Prom 61 - 28.08.13: Stravinsky, Brahms & Charlotte Seither

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

7.00pm – c. 9.25pm
BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Singers and Josep Pons live at the BBC Proms. Stravinsky's Petrushka, a new work by Seither, and Frank Peter Zimmerman plays Brahms's much-loved Violin Concerto.

Live from the Royal Albert Hall, London

German composer Charlotte Seither adapts the words of the 17th-century poet Francesco de Lemene in a new work for the BBC Singers and the BBC Symphony Orchestra, using voices and syllables as spots of 'human colour'. Josep Pons conducts this world premiere alongside the 1947 version of Stravinsky's Petrushka, the a cappella motets Ave Maria and Pater noster, and the four-minute novelty Scherzo à la russe, written in Hollywood for the bandleader Paul Whiteman.

Another German, the distinguished violinist Frank Peter Zimmermann, plays the concerto that Johannes Brahms composed for his great friend, Joseph Joachim.

Stravinsky: Scherzo à la Russe
Stravinsky: Ave Maria
Stravinsky: Pater noster
Brahms: Violin Concerto in D major

7:50pm Interval

8:10pm
Charlotte Seither: Language of Leaving (BBC Commission: world premiere)
Stravinsky: Petrushka (1947)

Frank Peter Zimmermann (violin)
BBC Singers
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Josep Pons (conductor)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I suppose, having recently heard the Proms performance of the 1910 Firebird, it would have been good to have had the 1911 Petrushka.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Tonight's the night

[edashtav]

"Off with its Head" cries Charlotte Seither

Tonight's the night

suggested Alpie, as he bumped this concert to the top.

Rod Stewart might have responded, optimistically, "Tonight's The Night [Gonna be Alright]", but ... how was it for you, posters?

I missed all the Stravinsky pieces (not from choice) but I did hear the Brahms and Seither.

I enjoyed the Brahms. Zimmermann was excellent, technically. Very few notes were smudged, far fewer were ill-tuned and all were clearly projected. I missed a touch of sweetness (and did so again in "the" oboe solo in the slow movement), but I felt happy to be in the hands of a very competent violinist who knew and appreciated the score. The orchestra was dutiful. THe conductor made no impression upon me so he must have passed muster.

I'd characterise the majority of this year's BBC Prom commissions as belonging to the "gaudy" school of 21st century composers. What a relief, then ,to hear and to enjoy Charlotte Seither's new work. Charlotte's music has something of the cool precision of late Stravinsky. She's the sort of composer who values their eraser as much as their pencil: "That note won't do, off with its head" may be her leitmotif. All the better for it, I concluded. It was a sad work, but it was clear, calculated and, above all, finished. I was impressed, and wanted to hear more of her work.

[Ferretfancy]

suggested Alpie, as he bumped this concert to the top.

Rod Stewart might have responded, optimistically, "Tonight's The Night [Gonna be Alright]", but ... how was it for you, posters?

I missed all the Stravinsky pieces (not from choice) but I did hear the Brahms and Seither.

I enjoyed the Brahms. Zimmermann was excellent, technically. Very few notes were smudged, far fewer were ill-tuned and all were clearly projected. I missed a touch of sweetness (and did so again in "the" oboe solo in the slow movement), but I felt happy to be in the hands of a very competent violinist who knew and appreciated the score. The orchestra was dutiful. THe conductor made no impression upon me so he must have passed muster.

I'd characterise the majority of this year's BBC Prom commissions as belonging to the "gaudy" school of 21st century composers. What a relief, then ,to hear and to enjoy Charlotte Seither's new work. Charlotte's music has something of the cool precision of late Stravinsky. She's the sort of composer who values their eraser as much as their pencil: "That note won't do, off with its head" may be her leitmotif. All the better for it, I concluded. It was a sad work, but it was clear, calculated and, above all, finished. I was impressed, and wanted to hear more of her work.

Oh dear ! I'm afraid that this is one of those moments when two listeners have totally different impressions!

I went to the short recital at the RCM, where Charlotte Seiter was interviewed by Andrew McGregor for broadcast after the Prom.She described at some length her motives in writing the music we were to hear, and for me most of it qualified for pseuds corner. I did admire the technique of the young musicians who gave us three short pieces, but that was all, I'm afraid.

As for the Prom item, heard from the Arena, we heard all tricks that I have been listening to since about 1960, swanee whistles and all. All that was missing was the device that became the trademark of this kind of stuff, namely the gong being banged and lowered into a bucket of water. What a relief to hear the century old Petrushka, a masterpiece of inventiveness that still gives us things to discover at every hearing

[edashtav]

Oh dear ! I'm afraid that this is one of those moments when two listeners have totally different impressions!

I went to the short recital at the RCM, where Charlotte Seiter was interviewed by Andrew McGregor for broadcast after the Prom.She described at some length her motives in writing the music we were to hear, and for me most of it qualified for pseuds corner. I did admire the technique of the young musicians who gave us three short pieces, but that was all, I'm afraid.

As for the Prom item, heard from the Arena, we heard all tricks that I have been listening to since about 1960, swanee whistles and all. All that was missing was the device that became the trademark of this kind of stuff, namely the gong being banged and lowered into a bucket of water. What a relief to hear the century old Petrushka, a masterpiece of inventiveness that still gives us things to discover at every hearing

Well Mr ff, we've set the scene, I just hope there's opinion for us to divide - I've detected Proms weariness setting in amongst For3 posters over the last few days.

[Petrushka]

I've detected Proms weariness setting in amongst For3 posters over the last few days.

More likely, as has been noted elsewhere, is that the season is ending with a fizzle out. The last week of the season used to be the time for all the top international orchestras to do their stuff, often bringing with them a new chief conductor making his first official appearance with them. How lame is this season's final week?

[greenilex]

Was sitting opposite conductor Pons and almost next to Govey in his box - nuff said.

Got quite worked up by Zimmerman and his Strad.

Pseud is right for C. Seither. Why didn't Pons call the thunder-sheet operator for a personal obeisance?

All things said, I shall never have enough Stravinsky, never never never, and the orchestra did us proud. There is a very nice young viola-player, too.

[marvin]

Was sitting opposite conductor Pons and almost next to Govey in his box - nuff said.

Got quite worked up by Zimmerman and his Strad.

Pseud is right for C. Seither. Why didn't Pons call the thunder-sheet operator for a personal obeisance?

All things said, I shall never have enough Stravinsky, never never never, and the orchestra did us proud. There is a very nice young viola-player, too.

About what age was he?

[Nick Armstrong]

About what age was he?

[greenilex]

I think he was probably old enough to know better - somewhere in his twenties, perhaps. My son went to China with our local Youth Orchestra carrying his borrowed viola. But that was more than a decade ago now.