Prom 67 - 1.09.13: Arvo Pärt, Britten, Berlioz & Saint-Saëns

[Ferretfancy]

An enjoyable concert in the hall. Janine Jensen was very good in the Britten concerto, I was standing about thirty feet away and would have liked a larger sound from her in the first movement. I thought she was a little scratchy at the beginning, but then perhaps it's called for, but steadily rose to the occasion and the extraordinary ending was superb. I wonder, had Britten heard the Szymanowski concertos at this stage in his career? There is that same sense of yearning which we don't hear in most of his other works. Szymanowski died only two years before Britten's work was premiered in New York.
The Saint-Saens went well, as it usually does, it was made for the RAH.

[MrGongGong]

I haven't heard the RAH organ since the restoration a few years ago, It certainly sounds pretty powerful, how many pipes?

Is that a (knowingly ?) trick question ?

[Mary Chambers]

. I wonder, had Britten heard the Szymanowski concertos at this stage in his career? There is that same sense of yearning which we don't hear in most of his other works. Szymanowski died only two years before Britten's work was premiered in New York.

Britten and Szymanowski were both at the ISCM Festival in Barcelona in 1936 (I think there's a photograph), so he might well have known of them, though of course that doesn't mean he had actually heard them or read the score.

[LaurieWatt]

There's one in the Handley recording of Elgar 2 - slow movement only? I only had that performance for years and years and hence always miss it when it's not there...

No, Caliban, it is the last movement!! But you are right it is the Symphony No 2 and the only recording I know of it is the one you quote.

[Nick Armstrong]

No, Caliban, it is the last movement!! But you are right it is the Symphony No 2 and the only recording I know of it is the one you quote.

Ah yes... I just found a reference to Charles Mackerras's recording for Argo featuring "the organ pedal dubbed in (from King’s College Chapel, Cambridge) at the climax of the finale", as well...

[LaurieWatt]

Any views on the concert? I recorded it for future listening as I've been away all weekend so would appreciate views. I was present at the first UK performance of the Cantus on Aug 31 1979 (BBCSO/Rozhdestvensky) but can't recall if the composer was present in the hall. Anyone know?

I wasn't there but have only listened on R3, so far, to the Britten, Berlioz and some of the Saint-Saens. The broadcast was very fine and Saint-Saens sounded good - really fine 3rd horn playing, especially in the last movement (that part has all the best tunes!). So did the Corsaire - a good tuba, well produced, which is essential for this overture. I thought the concerto a bit of a curate's egg and need to listen again, although again the orchestra did well.

[LaurieWatt]

I was present at the first UK performance of the Cantus on Aug 31 1979 (BBCSO/Rozhdestvensky) but can't recall if the composer was present in the hall. Anyone know?

A p.s. to my last response but concerning that great 31st August 1979 Prom. GR conducted the BBCSO in what I still regard as one of the finest performances ever of Rimsky Korsakov's Russian Easter Festival Overture which is now on BBC Legends They also performed the Rite of Spring to conclude the concert, of which I have - or had, I must check - a recording as I was at home. I must have it somewhere as the Legends recording is the one I made!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

No, Caliban, it is the last movement!! But you are right it is the Symphony No 2 and the only recording I know of it is the one you quote.

IIRC, Slatkin included it in his (rather fine) recording, too.

[mercia]

P.S Did we miss a second encore on the radio?

indeed we did. Petroc played it on breakfast this morning, the Farandole from l'Arlesienne. I must say I don't understand the need to rush away from the hall when all we get is infilling until the next scheduled programme - I'm sure it never used to happen in ye olden dayes.

[Stephen Smith]

I rate Paavo Jarvi as a conductor (brought his Bremen Orchestra to the Proms 2 or 3 years ago) and I very much enjoyed all of the programme, with good playing through all sections. Jansen was, to my mind, a strong advocate of the concerto, which I admit I didn't know but will listen to again (she has recorded it for Decca with Jarvi).
The audience expressed very warm appreciation of the players and Jarvi - the second encore was the first movement of L'arlesienne. However, what was the first encore?

[mercia]

However, what was the first encore?

something from Jeux d'enfants - Galop ?