Prom 24 - 4.08.14: BBC SSO, Runnicles

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Monday 4 August
6.30 p.m. – c. 8.25 p.m.
Royal Albert Hall

Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

Mahler: Symphony No. 9

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Donald Runnicles, conductor

[Nick Armstrong]

This might be a revealing concert - I have the impression that Runnicles divides opinion. His way with these two masterpieces will be a bit of a test, for me at any rate.

Hope the BBC SSO are on form

They've got some task, to rival their Welsh counterparts in the first piece which was in their Prom two years ago, under Otaka, and which I was at. It was an overwhelming performance (and was repeated on TTN last night, by coincidence - worth a listen! )

[kernelbogey]

This might be a revealing concert - I have the impression that Runnicles divides opinion. His way with these two masterpieces will be a bit of a test, for me at any rate.

Hope the BBC SSO are on form

They've got some task, to rival their Welsh counterparts in the first piece which was in their Prom two years ago, under Otaka, and which I was at. It was an overwhelming performance (and was repeated on TTN last night, by coincidence - worth a listen! )

I'm contemplating travelling up to London for this concert, and wondering what the divisions of opinion over Runnicles imply for the Mahler in particular. I've been impressed by his Wagner, and am tempted to take the risk of the journey + queuing + standing - it's promming only for me at the moment - to find out for myself. But, writing as advocate for my legs and feet, I'd welcome views on Runnicles in Mahler.

Cali, thanks for the heads up on Otaka's 2012 Proms Tallis Fantasia, which I listened to last night on TTN/iPlayer with great relish; and will sample again this morning. It sounded like that audience was suitably bewitched by the playing.

[Nick Armstrong]

Cali, thanks for the heads up on Otaka's 2012 Proms Tallis Fantasia, which I listened to last night on TTN/iPlayer with great relish; and will sample again this morning. It sounded like that audience was suitably bewitched by the playing.

It was a great Prom in all ways but one - the choral sections towards the end of the Ireland piece, and the choral and orchestral contributions in 'Belshazzar' were very good. The blot on the landscape was the ruin that is all that's left of Jonathan Lemalu's voice - agonisingly not fit for purpose, alas, and simply unbearable to listen to.

[Hornspieler]

I'm contemplating travelling up to London for this concert, and wondering what the divisions of opinion over Runnicles imply for the Mahler in particular. I've been impressed by his Wagner, and am tempted to take the risk of the journey + queuing + standing - it's promming only for me at the moment - to find out for myself. But, writing as advocate for my legs and feet, I'd welcome views on Runnicles in Mahler.

.

The orchestra like him - and that's a good start.

Opinion on Mahler's 9th vary. My experience is that some people's interests in Mahler diminish after about the 5th or 6th symphonies, some feel duty bound to listen to his last Symphonic offering and some, like me, will listen only to those of his symphonic works which do not incorporate the participation of a choir.

This is a good orchestra and (IMV) have chosen an attractive programme to display their talents.

HS

[gradus]

Based on hearing several of his broadcast concerts with this orchestra -some cracking good Elgar and Wagner, I'd certainly go. Generally speaking you don't get to conduct at Bayreuth unless you know how to interpret and conduct large-scale orchestral works!
Interested in HS's view that opinions on Mahler 9 vary, not something I'd noticed on here but I suppose that there must be some non-believers!

[Flosshilde]

This might be a revealing concert - I have the impression that Runnicles divides opinion. His way with these two masterpieces will be a bit of a test, for me at any rate.

Hope the BBC SSO are on form

They've got some task, to rival their Welsh counterparts in the first piece which was in their Prom two years ago, under Otaka, and which I was at. It was an overwhelming performance (and was repeated on TTN last night, by coincidence - worth a listen! )

They did a very good Mahler 9 a couple of seasons ago - unfortunately I can't remember if Runnicles conducted .

[Petrushka]

I was present at the BBCSSO Mahler 3 under Runnicles in 2010 and was less than impressed with the orchestra who were clearly tired by the time they came to the last movement of this long work. If I remember correctly, I, and others, found the timpani contribution underpowered throughout which rather compromised the entire evening. Needless to say it wasn't a patch on Abbado and the Lucerne forces a season or three before and I quickly forgot about it.

Runnicles is, however, good at these long works. A Gotterdammerung Prom, this time with the BBCSO, was quite superb though it's since been superseded by last years' unforgettable offering from Barenboim. I was present at both.

To sum up: Runnicles is fine in these massive works but you'd better hope that the BBCSSO is able to deliver for him.

[Flosshilde]

I wouldn't call the 9th 'massive', as the 2nd, 3rd & 8th are.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I wouldn't call the 9th 'massive', as the 2nd, 3rd & 8th are.

Depends which way up you look at it - more staves required vertically for the choir parts, but around the same performance time required as the Second and Eighth.

[Petrushka]

I wouldn't call the 9th 'massive'

Neither did I.

[Flosshilde]

Neither did I.

To sum up: Runnicles is fine in these massive works but you'd better hope that the BBCSSO is able to deliver for him.

in a thread discussing the 9th symphony

[mlb7171]

Please someone bottle Mr Runnicles and give him a programme ABOUT music. His short piece on R3 just before the Mahler began was bliss.

[Flosshilde]

I think they did.

[kernelbogey]

I loved his saying that he had no words to talk about the last movement, that's why we have music.