Prom 24: MacMillan/Mahler (3.08.15)

[VodkaDilc]

Britten's piano career was almost accidental, was it not? I sensed that he was a reluctant pianist more there to support Peter Pears, than a proud pianist in his own right.

I never had the chance to hear Britten as a pianist in the concert hall, but my experience of hearing his accompaniments on record suggests that he was a considerable pianist in his own right. I thought this was a very widespread view. It seems to me that his lieder and folksong accompaniments have rarely been surpassed.

[teamsaint]

Supermac's Viola Concerto premiere went down pretty well last year, IIRC.

[Serial_Apologist]

3-1 against so far .

Make that 4.

[edashtav]

Did teamsaint nip through with a goal for the oppo, S-A, or was he off-side?

[Serial_Apologist]

Did teamsaint nip through with a goal for the oppo, S-A, or was he off-side?

Ambivalent, from where I'm sitting.

[teamsaint]

Did teamsaint nip through with a goal for the oppo, S-A, or was he off-side?

I think you are confusing me with the real Supermac,( and Cherries Legend as you well know) Ed.

ahem

anyway, thoughts on the Viola Concerto here.

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?10296-LPO-Jurowski-Jan-15-2014/page4&highlight=macmillan

I have tried finding a recording online, but with no success.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Both halves for me in this concert , though I suspect from earlier comments, it will be part (not "episode" ) 2 only for many others.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Both halves for me in this concert , though I suspect from earlier comments, it will be part (not "episode" ) 2 only for many others.

I admit to being a little disappointed by the first hearing of the MacMillan symphony.

[Old Grumpy]

I admit to being a little disappointed by the first hearing of the MacMillan symphony.

Agreed. Interval talk not terribly inspiring either!

OG

[Maclintick]

Agreed. Interval talk not terribly inspiring either!

OG

I was rather underwhelmed by the tricksy super-abundant invention in this piece. Sir James's 4th aspired to be a contender, but came across as an inchoate series of unrelated episodes, an egregious example of "kitchen sinkism", showcasing the full range of "must-have" appliances with little discernible musical logic other than "Here we've got some loud bangy stuff" followed by "now we've got some bell-laden, obviously religious stuff". Quasi-Tippettian string figuration, heavy brass interjections, interspersed with crowd-pleasing chorales. It all seemed relentlessly gestural, and ultimately meaningless. I only heard it on the wireless, however. Perhaps I would have tuned in to more positive vibes had I ventured to South Kensington. Enjoying Runnicles & the BBC Scottish Symphony's GM 5, though.

[Old Grumpy]

Enjoying Runnicles & the BBC Scottish Symphony's GM 5, though.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I admit to being a little disappointed by the first hearing of the MacMillan symphony.

So much taken from Panufnik's Sinfonia Sacra in the first 12+ minutes that he ought to share his Royalties. Then a couple of minutes of watered down Arcana, an extended glimpse of Copland ... and then he settled down into stuff whose provenance I couldn't identify, so I presume was MacMillan. From that point of view, the new material was interesting in that it didn't much resemble the gestures that he's so often recycled in previous works - a suggestion that he wants to move on stylistically. Rather bitty ("one darn thing after another" school of "structure") and not really impressive enough to hold my attention throughout.

Still, I showed willing.

[Nick Armstrong]

Enjoying Runnicles & the BBC Scottish Symphony's GM 5, though.

Only able to hear the scherzo properly so wouldn't presume to judge the performance as a whole, but the orchestral soloists, notably of course the horn, all seem to be bang on form and the whole band playing brilliantly

[kernelbogey]

Terrific Mahler 5: beautiful Adagietto, exciting finale. Beautiful woodwind playing throughout, exciting, gorgeous brass. How Runnicles is becoming a major figure!

[edashtav]

Mahler Symphony no 5 in C minor (Donald Runnicles)

I’ve heard Runnicles and his Scottish band performing Mahler at the Proms in the past but this, IMHO, was their best effort, thus far. Donald’s grip on the minutiae of Mahler’s score was impressive and the musical phrasing that he imposed on the orchestra in the first movement was convincing. No allowances needed to be made: this was Mahler of an international standard and the whole was expertly relayed by the BBC engineers. Runnicles is a passionate man and he projected the tense second movement with rhythmic punch and vehemence. I liked the occasional portamenti in the strings that provided an uncertain contrast through adding fear & denying repose. Was the chorale that tries to bring certainty and faith to the scene too overwhelmingly triumphant – for a time I thought it would win the day?

Over the hills and far away to peasants high in the Alps. The bucolic scene was well characterised as was the intense fugal interruption that cools the festivities and plunges the world into Tchaikovskian gloom. I liked the tentative pizzicato that bring weak rays of sunshine and a little hope to a world where innocence has been corrupted. Towards the end of this movement I heard the first signs of tiredness amongst the violins whose chording became ragged. But, Runnicles was giving the heavy brass their head – did that cause the strings to go into “overdrive” in order to sustain a sense of balance?

The Adagietto allows the brass to recharge but the strings must continue to project warmth and compassion. Was the initial pace a tiny bit fast? It certainly provided room for expressive rubati. I was more impressed by the tone of violas and celli in this movement than the two sets of violins. This time, I thought the portamenti were ill-judged: a little “over the top” and unnatural. Definitely, neither the most beautiful nor the best conducted performance of this movement that I’ve heard.

Take it away, horns! Back to a maelstrom. It’s full of disparate elements but with insufficient formal structure these moments are fissiparous. A fierce pace was set that tested the strings near to destruction in their fugato episodes. Nevertheless, many phrases were shaped with insight. I liked Runnicles ability to balance those moments of maximum contrapuntal complexity. The end was an overdriven mess!

To sum up: work in progress, a performance with much to enjoy from an orchestra and conductor that are maturing well. My enthusiasm fell away during the later movements that left me with a question: does Runnicles ask too much, too early & thence too often? Runnicles is a thinker and an illuminator, he’s never boring, & I’m backing him to go from strength to strength.

Now, I note that FHG put himself to the Jimmy MacMillan test and survived to analyse some of its sources. I really must summon some courage and listen to it on iPlayer.