Prom 42: Sibelius – Symphonies 3 & 4 (16.08.15)

[blackalbum]

Hello all

Really enjoying all the discussion.

I was standing reasonably close to the front in the arena and wondered if anyone else was as troubled as I was Julian Rachlin's loud breathing in and out as I was during the concerto? His playing was excellent but I would this very distracting. Was it audible on the radio?

And did anyone catch what his encore was? I heard him say it was someone's third ballade, and not Sibelius', but I didn't hear who it was!

Thank you all...

[zola]

Hello all

And did anyone catch what his encore was? I heard him say it was someone's third ballade, and not Sibelius', but I didn't hear who it was!

Thank you all...

Ysaye.

[blackalbum]

Thank you...

[Treehorn]

First time posting, just listening back so far to Sibelius 3 on the iplayer. Just interested to hear what you think of the radio sound. To me it sounds very stage present. As in you can hear the conductor's breathing, bow noise and like the strings are up close. Is this the sound you like to hear, like you're on the stage, or would you prefer to hear a more blended sound as if you were in the audience?

If there is a separate thread for things like this please direct me to it, I'm not very familiar with how things go here.

Thank you.

[french frank]

Hello Treehorn - and welcome :-)

You're doing fine here. We try to keep the concert board to the specific concerts of the thread title, but as long as people don't stray too far away, there's no problem (and posts could always be moved if there was a spot where they'd attract more notice and response).

[Treehorn]

Thanks frank. Any idea if this would be better situated elsewhere to get some feedback? I am pretty unfamiliar with how this forum works and only accessing it from a phone so please forgive mistakes. Not even sure if this is a public or private message. Anyway thanks.

[jayne lee wilson]

Thanks frank. Any idea if this would be better situated elsewhere to get some feedback? I am pretty unfamiliar with how this forum works and only accessing it from a phone so please forgive mistakes. Not even sure if this is a public or private message. Anyway thanks.

Hey Treehorn, you'll find my own comments upthread in #28.... I though the HDs webcast well-balanced. It would help to know how you were listening - R3 HDs, DAB, FM etc.... they often sound distinct, and FM will sometimes appear to bring sound closer due to dynamic compression... but with equipment, media and ears, it's always a case of... YMMV!

[Nick Armstrong]

SIBELIUS 3.

The extreme high-dynamic-level clarity of the string accompaniments against the brasses in the first climax set the tone for an almost faultless Third Symphony, outstanding for its tempo giusto, its firmness of phrase and architectural shaping of the outer movements; then, the poetry of those otherworldly voices drawn so subtly from the carefully-balanced textures in the andantino. Volkov seemed to ignore the "con moto" indication here; personally I do prefer the pace a little crisper, but so beautiful was his realisation, I was won over.

How natural the reduction of dynamic and tempo felt, at the start of the first Allegro's development ("organic' is the apt but overworked expression), how individually the winds and horns sang out into the large resonant space (sounding more confident, perhaps getting used to the acoustic on their second night). What a coda too - warm, full, strings; horns & winds clear, true and vibrant.

At first, I wondered if the scherzo-finale transition was just a touch laboured, the tempi a shade over-moderated; but no, Volkov had judged the acceleration perfectly to a calm, serene and joyful conclusion. Excellent!

As with a good Haydn symphony performance, Sibelius' 3rd should ideally seem to play itself, the conductor merely setting things in motion, with a firm but gentle guiding hand. Slow movement perhaps excepted, this performance came close to that particular ideal.

[/I]

I just happened to be able to catch the afternoon re-broadcast of No 3 via the website and headphones. I completely agree with everything Jayne says - inc. the preference for a little more con moto in the slow movement - but it worked, and the progression to the end was totally captivating. Marvellous performance!

First time posting, just listening back so far to Sibelius 3 on the iplayer. Just interested to hear what you think of the radio sound. To me it sounds very stage present. As in you can hear the conductor's breathing, bow noise and like the strings are up close. Is this the sound you like to hear, like you're on the stage, or would you prefer to hear a more blended sound as if you were in the audience?

It was just right for me, even on headphones. But then I'm an occasional brass player, and like feeling 'in the middle of it all', the odd hiss and scrape included!

[Lat-Literal]

I have listened to 3 and 4 today.

Very much enjoyed 3 and quite enjoyed 4.