Prom 9: Andsnes/Mahler CO (23.07.15)

[Tony Halstead]

I'm a touchy northerner.

So am I

[edashtav]

I loved the sound that the Mahler CO made in Stravinsky's Apollon musagète: their clarity, wonderful intonation, grace and precision made for an exciting and fresh performance. This really was chamber music and it set a standard that will be hard to beat. Were I to utter a criticism it would be that some detailing was overdone and became "mannered". That, perhaps, is due to the lack of an external judge, in matters of taste a conductor is more likely to challenge what seems "lovely" to the players but may appear excessive or otiose to the audience. however , the verve , freshness and rhythmic vitality were astonishing and,to me, a tonic. The complete absence of RAH "mush" was a revelation. The "white ballet" Apollon musagète projects the chameleon, lounge lizard, Igor Stravinsky in his "Mr Cool" garb. This performance caught that aspect of this great composer excellently.

Was the tempo chosen for the Apotheosis a tad fast? For my taste, it was a little too "thrown away". But, there I go asking for self-indulgence and one aspect of "Cool" is the avoidance of such tendencies.

[Bryn]

I loved the sound that the Mahler CO made in Stravinsky's Apollon musagète: their clarity, wonderful intonation, grace and precision made for an exciting and fresh performance. This really was chamber music and it set a standard that will be hard to beat. Were I to utter a criticism it would be that some detailing was overdone and became "mannered". That, perhaps, is due to the lack of an external judge, in matters of taste a conductor is more likely to challenge what seems "lovely" to the players but may appear excessive or otiose to the audience. however , the verve , freshness and rhythmic vitality were astonishing and,to me, a tonic. The complete absence of RAH "mush" was a revelation. The "white ballet" Apollon musagète projects the chameleon, lounge lizard, Igor Stravinsky in his "Mr Cool" garb. This performance caught that aspect of this great composer excellently.

Was the tempo chosen for the Apotheosis a tad fast? For my taste, it was a little too "thrown away". But, there I go asking for self-indulgence and one aspect of "Cool" is the avoidance of such tendencies.

Sound good. I'm saving it for later, via the iPlayer.

[edashtav]

Sound good. I'm saving it for later, via the iPlayer.

Don't miss the 2nd half, Bryn: Leif Ove Andsnes and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra made magic of Beethoven's 4th Piano Concerto in G. The partnership has been touring Beethoven's concerti for years and this experience served them well in this concert. What impressed me most was the delicacy and finesse of quiet passages. Notes were spun into silken gossamer, a souffle of such lightness that it threatened to float away into the night.Such a joyful, rapture-filled performance. My stand-out interpretation so far during this Summer's Prom: sublime and unforgettable.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

So am I

[Tevot]

Don't miss the 2nd half, Bryn: Leif Ove Andsnes and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra made magic of Beethoven's 4th Piano Concerto in G. The partnership has been touring Beethoven's concerti for years and this experience served them well in this concert. What impressed me most was the delicacy and finesse of quiet passages. Notes were spun into silken gossamer, a souffle of such lightness that it threatened to float away into the night.Such a joyful, rapture-filled performance. My stand-out interpretation so far during this Summer's Prom: sublime and unforgettable.

Sounds marvellous. Many thanks for your review Ed. I look forward to listening to this and the other concerts. Seems like the Proms have got off to a flying start

Best Wishes,

Tevot

[Bryn]

Don't miss the 2nd half, Bryn: Leif Ove Andsnes and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra made magic of Beethoven's 4th Piano Concerto in G. The partnership has been touring Beethoven's concerti for years and this experience served them well in this concert. What impressed me most was the delicacy and finesse of quiet passages. Notes were spun into silken gossamer, a souffle of such lightness that it threatened to float away into the night.Such a joyful, rapture-filled performance. My stand-out interpretation so far during this Summer's Prom: sublime and unforgettable.

Looks like Part 1, at least the Stravinsky, will have to wait until tomorrow. It's truncated on the iPlayer Listen Agian option at the moment. The interval feature file start early, during the Stravinsky, then itself is truncated, with the end to be found at the start of Part 2. It will probably be sorted by the morning.

[DublinJimbo]

I loved the sound that the Mahler CO made in Stravinsky's Apollon musagète: their clarity, wonderful intonation, grace and precision made for an exciting and fresh performance. This really was chamber music and it set a standard that will be hard to beat. Were I to utter a criticism it would be that some detailing was overdone and became "mannered". That, perhaps, is due to the lack of an external judge, in matters of taste a conductor is more likely to challenge what seems "lovely" to the players but may appear excessive or otiose to the audience. however , the verve , freshness and rhythmic vitality were astonishing and,to me, a tonic. The complete absence of RAH "mush" was a revelation. The "white ballet" Apollon musagète projects the chameleon, lounge lizard, Igor Stravinsky in his "Mr Cool" garb. This performance caught that aspect of this great composer excellently.

