Prom 48: Late-night Bach (21.08.15)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

22:15
Royal Albert Hall

The BBC Singers, the Academy of Ancient Music and David Hill, live at the BBC Proms

Bach: Mass in G minor (BWV 235)
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F major (BWV 1047)
Bach: Magnificat in D major (BWV 243)

Sophie Bevan (soprano)
Rebecca Evans (soprano)
Iestyn Davies (countertenor)
Nicky Spence (tenor)
Roderick Williams (baritone)
BBC Singers
Academy of Ancient Music
David Hill (conductor)

Bach's much-loved Magnificat, bright with fanfares and lively with dance rhythms, is paired with the composer's Mass in G minor in this Late Night Prom by the BBC Singers and the Academy of Ancient Music. Though sometimes overlooked, Bach's Lutheran Masses are a treasure-trove of melody, borrowing their themes from the best of Bach's own cantatas. Completing the programme is the Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, with its muscular textures and brilliant brass and wind colours.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Potentially a great concert, but in the choral works, but I'm not sure I can juxtapose (in my head) the somewhat stark vibratoless AAM with the ultra-wobbly BBC Singers (who seem to crop up all the time).

[doversoul1]

I thought this was an odd programme. The AAM has its own choir and Brandenburg has already been ‘done’ (will have been done by then) albeit not the same one. I suppose this is meant to be the BBC Singers’ prom but it would have been good if the AAM had been given a prom to play something they do (at least used to do) very well; performing works by unfamiliar composers form 17th and 18th centuries.

[Darkbloom]

You don't see a lot of Rebecca Evans these days. At least not that I can recall. It's odd about singers, they can suddenly disappear from view. I suppose that is often due to vocal trouble but I think they either go abroad or simply don't get many engagements any more. The bass Alistair Miles used to be everywhere for a while and was talked about as a promising Wagner singer of the future but you hardly hear of him at all these days. I think the last time I heard him mentioned was as the father of a a teenager who was on a TV talent show. Also Rita Cullis - whatever happened to her?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

With such great music, I'll listen, and hope it's not a case of "grin and bear it".

[Bryn]

I'll be attending the earlier Sibelius/Leifs/Hillborg/Beethoven Prom but have yet to decide whether or not to hang around for the Bach. Like EA, I fear the combination of the BBC Singers and AAM just will not gel, other than as a wobbly jelly on a stoneware plate. I will make the decision after the 7th, though that is likely to make a more securely satisfactory finale to the the evening's stand-up listening.

[teamsaint]

You don't see a lot of Rebecca Evans these days. At least not that I can recall. It's odd about singers, they can suddenly disappear from view. I suppose that is often due to vocal trouble but I think they either go abroad or simply don't get many engagements any more. The bass Alistair Miles used to be everywhere for a while and was talked about as a promising Wagner singer of the future but you hardly hear of him at all these days. I think the last time I heard him mentioned was as the father of a a teenager who was on a TV talent show. Also Rita Cullis - whatever happened to her?

still doing a lot with WNO, I think. She is certainly singing the role of Angelica in this Autumn's Orlando.

http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/8203-Soprano-Rebecca-Evans-talks-Welsh-National/story-27477792-detail/story.html

[doversoul1]

Anyone listened to this? The chorus sounded unnecessarily large but I suppose it was fine in the Hall. Soloists sounded mostly very good.

I wouldn’t buy this as a CD even with Iestyn Davies in it but I imagine a live concert is a different matter.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Anyone listened to this? The chorus sounded unnecessarily large but I suppose it was fine in the Hall. Soloists sounded mostly very good.

I wouldn’t buy this as a CD even with Iestyn Davies in it but I imagine a live concert is a different matter.

I'm afraid my fears were largely confirmed, and I decided life was too short to continue listening.

[Pegleg]

Anyone listened to this? The chorus sounded unnecessarily large but I suppose it was fine in the Hall. Soloists sounded mostly very good.

I wouldn’t buy this as a CD even with Iestyn Davies in it but I imagine a live concert is a different matter.

Anyone in the Hall? According to this review it was a near miraculous performance - http://www.classicalsource.com/db_co...w.php?id=13063

"... Completing the dream-team line-up, the BBC Singers were on stylistic and nimble top form. Hill gave his choir the freedom it needed for transparency of voicing and awesome agility. He regulated the interplay of singers and players perfectly, and I especially admired the way the AAM illuminated the vocal solos ...

The BBC Singers supplied endless reserves of character and articulation, and the process of numinous lift-off was completed by the strong sense of momentum and direction from David Hill and the AAM. At the end, the chap sitting next to me said, “That was just astonishing”. Who am I to argue? .."

Argue? Well, on radio, to this untutored ear, it was nothing of the sort. The AAM and soloists may have been acceptable, but the chorus was poor. Buy a CD of it? Why would you when you can pick and chose from some excellent recordings, I confidently predict I will never own a CD which features the BBC singers.