Prom 18: Katia & Marielle Labèque (31.07.15)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

7.00 p.m.
Royal Albert Hall


Semyon Bychkov conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra in Shostakovich's epic 7th Symphony. Katia and Marielle Labèque play Mozart's E flat Concerto for two pianos. Live at the BBC Proms

Mozart: Concerto in E flat major for two pianos, K365
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7 in C major, 'Leningrad'

Katia Labèque (piano)
Marielle Labèque (piano)
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Semyon Bychkov (conductor)

Sisters Katia and Marielle Labèque perform Mozart's concerto for two pianos as a complement to our focus on the composer's late piano concertos. Written in the 1770s for Mozart and his own sister 'Nannerl' to perform, it's a work that delights in the interplay of dialogue, with a slow movement that is a tender conversation between friends. Intimacy gives way to epic gestures in Shostakovich's sprawling 'Leningrad' Symphony - one of the giants of the symphonic repertoire, and a passionate musical testament to the 25 million Soviet citizens killed in the Second World War.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I first heard the Labèque sisters when I attended their first ever Prom (early '70s). I was bowled over at the time and have been an non-gushing enthusiast ever since.

[Ferretfancy]

I first heard the Labèque sisters when I attended their first ever Prom (early '70s). I was bowled over at the time and have been an non-gushing enthusiast ever since.

I don't wish to tread on your toes, but the idea of them doing the Mozart fills me with dismay. I'm afraid that with the Labeques it's a case of press the start button and away they
go, still, I'll be there and perhaps be proved wrong.

[David-G]

Just wondering when people think this concert might finish? The R3 schedule has allowed until 21.30. But the Proms listing gives the estimated times for the two parts as 24 minutes + 73 minutes, which with another 20 minutes interval gives just under 2 hours, so it might finish at 21.00. What do people think?

[Flosshilde]

I think your maths is wrong. It starts at 7.30 (according to the first post), so the 2 hours running time you suggest takes it to 9.30, as the R3 schedule says (according to you - I haven't looked at it.)

[Old Grumpy]

I first heard the Labèque sisters when I attended their first ever Prom (early '70s). I was bowled over at the time and have been an non-gushing enthusiast ever since.

Nice interview with the sisters here on In Tune

OG

[jayne lee wilson]

i think your maths is wrong. It starts at 7.30 (according to the first post), so the 2 hours running time you suggest takes it to 9.30, as the r3 schedule says (according to you - i haven't looked at it.)

stop press - note start time.... 19:00.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/en6j5v

[David-G]

I think your maths is wrong. It starts at 7.30 (according to the first post), so the 2 hours running time you suggest takes it to 9.30, as the R3 schedule says (according to you - I haven't looked at it.)

I think the first post is wrong.

[Norrette]

24 mins is very short for a first part, perhaps an encore is anticipated?

[Dave2002]

stop press - note start time.... 19:00.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/en6j5v

I believe that's what it says on the tickets!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I think the first post is wrong.

It was.

[cloughie]

24 mins is very short for a first part, perhaps an encore is anticipated?

I can't see them letting Lesbeques go without one or two!

[bluestateprommer]

I can't see them letting Lesbeques go without one or two!

Yup, they just played the last movement of Philip Glass' Four Movements for Two Pianos as an encore, per DM. Prior to that, several borderline near-scrambled movements in the Mozart, though none of that reflected in the BBC SO's accompaniment, of course.

[Dave2002]

I believe that's what it says on the tickets!

Encore? Philip Glass perhaps?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

And now for Shostakovich's Bolero.