Prom 22: Aurora Orchestra (2.08.15)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

15:30
Royal Albert Hall

Francesco Piemontesi, the Aurora Orchestra and Nicholas Collon live at the BBC Proms, with a programme of Brett Dean, Mozart, Anna Meredith and Beethoven.

Brett Dean: Pastoral Symphony
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 26 in D major, K537 'Coronation'
Anna Meredith: Smatter Hauler (BBC commission) (world premiere)
Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F major 'Pastoral'

Francesco Piemontesi (piano)
Aurora Orchestra
Nicholas Collon (conductor)

The Aurora Orchestra staged a Proms first last year when it performed Mozart's Symphony No. 40 from memory. Now the dynamic young ensemble returns to continue this season's sequence of family-friendly matinees, giving Beethoven's 'Pastoral' Symphony the same direct, communicative treatment. It is paired with Australian composer Brett Dean's own homage to nature - a work, he explains, inspired by 'glorious birdsong, the threat that it faces, the loss, and the soulless noise that we're left with when they're all gone'. Former BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist Francesco Piemontesi joins the orchestra for Mozart's late 'Coronation' Concerto, and the afternoon also features the premiere of a new commission from British composer Anna Meredith - also performed from memory by a mixed ensemble of Aurora Orchestra players and young musicians aged 15 - 23.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Playing from memory? I get stuck on Frère Jacques.

[Serial_Apologist]

Playing from memory? I get stuck on Frère Jacques.

A minor consideration.

I'm looking forward to the Brett Dean. Australia hasn't produced many especially noteworthy composers, (I'm in the mood for puns today), but Mr Dean is one of them. He writes powerful modern music; and, most important of all, he CARES.

[doversoul1]

CD Review 1 July 9.30am
Proms Composer: Brett Dean

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b063zn71

[Serial_Apologist]

CD Review 1 July 9.30am
Proms Composer: Brett Dean
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b063zn71

Thanks, dovers.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

A minor consideration.

Are you referring to the mode, or to the significance of playing from memory? If the latter, I do agree, though it would be useful to have that skill.
.

[Serial_Apologist]

Are you referring to the mode, or to the significance of playing from memory? If the latter, I do agree, though it would be useful to have that skill.
.

The mode - and I speak not of fashion!

[David Underdown]

As I've commented on the Verdi Req thread, be aware that there will be many road closures around SW London on Sunday to due to the RideLondon cycle race.

[Serial_Apologist]

As I've commented on the Verdi Req thread, be aware that there will be many road closures around SW London on Sunday to due to the RideLondon cycle race.

Bl**dy cyclists!

[mercia]

I'm just trying to decide if some instruments have an advantage over others in memorising a Beethoven symphony. Instruments with lots of notes (strings) or an instrument with fewer notes but lots of bars rest to remember, like timpani.

Are they setting up a challenge for all orchestras to play from memory ? It surely can't be practical.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Depends what is meant by "practical", I suppose: they won't have to transport Music stands, there'll be greater space on the stage, players won't arrive on stage to see that the librarian has put out the wrong parts - and greater encouragement to respond to the conductor and each other. So long as someone reminds them "Beethoven Pastoral" as they go out on stage to prevent some of them starting off with Le Tombeau de Couperin ...

And, of course, the lack of anything to distract the players from the shinnanigans of a conductor whose cavortings don't appeal! I suspect the VPO could perform the Pastoral in their sleep, let alone without Music - whether they would wish to do so ...

No more to memorize than an actor in a stage play, or the soloist in a concerto, or those conductors who conduct from memory. (Sometimes, their own!)

[mlb7171]

Presumably this will end up being one of the annual 'must-haves' of each Prom season that means the director doesn't need to engage brain. The 'from memory' Prom. Can we expect a 'for those affected by issues discussed in tonight's programme, call the Alzheimer Society'? Same lazy programming each year now gives us John Wilson, some kind of event with the BBC Youth choir, Radio 1 Prom I expect to be added to the list. Ad nauseam. I assume Sherlock Holmes has at least replaced Doctor Who this year. God forbid the Proms should start with a blank sheet and try some original programming. Oh hang on, there is an original idea, a woman conducting the last night. Silly me, it was such a success two years ago we decided to do it again. With the same woman too.

[mercia]

Depends what is meant by "practical"

actually I was thinking of rehearsal time - Service, I think, told us this orchestra had to have far more rehearsals than would be available to a 'reading' orchestra which plays many more concerts. But perhaps that is incorrect

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Blimey! They rehearse without Parts?!

Again, though, perhaps it's more like actors using scripts in early rehearsals and dispensing with them in the later ones?

[mercia]

Blimey! They rehearse without Parts?!

well if you don't rehearse without parts, how do you find out if everyone is note perfect ? I heard a bit of the interval feature on memory - I think an opera singer participant said she has to have memorised her part before turning up for rehearsals