Was the tempo chosen for the Apotheosis a tad fast? For my taste, it was a little too "thrown away". But, there I go asking for self-indulgence and one aspect of "Cool" is the avoidance of such tendencies.

I have to agree about the glorious sound of the Mahler CO in what remains one of my favourite 20th-Century works. Listening to this performance was like meeting an old friend after many years, feeling utterly at ease with the reunion and being able to take up where we left off all that while ago. Absolutely delightful (even allowing for the coughs and splutters from the audience).

Later edit:

Looks like Part 1, at least the Stravinsky, will have to wait until tomorrow. It's truncated on the iPlayer Listen Agian option at the moment. The interval feature file start early, during the Stravinsky, then itself is truncated, with the end to be found at the start of Part 2. It will probably be sorted by the morning.

What a mess! I was totally involved in the Stravinsky which was warming up to the glorious apotheosis … and it was unceremoniously cut off. Talk about a let-down!

[edashtav]

I, too, have noted that the iPlayer's first musical offerings, which arrive much earlier than in 2014, seem to be edited by robots programmed to be insensitive with their use of scissors. Later revisions do effect repairs but the damage that can be suffered by early birds such as DublinJimbo can be severe.

[Stanfordian]

Don't miss the 2nd half, Bryn: Leif Ove Andsnes and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra made magic of Beethoven's 4th Piano Concerto in G. The partnership has been touring Beethoven's concerti for years and this experience served them well in this concert. What impressed me most was the delicacy and finesse of quiet passages. Notes were spun into silken gossamer, a souffle of such lightness that it threatened to float away into the night.Such a joyful, rapture-filled performance. My stand-out interpretation so far during this Summer's Prom: sublime and unforgettable.

Hiya edashtav,

These Beethoven piano concertos and the Stravinsky ballets should be engrained in the players's mind. I saw Leif Ove Andsnes and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra tour with this programme at the Semper Opera, Dresden in May 2013.

[edashtav]

Hiya edashtav,

These Beethoven piano concertos and the Stravinsky ballets should be engrained in the players's mind. I saw Leif Ove Andsnes and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra tour with this programme at the Semper Opera, Dresden in May 2013.

Clearly, it's remained in your memory , Charles Villiers, and it's my bet that you'll find their performances have got even better!

[VodkaDilc]

Most enjoyable. It seemed a bit odd to be looking at Leif's back, but it was obviously the best arrangement for the players. I wondered about the acoustic implications of having the lid removed, rather than in the usual position, which throws the sound out to the audience. If anything I felt that the power of the piano was lessened, but that gave a magical balance, especially in No 4. (After all, this is Beethoven, not Tchaikovsky, and it was nice to hear the piano blend with the orchestra, rather than dominate it, as so often happens.)

I'm giving tomorrow's (Friday's) concert a miss, but will be back at the RAH on Sunday - certainly something to look forward to.

[Ferretfancy]

This was easily the best Prom so far, and it sounded wonderful from my place about twenty five feet back from the rail. For the benefit of listeners I should say Leif Ove Andsnes sat with the keyboard facing the audience, in the same way that Aimard did a couple of years back, but without the baffles that Aimard used.

The Stravinsky was wonderful, with the cellos in a tight semi-circle with the firsts on the left, seconds behind them, and violas with the single bass on the right.
All the violins and violas played standing, and yes, Matthew Truscott did direct from the violin, Every detail throughout the evening was perfectly clear, and the antiphonal effect during the Stravinsky was very telling, Superb music making

I'm itching to get there for the rest of the cycle.

[Ferretfancy]

This was easily the best Prom so far, and it sounded wonderful from my place about twenty five feet back from the rail. For the benefit of listeners I should say Leif Ove Andsnes sat with the keyboard facing the audience, in the same way that Aimard did a couple of years back, but without the baffles that Aimard used.

The Stravinsky was wonderful, with the cellos in a tight semi-circle with the firsts on the left, seconds behind them, and violas with the single bass on the right.
All the violins and violas played standing, and yes, Matthew Truscott did direct from the violin, Every detail throughout the evening was perfectly clear, and the antiphonal effect during the Stravinsky was very telling, Superb music making

I'm itching to get there for the rest of the cycle.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Stravinsky is having a great Proms season!