Prom 14: Prokofiev piano concertos (28.07.15)

[edashtav]

Perhaps it was simply a case, as he said in interview, that he had lived with the second for years but Gergiev had ( presumably recently ) asked him to learn the fifth. Certainly the reservations I expressed upthread about the programming were not justified and the evening did in fact work.

I didn't hear that comment from Sergei, zola, because of a computer glitch at my end, but it could be the reason. It would be interesting to know whether Babayin played the 5th in Gergiev's first concert of all 5 concerti with his Russian orchestra back in 2012. I felt that Babayin viewed the 5th through heavy, Soviet eyes, whereas I feel it's quite light & frothy in parts.

[Frances_iom]

It would be nice if sometimes he would gently bite his tongue.

If only the BBC would spend its money wisely and send him on a month long Trappist retreat - not worried about him getting 'God' but maybe it would induce some reflection before opening his mouth.

[Daniel]

... The central section with burgeoning brass sounded momentarily as if Prokofiev were saying, If I wanted to, I could out-Rach Rach.”

Ha, ha, I know what you mean (though the emotional chasm between them means to my ears they're always playing in very different fields. The former's neurotic energy is a much steelier force than Rachmaninov's desperate clinging to a storm-tossed mast.)

I only heard Trifonov in the First Concerto from tonight's concert, which is a piece that seems to brim with the sort self-confidence which Rachmaninov never seemed to find. My listening wasn't in ideal circumstances, but Trifonov's predisposition for vehemence and tenderness by the barrowful, certainly seemed plugged in tonight! Will be interested to hear the rest.

Quite a virtuoso performance from you too tonight, edashtav! Very interesting reading your thoughts.

[edashtav]

Ha, ha, I know what you mean (though the emotional chasm between them means to my ears they're always playing in very different fields. The former's neurotic energy is a much steelier force than Rachmaninov's desperate clinging to a storm-tossed mast.)

I only heard Trifonov in the First Concerto from tonight's concert, which is a piece that seems to brim with the sort self-confidence which Rachmaninov never seemed to find. :

[my emphasis]

Hold that thought, Daniel: I like it!

[Norrette]

Excellent evening. I'm not musically trained as are most of the posters on here, but I agree with the discussions around Babayan and Trifinov.

The 4th & 5th were premieres at the proms, and I doubt if they would have received such an audience if they were programmed alone. The order was interesting, I felt I ought to concentrate a bit more on the last two to give the cycle some completion as I hadn't heard either before (nor even the 2nd which I found interesting enough to look for a copy). I liked the way Gergiev held back - this wasn't his concert. I think he felt Volodin needed more applause as he held his left-hand up pointedly.

An encore of sorts was hoped for when all three pianists returned to the stage (there was enough time) but Gergiev closed the piano keyboard - maybe he thought never again?

The 3rd was fantastic, as was Trifonov.

I'm still exhausted...

[slarty]

An encore of sorts was hoped for when all three pianists returned to the stage (there was enough time) but Gergiev closed the piano keyboard - maybe he thought never again?...

It is not the first time Gergiev has programmed this concert, last year in Stockholm, as part of the Baltic Sea Festival, he gave the same concert with the Mariinsky Orchestra and the following soloists
No1 Olli Mustonen
No2 Alexei Volodin
No3 Behzod Abduraimov
No4 Alexei Volodin
No5 Olli Mustonen
25th August Stockholm
Gergiev obviously felt the idea was worth repeating.

[edashtav]

It is not the first time Gergiev has programmed this concert, last year in Stockholm, as part of the Baltic Sea Festival, he gave the same concert with the Mariinsky Orchestra and the following soloists
No1 Olli Mustonen
No2 Alexei Volodin
No3 Behzod Abduraimov
No4 Alexei Volodin
No5 Olli Mustonen
25th August Stockholm
Gergiev obviously felt the idea was worth repeating.

It's interesting that Olli Mustonen completed the cycle on that occasion.
I'm wondering whether Gergiev invited Sergei Babayan to undertake the 5th at the Proms specifically because he knew that Babayan would bring a heavy attack with him that would turn a work that at times sounds almost like a divertissement into a more epic end to the evening.

To my mind, Babayan and the G minor concerto are chalk and cheese.

[Norrette]

Gergiev obviously felt the idea was worth repeating.

Aha...

[slarty]

In fact I have just read that Gergiev began this concept at a subscription concert in St Petersburg at the Mariinsky in 2012.

It is fascinating to hear the different sets of Soloists from both concerts. (2014 & last night)
The soloists are on a par with each other - the orchestras also - the Hall acoustic is radically different - I think I prefer Stockholm.

[Nick Armstrong]

Particularly fascinating to read this thread! As it turned out I was unable to listen to any of the concert... yet...

To add to the mix, here's Tim Ashley's view: http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2...-london-review

[edashtav]

Thanks for pointing out Tim Ashley's perceptive "quart in a pint pot" review, Cali.

I loved the Guardian picture of the triumphant trio - quite a study in how attire can tire after a night of frenzy on the keyboard. Sergei Babayan, in particular, is a great study: the cherubic man who last bought a shirt & tie when he was a lean Teddy Boy.

[Nick Armstrong]

Thanks for pointing out Tim Ashley's perceptive "quart in a pint pot" review, Cali.

I loved the Guardian picture of the triumphant trio - quite a study in how attire can tire after a night of frenzy on the keyboard. Sergei Babayan, in particular, is a great study: the cherubic man who last bought a shirt & tie when he was a lean Teddy Boy.

[edashtav]

Boarders may like to compare that review with Ivan Hewett's in the Daily Telegraph. I'm quoting his final paragraphs and then comparing those with a column he wrote earlier as an introduction to the 2015 Proms:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/proms/11765366/PROM-14-Prokofiev-Piano-Concertos-review-.html

It ends:

However these little islands of charm or mystery couldn’t dispel a sense that the evening was fundamentally misconceived. One piano concerto by Prokofiev in an evening is as much as any musical person can reasonably stand. Why did the BBC force all five on us? Presumably out of a conviction that placed thus side-by-side, we could see a progression over 20 years.

The problem was that there is no progression. When Prokofiev composed the 5th concerto in 1932 he was exactly the same combination of naïf and show-off that he was in 1912, when he composed the 1st. From 7pm until 10.15pm we were trapped in the same musical magic toy-box of eccentric little marches, rushing virtuosity, and cartoon modernism. By the end, I was dying to be let out.

Before the Prom Season our Ivan wrote in Proms 2015 “10 Things Not to Miss”:

For sheer energy and brilliant displays of pianistic virtuosity this is surely the Prom to go for. All five of Sergey Prokofiev’s piano concertos will be performed, by pianists Daniil Trifonov, Sergei Babayan and Alexei Volodin.


What happened to Ivan- did he meet our Alpie en route to RAH, I wonder?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

... Ivan Hewett: "One piano concerto by Prokofiev in an evening is as much as any musical person can reasonably stand."

How on earth would he know?!

[edashtav]

fhg

As Ivan, the Terrible once said, "These traitors have rejected God’s Chosen One…."

He nearly added:

"If these Boarders are not punished my hegemony over the kingdom of modern music will fall into ruin."