Prom 15: Prokofiev, Qigang Chen & Rachmaninov (29.07.15)

[DracoM]

In the Rachmaninov, decent playing by the orchestra, but some ensemble work showed sloppy indiscipline - felt as if the beat in the most intricately wrought passages was vague.

[edashtav]

Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2 in E minor
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Xian Zhang (conductor)

As in part 1 of this concert, the music-making had lustre and polish. Were the brutal impact of fatalism & pessimism that are essential elements of Rachmaninov’s character a little under-etched? I fear so. What’s undeniable is that Xian showed an enviable ear for characterising a phrase and for moulding phrases into the muscle & structure of movements. When I remember the “BBC Welsh” orchestra of my youth, tonight’s high quality of playing surpassed belief. Put the 3 BBC orchestras head to head with their better interpretations and it would be difficult to predict the winner. That’s surely in the cap of BBC and 3 reasons to fight for its continued existence in the face of reactionary calls for its work to be stream-lined or reduced in scope. Where are the house orchestras on Sky Media?

I admired Xian Zhang’s chasteness. That moment so early in the scherzo when the tempo slackens and a window opens revealing a soaring melody from Tchaikovsky’s book of big tunes was handled with tact and sensitivity – there was no sentimentality and the whole scena acted for me as a premonition of the another pregnant moment that appears three decades later, led by a saxophone, in the Symphonic Dances when evening bells tinkle to introduce a sad old Russian song sung as if by a Babuskha.

I enjoyed the transparency that Xian Zhang and her orchestra brought to the slow movement. Again, there was grace, delicacy and sweetness but no over-hyped saccharine quality – the music remained symphony and absolute. Balance between strings and brass was at one point pure delight allowing us to savour the harmonies.

Could the finale have benefited from more verve & brio at its start? There was detail and balance aplenty to enjoy but the orchestra played well within its elastic limit. The subsequent slowing was a little too much for my liking although that gave the upper strings room for some winning expressiveness. However, leaving fuel in the tank, Xien Zhang left room for a glorious, tight and colourful peroration. Well done!
I came to love Rachmaninov very late in life after a youth and middle age spent in restlessly wrestling with the avant-garde. Only a few performances have convinced me of his worth & standing, and I’m pleased to include this evening’s as one which added to my knowledge & admiration of his work.

My word, we’ve had some fine concerts this Prom season and July is still with us!

[gedsmk]

Pleasant rather than earth shattering.

Unlike that fantastic performance of the Rachmaninov 2nd! Where did all those double basses spring up from?! On my tiny earplugs it was full-on romantic, dramatic, wide-screen David Lean stuff, and I loved every second of it.

[bluestateprommer]

Last notes just sounded of Rach 2. Xian Zhang and the BBC NOW really went to town with it, in the best possible way. Any 'grittiness' that I sensed from the Prokofiev (BTW, I didn't actually have major reservations as such, but never mind) was swept aside, with the orchestra really sounding rich and extrovert. Any trims that XZ said that she made weren't immediately obvious to me, and the concert still ran well over 2.5 hours with intermission (so good value for money). Applause between all the movements of the symphony, but then it occurred to me that maybe a small portion of them are newbies who are in the area also for (mainly) the Late Night Pete Tong-themed Prom, and wanted to catch both.

[edashtav]

In the Rachmaninov, decent playing by the orchestra, but some ensemble work showed sloppy indiscipline - felt as if the beat in the most intricately wrought passages was vague.

I didn't hear that issue, DracoM, but I do accept that the conductor allows her orchestra a degree of trust & responsibility.

[Barbirollians]

Last notes just sounded of Rach 2. Xian Zhang and the BBC NOW really went to town with it, in the best possible way. Any 'grittiness' that I sensed from the Prokofiev (BTW, I didn't actually have major reservations as such, but never mind) was swept aside, with the orchestra really sounding rich and extrovert. Any trims that XZ said that she made weren't immediately obvious to me, and the concert still ran well over 2.5 hours with intermission (so good value for money). Applause between all the movements of the symphony, but then it occurred to me that maybe a small portion of them are newbies who are in the area also for (mainly) the Late Night Pete Tong-themed Prom, and wanted to catch both.

Did she really cut Rachmaninov 2 ? Are we going back the musical dark ages when conductors thought they knew better than the composer ?

[edashtav]

Yes, I think so, but very few bars were lost , some sections that are repeated were played just the once. I'm unsure whether there were first time bar omissions.

[Opsimath]

Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2 in E minor
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Xian Zhang (conductor)

Put the 3 BBC orchestras head to head with their better interpretations and it would be difficult to predict the winner.

3 BBC Orchestras? Have John Whittingdale's appointees already spoken?

[edashtav]

3 BBC Orchestras? Have John Whittingdale's appointees already spoken?

Whoops - if I'd have added "symphony" would I have avoided the Whip?

[Bryn]

Whoops - if I'd have added "symphony" would I have avoided the Whip?

No. Had you used "Symphony", maybe, but all five (plus the Ulster Orchestra) are symphony orchestras, surely?

[edashtav]

Nice technicality, Bryn - Do I prefer for the Whip or do you prefer to use a cane?