Prom 39 - 15.08.14: BBC SSO, Biss / Stenz

[PJPJ]

please tell me this is a picture of the wrong Strauss
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p024x93g

Here's the whole photograph of that other Strauss (does no-one check these things?) with his old pal.

[mercia]

thank you

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Here's the whole photograph of that other Strauss (does no-one check these things?) with his old pal.

Ah, yes; Caryl Brahms.

[Serial_Apologist]

Here's the whole photograph of that other Strauss (does no-one check these things?) with his old pal.

Isn't that wonderful, that shot! - even a snatch of The Blue Danube under the photo.

[bluestateprommer]

A blatant case of music played because it bears Mozart's name, not because of its qualities.

There's actually a tiny bit more to it than that, for the simple reason that Mozart composed this symphony in 1764, which Tom Service alluded to when without mentioning the year as such. Hence it fits the 'anniversary' theme of this BBC SSO Prom:

(1) Rameau (acknowledgement of his death in 1764)
(2) Bernard Rands (80th birthday year)
(3) Mozart, Symphony No. 1, composed in 1764 (thus 250th anniversary)
(4) Richard Strauss (150th anniversary year)

It was pleasantly surprising to hear Markus Stenz state at the start of the broadcast that this was a "crazy program". In the event, actually, I thought it worked rather well, as a display of the BBC SSO's versatility, as they were on strong form throughout. You could hear the orchestra ranging from the lighter, chamber scale in Mozart and Rameau, along with minimized vibrato, to the much larger scale of Richard Strauss, with great style. JB did a fine job in the Rands concerto, even if it was of erratic quality, with some moments more interesting than others (par for the course with hearing new works). MS took the Strauss definitely at a brisk pace, and also with a lighter feel, perhaps trying to minimize any perceived pomposity and self-glorification (although quoting his own music makes that impression unavoidable). Terrific work from Laura Samuel, to add to the praise for her, as the hero's companion.

One rather endearing set of tiny moments was hearing Markus Stenz's vocal reactions from the podium after the Rameau and the Strauss, respectively:

JPR & WAM: "Yes.."
RS: "Awesome...."

Sounds like a very happy conductor to me. In fact, one can read too much and wonder if, down the line, given MS' reactions there, the BBC SSO might have him on their list for their future post-Runnicles. (Of course, who knows what name the BBC SSO will have by then......)