Prom 18 - 30.07.14: BBC Phil, Tharaud / Mena

[Nick Armstrong]

Not sure he did!

I'm pretty sure he didn't

My impression exactly on a first hearing - confirmed today on a second hearing.

Interesting - I set the repeat broadcast to record this afternoon on the DAB so that I could give it a listen over the weekend to hear how it came across on the air waves.

[kernelbogey]

I'm pretty sure he didn't

Interesting - I set the repeat broadcast to record this afternoon on the DAB so that I could give it a listen over the weekend to hear how it came across on the air waves.

I listened this afternoon, having given it less attention that its due on the live broadcast, and thought it among the best performances I've heard. The adagietto was ravishing, and the outer movements IMV were particularly impressive. As to the tone of the opening trumpet, IIRC this was one of the occasions where Mahler recalled the bugle calls of the barracks near his childhood home. All the brass playing was terrific.

[austin]

The adagietto was ravishing, and the outer movements IMV were particularly impressive. As to the tone of the opening trumpet, IIRC this was one of the occasions where Mahler recalled the bugle calls of the barracks near his childhood home. All the brass playing was terrific.

I agree with that. I was there and the adagietto was overwhelmingly beautiful.

[kcostell]

Any idea why the Birtwistle and Ravel aren't available yet on the BBC Website for Listen Again?

[french frank]

Any idea why the Birtwistle and Ravel aren't available yet on the BBC Website for Listen Again?

Strange that Part 2 is available, otherwise I would have suggested that R3 people had knocked off very early for the weekend.

Add: Is this it, on the Friday afternoon page? http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04bry4c

[kcostell]

Add: Is this it, on the Friday afternoon page? http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04bry4c

Bingo. Thanks!

[Nick Armstrong]

The current BBC4 TV transmission confirming the impression in the hall of a great performance of the Mahler (and a fabulous contribution from Jamie Prophet in the trumpet section)! (Am at work ... so missed the Ravel. Hope the PVR is whirring back home...)

[Richard Tarleton]

I loved the Ravel, and the Scriabin encore - never seen a performance of the Ravel before. Didn't I read somewhere that Julius Katchen gripped the RH end of the piano with his spare hand?

Fine Mahler - inc trumpet part! He appeared to be playing a different instrument for the opening section.

I was much more conscious of audience noise than during Runnicles/9 which I listened to this afternoon - coughs and sneezes, desultory applause, weary expression flitting across J-JM's face (at least that's what it looked like).

[johnb]

I enjoyed both performances but I found the camera focused on Tharaud, during the Ravel, absolutely infuriating - the very strangely angled views of the keyboard and the seeming preference to focus on Tharaud's face.

[EdgeleyRob]

Just watched the Mahler 5 on BBC4.
Brilliant performance.
I am confused by Mahler,sometimes there seems to be too much going on,makes my brain hurt.
Other days it's the best thing since sliced bread.
Rod Stewart on the telly now,Mrs ER is very happy!

[pastoralguy]

Just watched the Mahler 5 on BBC4.
Brilliant performance.
I am confused by Mahler,sometimes there seems to be too much going on,makes my brain hurt.
Other days it's the best thing since sliced bread.
Rod Stewart on the telly now,Mrs ER is very happy!

[Petrushka]

I felt much more in tune with the TV broadcast than I did listening to the live radio relay and can now appreciate a bit better why people were so enthused by this Mahler 5. Time was when Karajan would say that the Berlin Philharmonic found this score tiring after the monster scherzo in the middle and I wonder what he would think nowadays when most professional orchestras seem to be able to turn in a decent performance without too much trouble.

Have to admit, though, that I find Mena just a tad difficult to watch: he just seems so diffident somehow, not getting particularly worked up or excited, a bit like a traffic policeman really. Fortunately, the music making was exciting enough and that's what counts.

[Tevot]

Just watched the Mahler 5 on BBC4.
Brilliant performance.
I am confused by Mahler,sometimes there seems to be too much going on,makes my brain hurt.
Other days it's the best thing since sliced bread.
Rod Stewart on the telly now,Mrs ER is very happy!

If only Mahler had worn tight fitting leopard skin pants

And now for something completely different -

Finally managed to hear all of this concert. Really enjoyed it. The Mahler took me a few moments to adjust to - but by the end I was totally convinced. A moving adagietto and wonderful rondo-finale imho.

Best Wishes,

Tevot

[jayne lee wilson]

All these comments on the TV recording make it all the sadder that Night's Black Bird was left out... all but forgotten now it seems...

It's a 21st Century Classic, for heaven's sake...

[Sir Velo]

Lovely performance of the Ravel. Had Tharaud been really on his game he would have come back and given us a right hand only encore after the Scriabin. The crowd would really have lapped that up. Fascinating footage of Paul Wittgenstein BTW.