Prom 1: First Night of the Proms (17.07.15)

[Serial_Apologist]

I enjoyed the Mozart on R3, heard a bit of the Sibelius which seemed well played but didn't bother with the Walton. I always think it peaks immediately with that stunning intro, then goes downhill to boredom very quickly.

Oh I dunno - for sheer fascistic, jingoistic imperialistic indulgence, the procession of the gods has little to equal it. Ahinton has opined elsewhere that Walton didn't think much of Elgar, but this (and later film music) passages suggest otherwise, to me at any rate. I'd almost be prepared to go out and fight for King & Country on the strengths of that march! I would agree that from that point on is one overlong poke, and that the work is over front-loaded.

[Ferretfancy]

A good start. I love the Mozart piano concertos, but I didn't get the impression that Lars Vogt really does. It was certainly a forthright performance with some nice quiet playing from time to time, but too matter of fact for me. From where I was standing in the Arena the piano sound was very metallic and stark, which perhaps served to emphasis Vogt's style of playing.
The planning of this concert was rather odd. It must have seemed a nice idea to have two different approaches to the wicked old Babylonian, but the Sibelius rather got lost in the spaces of the Albert Hall. It's mainly quiet and lyrical, predominantly slow, and it seemed an odd precursor to the Walton.

Belshazzar's Feast was stunning in the hall, and Christopher Maltman was excellent. I was talking earlier to a prommer who was looking forward to hearing the piece for the first time, and he certainly was not disappointed! We were very nicely placed to hear those antiphonal brass bands make their full impact.

Now for the Beethoven marathon!

[wenotsoira]

The D minor Mozart piano concerto is a big work of great genius, that has definite Beethovian echoes. Last night it was was a boring, unmusical, and lacklustre performance.

If you want to hear a great musicain perform it, listen to Maria João Pires. Her first note has more musical understanding than the whole performance from last night. He is no Mozart player, whatever he thinks.

[Stanfordian]

The D minor Mozart piano concerto is a big work of great genius, that has definite Beethovian echoes. Last night it was was a boring, unmusical, and lacklustre performance.

If you want to hear a great musicain perform it, listen to Maria João Pires. Her first note has more musical understanding than the whole performance from last night. He is no Mozart player, whatever he thinks.

Hiya wenotsoira,

I agree and actually turned off Lars Vogt's lacklustre performance of the piano concerto. Yes Maria João Pires is superb, one of a small group of pianists that includes Argerich and Pollini who are in a different class.

[DracoM]

Have to agree. This is deffo NOT a memorable First Night.
Crumbs.

Made even Summer CD Review seem exciting.

[Nick Armstrong]

The D minor Mozart piano concerto... If you want to hear a great musicain perform it, listen to Maria João Pires

Couldn't agree more.

And a belated welcome to you, wenotsoira.

(I wonder how long it will be before curiosity gets the better of me and I send you a PM to enquire as to the origin of your intriguing nom de plume... )

[Tony Halstead]

Couldn't agree more.

And a belated welcome to you, wenotsoira.

(I wonder how long it will be before curiosity gets the better of me and I send you a PM to enquire as to the origin of your intriguing nom de plume... )

'ARIOSTO NEW' backwards?

[Nick Armstrong]

'ARIOSTO NEW' backwards?

So it is.....

I did start to try and read it backwards before posting but my brain didn't piece it together

You must be a wizz at that 'tune played backwards' game on R3 in the mornings, Tone...!

[Tony Halstead]

So it is.....

I did start to try and read it backwards before posting but my brain didn't piece it together

You must be a wizz at that 'tune played backwards' game on R3 in the mornings, Tone...!

Er, um, I have been known to 'get it right' occasionally...

[Barbirollians]

We are getting Pires in K488 with Haitink though later in the Proms - and Leonskaja in K482 and youngsters Piemontesi,Fray and Levitt in K537, K491 and K595 I think that order .

Shame they didn't ask Perahia along instead yesterday !

[LeMartinPecheur]

Did anyone pick up on KD's announcement (if I heard correctly) that during the Proms we'd be getting ALL SIX of the great late Mozart piano concertos?

Have I missed an announcement that Constanze has now been proved to have written several of them???

To be charitable, I suppose she may have been writing off the Coronation from the '20 upwards' group, but if so I'm not at all sure that the 'great' ones start with K466.

K271 maybe...?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Have I missed an announcement that Constanze has now been proved to have written several of them???

[Tony Halstead]

We are getting Pires in K488 with Haitink though later in the Proms - and Leonskaja in K482 and youngsters Piemontesi,Fray and Levitt in K537, K491 and K595 I think that order .

Shame they didn't ask Perahia along instead yesterday !

They probably DID, but I'm sure he's much too expensive...

[Barbirollians]

K271 is a desert island work for me .

[Ferretfancy]

K271 is a desert island work for me .

You are in the best of company,it was Alfred Brendel's favourite as well.

PS I assume it still is!