Prom 66 - 6.09.14: JSB - St. Matthew Passion, Berlin PO / Rattle

[LeMartinPecheur]

[QUOTE=Dphillipson;427201]

. . . innovative staging of Bach's St Matthew Passion . . ."

Well it was fast . . . too fast for the Anglican or choral society tradition, and I'd conjecture too fast for people who wanted to relish Bach's dissonances and rhythms, let alone pray or meditate. The first chorus suggested irresistibly those performances hurried so as to avoid needing to pay overtime to hall support staff. I could not hear what was supposed to be innovative in the voices or instrumental performances.

When I saw that RT had the slot for this Prom running to 11pm I was concerned about a clash with Match of the Day at 10.20, so I was very impressed when Rattle finished spot on that time

Just one small point - because of the break for internationals there wasn't a MotD...

[Alison]

The Bach was better than the Rach.

[antongould]

This Forum always delights, but occasionally puzzles me......as I think has happened before the performances of the Berlin Phil have generated very little comment. Why is this I wonder? Is there a fear of either burying them or praising them? I have yet to hear the full Saturday performance but I enjoyed the Russian evening; but then I always find their "sound" wonderful ....

[doversoul1]

I avoided this prom. Call me narrow minded, prejudiced, stuck in the past or whatever, I really did not like the thought of this work being turned into a stage spectacle, including the very watchable Simon Rattle's conducting, no matter how excellent the performance may have been.

[amac4165]

[QUOTE=LeMartinPecheur;427300]

When I saw that RT had the slot for this Prom running to 11pm I was concerned about a clash with Match of the Day at 10.20, so I was very impressed when Rattle finished spot on that time

Just one small point - because of the break for internationals there wasn't a MotD...

By the watch it was quite brisk - and came in well under time - although did not seem that fast in the hall. I was about 5 rows back in the area so near enough to see the "action".

There were good points and bad points about the "staging". It certain had a look and feel of some extended "Coping with Grief - self help therapy session" although the soloists standing along side the singers was a clever touch.

As soloists and choir were "off music" it certainly fared better - none that business with the choirs and their noses buried in scores all turning pages hurriedly.

amac

[Lento]

It may well have been better on radio, though I could have done without the larger-than-life soloists' sound balance.

Yes, why do they do it? The orchestral details were almost inaudible to me at times, and I could have done with a much less "in your face" sound from some of the singers (no names).

[Prommer]

I hugely enjoyed this in the Hall, as did Mrs Prommer and she is NOT easily pleased…And a 45 second blessed silence before any applause at the end.