Prom 1 - 18.07.14: The First Night - Elgar: The Kingdom, BBC SO / A. Davis

[Mary Chambers]

As I watch/listen (in the cool of our sitting room) my admiration for Andrew Davies as a director of large choral forces is undiminished. Not so my regard for The Kingdom itself. Boult's preference for it over The Dream is hard to understand. I find it rambles a bit, and this is mainly because of the 'libretto'. Extracts from the Bible spun together were no doubt received with great reverence and solemnity by a contemporary audience, but surely Newman's 'Gerontius' poem is what inspired Elgar to (IMO) a higher musical achievement? It's almost as if Elgar were striving to match that earlier inspiration, and finding it a bit of an effort.

These are very personal views and no doubt others will disagree vehemently.

I agree completely. Fine for pious Edwardians, no doubt, but not much to say otherwise. The performance is pretty good, I think, but there's a limit to what can be done with it.

Gerontius goes beyond Christianity to something universal.

[Serial_Apologist]

After listening to Pt 1 on R3 I switched to the BBC2 deferred broadcast via Freeview. The sound seems to be horribly crackly. Anyone else finding it so?

We don't seem to have any thunder and lightning down here in Kernow and I've never heard anything like it before on digital TV or radio. In one sense I hope this is a local problem or even one in my hi-fi so other boarders aren't suffering, but on the other hand...

There is a severe storm approaching in the vicinity as I write, so the crackling could be atmospherics. The promenaders are going to emerge to a waterfall if I'm not mistaken, poor things!

[johnb]

I am experiencing the same crackling, reminiscent of badly cared for LPs. It only seems to affect BBC Two so perhaps it is a problem with the RAH link.

What was the sound like on FM/DAB/iPlayer?

[Roehre]

I agree completely. Fine for pious Edwardians, no doubt, but not much to say otherwise. ....

I concur, but must admit that Gerontius is not for me either, I'm afraid.

[Stan Drews]

As I watch/listen (in the cool of our sitting room) my admiration for Andrew Davies as a director of large choral forces is undiminished. Not so my regard for The Kingdom itself. Boult's preference for it over The Dream is hard to understand. I find it rambles a bit, and this is mainly because of the 'libretto'. Extracts from the Bible spun together were no doubt received with great reverence and solemnity by a contemporary audience, but surely Newman's 'Gerontius' poem is what inspired Elgar to (IMO) a higher musical achievement? It's almost as if Elgar were striving to match that earlier inspiration, and finding it a bit of an effort.

These are very personal views and no doubt others will disagree vehemently.

Disagree? Not at all - I'm by no means an Elgar hater but I detest these works (and I've performed DoG twice and Kingdom once - money was involved). I simply can't understand why these pieces are rated as anything more than curiosities of their time.

Anyone for Tolhurst's "Ruth" or Parry's "Judith"?

No? Thought not.

[antongould]

I am experiencing the same crackling, reminiscent of badly cared for LPs. It only seems to affect BBC Two so perhaps it is a problem with the RAH link.

What was the sound like on FM/DAB/iPlayer?

In the pit heaps no crackling ......an impressive opening night IMVHO....

[MrGongGong]

Gerontius goes beyond Christianity to something universal.

[EdgeleyRob]

As I watch/listen (in the cool of our sitting room) my admiration for Andrew Davies as a director of large choral forces is undiminished. Not so my regard for The Kingdom itself. Boult's preference for it over The Dream is hard to understand. I find it rambles a bit, and this is mainly because of the 'libretto'. Extracts from the Bible spun together were no doubt received with great reverence and solemnity by a contemporary audience, but surely Newman's 'Gerontius' poem is what inspired Elgar to (IMO) a higher musical achievement? It's almost as if Elgar were striving to match that earlier inspiration, and finding it a bit of an effort.

These are very personal views and no doubt others will disagree vehemently.

I,and I suspect EA,disagree (but not with your point about Andrew Davis btw).

Inspired music IMO.

Bravo Sir Andrew and all involved,I'm in bits.

(no sound probs here)

[Mary Chambers]

Well, to me it does! And I'm not an Elgar fan at all.

[MrGongGong]

Well, to me it does! And I'm not an Elgar fan at all.

I'm not either
but (not wanting to go on about it ) it really doesn't work at all IMV

It's far too high church anglo-cathlolic nonsense to be considered "universal"

Ligeti's Requiem ?
or even
Rejoice in the Lamb ?

[Barbirollians]

I am not a major fan of Elgar's gargantuan choral works and skipped this . Would much rather have had The Creation by a great composer without one work at the Proms !!!

[Mary Chambers]

I'm not either
but (not wanting to go on about it ) it really doesn't work at all IMV

It's far too high church anglo-cathlolic nonsense to be considered "universal"

Ligeti's Requiem ?

or even
Rejoice in the Lamb ?

What about them?

It's not high church Anglo-Catholic; it's Roman Catholic. I'm an agnostic, and I still find something in Gerontius, but I don't want to go on about it either.

[Vile Consort]

I tried. I really did. But I'm afraid Elgar in Catholic mode turns my stomach over and I had to switch off.

[Alison]

I think Davis is hard to beat in this repertoire now. There's still some of that generalised bluster but much more depth of feeling. It's a lovely work IMHO, surely less Catholic in feel than certain other pieces.

It's the first season for some while that hasn't started with one of those token short contemporary pieces that are all but forgotten by the end of the first weekend.

[gradus]

Just occasional crackles, like a dodgy connection somewhere down the line but not too intrusive.