."

Lots of swash ... and then Thibaudet provided the buckle - did you see that rhinestone confection on his belt glittering?! Silly question: you practically needed sunglasses not to be blinded by it! Another of Ms Westwood's numbers, presumably...

[edashtav]

My comment after the Wagner was "bit of a blade, isn't he..."

Lots of swash ... and then Thibaudet provided the buckle - did you see that rhinestone confection on his belt glittering?! Silly question: you practically needed sunglasses not to be blinded by it! Another of Ms Westwood's numbers, presumably...

Spot on! Have a peep at the gals of the band having a drink with their blade earlier in the tour in Bolzano!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151845957072679&set=a.379139242678.158152.245275042678&type=1&theater

[jayne lee wilson]

What with Julya Kopylova "dressed to kill", Thibaudet's dazzling rhinestones, Jordan apparently tres tres.., and Katie's dress of the day, I'll just have to switch on for this... as Not the 9 O'Clock News once said - "Nice video, shame about the Song".

[edashtav]

What with Julya Kopylova "dressed to kill", Thibaudet's dazzling rhinestones, Jordan apparently tres tres.., and Katie's dress of the day, I'll just have to switch on for this... as Not the 9 O'Clock News once said - "Nice video, shame about the Song".

Well, I hope that you'll be satisfied, Jayne. In reality, the circle in the RAH was akin to a sauna, a situation that distorts men's cognition.

IMHO, the BBC4 telecast should carry a razzle dazzle warning:
"You are advised to wear Shades during tonight's Concerto. "

[VodkaDilc]

Well, I hope that you'll be satisfied, Jayne. In reality, the circle in the RAH was akin to a sauna, a situation that distorts men's cognition.

IMHO, the BBC4 telecast should carry a razzle dazzle warning:
"You are advised to wear Shades during tonight's Concerto. "

Down in the stalls, I would say that this was the coolest Prom I've been to this year. And I really am talking about the temperature, whatever edashtav might believe!