Prom 49: Mahler – Symphony No. 6 (22.08.15)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

18:30
Royal Albert Hall

Håkan Hardenberger, The Boston Symphony Orchestra and Andris Nelsons, live at the BBC Proms

Brett Dean: Dramatis personae
Mahler: Symphony No. 6 in A minor

Håkan Hardenberger (trumpet)
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Andris Nelsons (conductor)

Two contrasting heroes share the limelight in this evening of musical drama from the Boston Symphony Orchestra and its new Chief Conductor, Andris Nelsons. Brett Dean's trumpet concerto Dramatis personae, composed for tonight's Swedish virtuoso Håkan Hardenberger, assigns all roles to the trumpet, casting him by turns as fallen superhero and accidental revolutionary. Mahler's Sixth Symphony sees the composer himself as cursed hero - one, he explained, 'on whom fall three blows of fate, the last of which fells him as a tree is felled'. The conclusion may be a tragic one but there are also scenes of beauty and joy in a work that includes a glowing theme associated with Mahler's wife Alma.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jun/01/cbso-nelsons-review-brett-dean-concerto-cbso

[richardfinegold]

Nelsons really wading into the Proms with some major works--Mahler 6. Shosty 10...

[Anastasius]

Yup. Looking frward very much to both - provided my legs hold up!

[Serial_Apologist]

Yup. Looking frward very much to both - provided my legs hold up!

Don't they allow Arena Prommers to sit on the rush-matted floor, like they did in the 1960s? You used to end up with a nice regular pattern on your bum. Or end down, rather.

[Bryn]

Don't they allow Arena Prommers to sit on the rush-matted floor, like they did in the 1960s? You used to end up with a nice regular pattern on your bum. Or end down, rather.

'tis proper carpet these days. Some sit down, but others, myself included, have to think about how to get up again.

There again, if you are early enough in the queue, you might get one of the few fold down sets to be found scattered in groups around the perimeter of the Arena.

[kernelbogey]

[...] There again, if you are early enough in the queue, you might get one of the few fold down sets to be found scattered in groups around the perimeter of the Arena.

I was told last year that these are available to those who have difficulty getting up again, and who may exercise their right to one by asking one of the queuing officials for a pass.

[Colonel Danby]

I'm listening to the Mahler 6 from the Proms tonight as I write, and so far so good. The first movement was very fine: not quite sure about the two central movements being reversed, but this has been the subject of hot critical debate over the years. I side with Rattle (and his recording natch) in placing the andante second and the scherzo third, but then I had a season ticket for the CBSO for 18 golden years and Uncle Simes taught me everything I needed to know about classical music. Ah well, it all comes down to taste and interpretation, I suppose.

Anyway the Boston crowd are among the best orchestras in the world, it is a pleasure to host them at the Proms: it is interesting to note that the CBSO would appear to be the breeding ground for many great conducters before they scuttle off to better things: Rattle to Berlin, Nelsons to Boston and Oramo to the BBC among others. But I disgress...

I just hope that Andris will be courageous enough to include the third hammer blow of fate in the last movement.

[Keraulophone]

Hadn't realised that M6 was a trumpet concerto in disguise until tonight. Unconvincing, next to Tennstedt et al.

[Alison]

Plenty to enjoy in a rendition favouring my preferred movement order.

A particularly good scherzo, fresh without point making and finding repose as well as restlessness.

Overall maybe a shade lightweight and a feeling that the full symphonic heft of the piece had been only partially revealed.

Clemmie seemed just a bit too jolly afterwards and TBH I felt much the same.

Yes, the trumpet sound was discomforting at times and drew too much attention to itself. 8/10 overall!

[kernelbogey]

[...] Clemmie seemed just a bit too jolly afterwards[....]

She was just as irritating as the fool who began the clapping one quaver after the last note. Why do producers and their presenters think we want to hear what others thought of the symphony? If there must be such commentating [groan] then at least put it at the front end.

[Keraulophone]

at least put it at the front end

There is little sign of Dr Who being engaged as a Radio 3 presenter.

[Bryn]

[QUOTE=kernelbogey;504496]She was just as irritating as the fool who began the clapping one quaver after the last note. ... /QUOTE]

Indeed, however, should anyone wish to record from the iPlayer and tidy up the early applause, a short sample of the ambient immediately following the second movement might introduce an acceptable hiatus. Not perfect, but it does offer some amelioration of the situation.

[ahinton]

One might wonder at the extent of real difference between CBH and GBH, just as one might wonder at the programming of the first and only other piece on this programme before the second...

[Anastasius]

The Brett Dean should be renamed Musical Chairs. Oh look how clever I am. I will move a trumpeter over there. Now I'll move him over there. My goodness, I'll even ask the soloist to do a Bolt run from near the podium to the back of the orchestra. I half expected to find the composer sticking the soloist on a 23 bus bound for Paddington. No, I didn't like it much either. 1/10

Found the Mahler very disappointing. Too much 'in your face' and no subtlety. I wanted to be moved to tears in the slow movement. No chance. 4/10