Prom 62: OAE/Brahms (1.09.15)

[Tony Halstead]

[MickyD]

I remember going to a very special fund-raising concert at St James' Piccadilly in remembrance of David Reichenberg - perhaps you took part in that, Tony?

[Barbirollians]

The David Reichenberg/ECO/Pinnock version of the oboe d' amore concerto can be found on the English Concert's You Tube page

[verismissimo]

I remember going to a very special fund-raising concert at St James' Piccadilly in remembrance of David Reichenberg - perhaps you took part in that, Tony?

I was there too. Memorable occasion.

[Barbirollians]

I managed in the end to liste to this concert on headphones on a walk today .

I was rather disappointed . I agree that the Academic festival overture opened proceedings well with an unbuttoned humorous account . Ms Barton is clearly an accomplished singer but this is Brahms not early Wagner . she sailed over the piece to my ears . So far no match for Baker,Ferrier and Ludwig .

The Triumplied did sound well prepared and the baritone sang well enough to my ears. I just found it a pretty dull piece and well worth sticking back in the cupboard for a while.

The Brahms 1 did not come together for me . the middle movements a bit somnolent with a rather quavery oboe in the slow movement and a finale that never really caught fire - on that form one can only imagine a car crash had the OAE been asked to play the coda in the style of The live KArajan/BPO festival hall recording on Testament.

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

As a regular and long-standing attender of OAE concerts, I can assure you that the OAE is the least grumpy and smiliest of orchestras.

Very true. It's because of their friendly nature and their spirited attack that The OAE is one of my favourite orchestras. I love watching them play. However, they did themselves few favours in this Prom, where the intonation was especially poor in the First Symphony. I agree with those lamenting the loss of Tony Robson from the Principal Oboe position (had heard it was a conductor who'd initiated the 'resignation'). I've seen several oboists tried out over the past two years and none has really cut the mustard.