Prom 12: Andsnes/Mahler CO (26.07.15)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

7.30 p.m.
Royal Albert Hall

Leif Ove Andsnes and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, live at the BBC Proms, complete the cycle of Beethoven Piano Concertos contrasting the Second and Fifth with Stravinsky's Octet.

Stravinsky: Octet
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major 'Emperor', Op 73

Mahler Chamber Orchestra
Leif Ove Andsnes

Leif Ove Andsnes and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra complete their cycle of Beethoven Piano Concertos with Nos. 2 and 5 - the composer's first and final experiments in the genre.
In No. 2 a spacious and lovely central Adagio is framed with Mozartian grace in the outer movements, while the Fifth is the composer's last word on the subject - a musical emancipation of the soloist that anticipates the Romantic concertos of Beethoven's successors. Looking to the musical past for inspiration once again, Stravinsky's Octet pastiches the forms and textures of the 18th century, colouring them with a mood and mischief all his own.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I don't suppose someone will attempt to renumber the Beethoven Piano Concertos, reversing 1 & 2? The ABRSM has attempted at this with the piano sonatas.

[Roehre]

I don't suppose someone will attempt to renumber the Beethoven Piano Concertos, reversing 1 & 2? The ABRSM has attempted at this with the piano sonatas.

Starting with WoO4 as no.1 I suppose?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Starting with WoO4 as no.1 I suppose?

http://beethoven-sonatas.com/sonatas.html

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I think the lid has to be off to conduct from the keyboard.

[edashtav]

Oh dear, where are the reviews not only responding to the ultimate concert of this Beethoven concerti season but to the series as a whole? Sometimes, For3's attention to minutiae, aka to lift or not to lift the lid, drives me towards madness. For me, this series has been a triumph of enlightenment and has set a standard for future performances of these wonderful works.

I'll start with a parenthesis: Stravinsky's Octet was the first piece of Igor's that I bought on an imported LP about 50 years ago At the time , I was surprised that it was a "conducted" performance. It was full of warts and blemishes, but it was a coherent performance controlled by one man's vision. Tonight's performance was in stark contrast: I loved many virtuosic soli and concerted riffs but failed to enjoy the whole performance that was less than the sum of these brilliant moments. I wanted a tad less individual brilliance and a deal more concern for overall structure, consistency, momentum and shape. I took away many revelations but was ultimately unsatisfied.

Back to the 2nd or first Beethoven PC. I missed its first movement, enjoyed the lyricism and beauty of its slow movement and then fell in love with its finale. It was suffused with colour, sprightly, dancing rhythms and exuded a great zest for life. Wonderful music-making, led from the front, aka the keyboard, by Leif Ove Andsnes. That he found such freshness and vibrancy having given so many performances with this band over the last few years spoke volumes of his searching and ever questing intellect. Is he a 21st century Alfred Brendel, I ask?

The Emperor performance rounded the series in majestic, but not tub-thumping, style. I want to talk about the transition from the adagio into the Rondo finale. Firstly, the string project a figure and a rhythmic pattern tentatively as if inert, organic molecules are wriggling little by little into alignment and connection in the moments before life started. I loved the fine balance between the two horns separated by an octave with the lower part sounding (for once) equal creating a black, mood, as if within a primeval soup of molecules, sterile in themselves but capable of supporting ... LIFE:. Oh the blaze of ff joy that erupted as Leif picked up the tentative wriggle of the strings and projected it as the life force. A magical moment, and the vibrancy, energy and momentum never let up to the end of the work. A triumph, and what a coup for the PROMS, these 3 concerts will live long in my memory and will be a standard of measurement of Beethoven piano concerti for years to come. Thank you to Leif, the MCO and to the BBC for letting so many of us share in this magic!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Oh dear, where are the reviews not only responding to the ultimate concert of this Beethoven concerti season but to the series as a whole? Sometimes, For3's attention to minutiae, aka to lift or not to lift the lid, drives me towards madness. For me, this series has been a triumph of enlightenment and has set a standard for future performances of these wonderful works.

You are of course quite right to say this. To be honest, my trite remark was just an excuse to bring the thread to the top of the list, having failed to do so before the concert began.

Thank you, edashtav, for such a perceptive review of the concert.

[VodkaDilc]

A wonderful conclusion to the Beethoven Concerto cycle. I'm surprised that so few people have commented on it. The 5th was stunning - especially the orchestral detail, some of which I'd never heard before.

There was a lovely warm feeling in the hall. I hope the radio audience was allowed to hear all the encores.

[Ferretfancy]

A wonderful conclusion to the Beethoven Concerto cycle. I'm surprised that so few people have commented on it. The 5th was stunning - especially the orchestral detail, some of which I'd never heard before.

There was a lovely warm feeling in the hall. I hope the radio audience was allowed to hear all the encores.

Total agreement! This was one of the finest performances of the 5th that I've heard in many years of performances. I walked down to South Kensington station,feeling glad not to have to chat, with the performances still ringing in my ears. Quite wonderful!

[edashtav]

You've caught its spirit, Vodka & Ferret !

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

You've caught its spirit, Vodka & Ferret !

Ah! You've been to the Tadcaster "Adventurous Cocktails" club, too!

[teamsaint]

Listening on iplayer radio, the presentation seems shambolic.

Anybody else found this?
Music coming through fine though.

[edashtav]

Ah! You've been to the Tadcaster "Adventurous Cocktails" club, too!

Ha Ha - I'd better copyright that catchy name.

[Nick Armstrong]

Oh dear, where are the reviews not only responding to the ultimate concert of this Beethoven concerti season but to the series as a whole? .... A triumph, and what a coup for the PROMS, these 3 concerts will live long in my memory and will be a standard of measurement of Beethoven piano concerti for years to come. Thank you to Leif, the MCO and to the BBC for letting so many of us share in this magic!

Thanks for this overview review, Ed. A friend of mine (whom I'm trying to persuade to join the Forum) wrote this in another internet place:

This evening, at the Proms, Leif Ove Andsnes is both playing and directing Beethoven 2nd & 5th Piano Concertos with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. We went on Thursday and on Friday (there were loads of empty seats) to hear 1,3, 4 and the Choral Fantasy. Any musician of any instrument or voice should go and hear him play if you can. He really is the most incredible pianist and musician. His phrasing and line are immaculate and I've never heard a piano sound so beautiful all the time. Cancel anything you are doing and go to the RAH this evening - you won't be disappointed, I promise!

Says it all, in conjunction with your post Ed.

.

[edashtav]

[COLOR="#0000FF"]
Thank for this overview review, Ed. A friend of mine (whom I'm trying to persuade to join the Forum) wrote this in another internet place:

This evening, at the Proms, Leif Ove Andsnes is both playing and directing Beethoven 2nd & 5th Piano Concertos with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. We went on Thursday and on Friday (there were loads of empty seats) to hear 1,3, 4 and the Choral Fantasy. [ my size change]

]

Goodness gracious me... EMPTY SEATS ... YE GODS What sacrilege!