Prom 56 = 24.08.13: Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester

[edashtav]

Advice for Cool Cats in the Circle

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!

There's a serious "cool" point to be made, here, Vodkadilc. On Friday night I was seated 40 seats to the right of my Saturday position and, on a hotter night than the day after, that was the coolest Prom I've been to this year. On that Friday I felt what I interpreted to be a constant blast from a (new?) air-conditioning unit that seemed to be sited at Gallery level. If there are such novel features they are very directional. It may be worth noting which seats are for Mr Cool. I think mine was Circle Sector U, row 1 , seat #115. Its fielding position was directly behind the bowler when the bowler is the conductor

[Hornspieler]

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.

edashtav:
Please check your PMs.

[amateur51]

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"?

I must say that this performance by Michelangeli 'live' with LSO/Celibidache strikes me as pretty good

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JAeUjg4zj8

[edashtav]

I must say that this performance by Michelangeli 'live' with LSO/Celibidache strikes me as pretty good

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JAeUjg4zj8

Thanks for that "heads up" Am. : Surely, (I hope Ferney's gone to sleep) Michelangeli & Celibidache both deserve the title of "Legend"? Put two legends together and you must, at the least, have a saga. I shall tune in, later.

[amateur51]

Thanks for that "heads up" Am. : Surely, (I hope Ferney's gone to sleep) Michelangeli & Celibidache both deserve the title of "Legend"? Put two legends together and you must, at the least, have a saga. I shall tune in, later.

Michelangeli is so inscrutable, barely a glimmer on the face but his hands are hypnotic.

[Nick Armstrong]

I must say that this performance by Michelangeli 'live' with LSO/Celibidache strikes me as pretty good

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JAeUjg4zj8

One for the big screen later! Ta!

[amateur51]

One for the big screen later! Ta!

Not sure how hi-tech the picture is for the big screen and there's a moment in which someone in the cellos (I think) gets a scowl from Celibidache that could have necessitated years of expensive therapy if directed at a child at a vulnerable age

[Nick Armstrong]

Not sure how hi-tech the picture is for the big screen and there's a moment in which someone in the cellos (I think) gets a scowl from Celibidache that could have necessitated years of expensive therapy if directed at a child at a vulnerable age

...an HD eye will be kept out for that!

[Petrushka]

Thanks for that "heads up" Am. : Surely, (I hope Ferney's gone to sleep) Michelangeli & Celibidache both deserve the title of "Legend"? Put two legends together and you must, at the least, have a saga. I shall tune in, later.

Thanks for this. I saw Celibidache just the once and that was with the LSO in the RFH, April 1980. Mussorgsky/Ravel Pictures was on the programme but can't for the life of me remember what the rest was! I'm prompted to try and dig out my printed programme which I will have somewhere.

[edashtav]

Rolls and Royce Revel in Ravel

I must say that this performance by Michelangeli 'live' with LSO/Celibidache strikes me as pretty good

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JAeUjg4zj8

Well, that was quite an experience, Ams, thank you. Two masters of precision at the top of their games. Which one was Mr. Rolls and which Mr Royce? And... Maurice Ravel was akin to a Swiss watchmaker, as well. So , is this performance as good as it gets, this side of heaven?

I'm conflicted. On the one hand I've never heard so many notes played so accurately and with such little apparent effort - Michelangeli was merely "shelling peas", but is a touch of "risk" of nerves, "I'm not sure that I can manage this", necessary for ultimate listener satisfaction? This performance was a bloodless coup. It sets a gold standard, with many moments that are exemplary - things that others should study to better their own performances. I'd liken it to a score for those who can't read "the small print". As I have a ms of the l.h. concerto but not of this one in G, I shall use it as an assay, and sometimes as a purgative! What has it done for this listener? Made me less critical, I think, more willing to accept errors, and more believing that without warts, beauty is restrained.

I hope that this youtube track is placed in a few archives, worldwide.

[Nick Armstrong]

Bumping this to remind that the concert is on BBC4 this evening at 7.30.

[BBMmk2]

Thanks for the bumping , Cali! I do rather like this orchestra! A programme to die for!! :)

[Nick Armstrong]

Thanks for the bumping , Cali! I do rather like this orchestra! A programme to die for!! :)

Happily we survived on Saturday night!

[VodkaDilc]

I'm especially looking forward to re-hearing the Ravel.

[Nick Armstrong]

A pair of good reviews for this concert, to whet the appetite of those who weren't there:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/proms/10266419/Proms-2013-Gustav-Mahler-Jugendorchester-Albert-Hall-review.html

http://www.theguardian.com/music/201...chestra-review