Prom 51: Boston SO/Nelsons (23.08.15)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

15:00
Royal Albert Hall

Haydn: Symphony No. 90 in C major
Barber: Essay No. 2
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10 in E minor

Boston Symphony Orchestra
Andris Nelsons conductor

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I'm not too familiar with Haydn 90, have never heard the Barber and Shost 10 is a work I struggle with, even with a score to hand, despite its excellent reputation.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I'm not too familiar with Haydn 90

Written in the same year as the Jupiter and sharing the same instrumentation - and, interestingly enough (if you find that sort of thing interesting) using the same, unusual region of Eb major to start the Development section. HC Robins Landon didn't rate it highly in his BBC guidebook to the Haydn Symphonies, but I'm very fond of it - interesting rhythms and phrasing in the Minuet, too. Good to have another Haydn symphony in this year's Proms.

I sort of share your reservations about the Shosty #10, too - it needs a really good conductor to sweep away my doubts; but, boy! are they swept in these cases!

[teamsaint]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtIn_zaTz3Q

Nelsons discusses #90.

[Petrushka]

Will be going to this one!

The finale of the Haydn 90 is the one with the several false endings (depending on repeats) so expect a lot of laughter and premature applause. Haydn at his wittiest!

How can anyone have doubts about Shostakovich 10? One of the greatest symphonies of all time.

[richardfinegold]

Will be going to this one!

The finale of the Haydn 90 is the one with the several false endings (depending on repeats) so expect a lot of laughter and premature applause. Haydn at his wittiest!

How can anyone have doubts about Shostakovich 10? One of the greatest symphonies of all time.

I concur with all of that, and
The Barber is a great work as well

[cloughie]

I concur with all of that, and
The Barber is a great work as well

Indeed rfg looks like an excellent concert all round. Unless My radar has missed them has there been much Shostakovich recorded by the BSO since Koussevitzky? Or from your knowledge stateside have they performed much?

[Beef Oven!]

An interesting programme. I haven't been to a concert that includes a Haydn symphony and DSCH 10 is a must see!

Very tempted by this one.

[verismissimo]

Indeed rfg looks like an excellent concert all round. Unless My radar has missed them has there been much Shostakovich recorded by the BSO since Koussevitzky? Or from your knowledge stateside have they performed much?

Ozawa recorded the concertos.

[richardfinegold]

Indeed rfg looks like an excellent concert all round. Unless My radar has missed them has there been much Shostakovich recorded by the BSO since Koussevitzky? Or from your knowledge stateside have they performed much?

A search on Arkive Musik shows only The Nelsons 10 and Koussevitsky 9 for the Symphonies

[DublinJimbo]

The BSO/Nelsons recording of Shostakovich 10 got rave reviews, but I must admit to some disappointment. Perhaps it's the recording, but I found it unengaging (No. 10, unengaging?). Let's just say I was far from being swept away. Perhaps a live performance will be better. They're doing it at the Berlin Musikfest. Friends are going, but I can't join them.

[jean]

I'm not too familiar with Haydn 90...

Neither were the audience! That false ending really caught them out!

If I understood the presenter aright, Nelsons played along and pretended to be surprised to discover there was more to play. Anyone in the hall to see?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Neither were the audience! That false ending really caught them out!
If I understood the presenter aright, Nelsons played along and pretended to be surprised to discover there was more to play. Anyone in the hall to see?

Something like this, perhaps?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtIn_zaTz3Q

(Skip to 2mins in for the pretending - but the entire clip is only 3and a half minutes, and worth seeing.)

[Norrette]

Neither were the audience! That false ending really caught them out!

If I understood the presenter aright, Nelsons played along and pretended to be surprised to discover there was more to play. Anyone in the hall to see?

Yes, I was caught . He was v. Kind to us. Amusing conductor brought his own rostrum, used it as a sort of fulcrum ballerina style.

[jean]

Something like this, perhaps?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtIn_zaTz3Q

That audience weren't so easily fooled as this afternoon's - nor did those audience members who were fooled laugh quite so heartily at themselves when they realised!

What is the convention with regard to laughing in the course of a performance (it has been asked)?