Prom 68: Bach – Six Cello Suites (5.09.15)

[DracoM]

Am listening: erm.....where on earth are the microphones in relation to the cello? Sort of resonant bathroom acoustic.... Suppose it can't be helped in RAH.

[bluestateprommer]

Am listening: erm.....where on earth are the microphones in relation to the cello? Sort of resonant bathroom acoustic.... Suppose it can't be helped in RAH.

No idea, but if I had to make a guess, maybe there are "floor microphones" a few feet in front of YYM? Anyway, I had computer issues, so missed the start of JSB 1, but from what I heard of the remainder, so far, so good :) .

[DracoM]

He seems much more at home in the more lyrical / melancholic aspects.

[pastoralguy]

I listen to these works a lot when I do night shifts at work so I find the whole applause/ interjections from Tom Service quite odd. The sound quality is very opaque too. I'd like to hear more 'bite' from the bow on the strings.

Modified rapture.

[Bryn]

Not all 5 string cellos are "cello piccolo", see the instrument used by Viola de Hoog - https://youtu.be/tN8-8YAHtws
... .

Indeed, but the instrument used by Viola de Hoog is considered to be of exceptional dimensions for a 5 string cello, is it not?

Next time can we have instruments played da spalla please.

[pastoralguy]

Indeed, but the instrument used by Viola de Hoog is considered to be of exceptional dimensions for a 5 string cello, is it not?

Next time can we have instruments played da spalla please.

Ah! I have Sigi Kuijken playing these 'da spalla' and very fine they are too.

[DracoM]

Service's incoherent, gushing bluster and adoration ill-served this concert relay. We could all HEAR the applause, assess the engagement between player and audience. Service does not need to try to outdo it.

[EdgeleyRob]

Am listening: erm.....where on earth are the microphones in relation to the cello? Sort of resonant bathroom acoustic.... Suppose it can't be helped in RAH.

Seems to have improved since the start ??? not sure how/why

[Bryn]

Ah! I have Sigi Kuijken playing these 'da spalla' and very fine they are too.

Indeed, I also have the Badiarov recordings and much admire his playing too. That said, my comment was somewhat tongue in cheek. All surviving da spalla cellos appear to date from after Bach's death.

[pastoralguy]

Service's incoherent, gushing bluster and adoration ill-served this concert relay. We could all HEAR the applause, assess the engagement between player and audience. Service does not need to try to outdo it.

Chunter, Chunter, Chunter....

[EdgeleyRob]

Chunter, Chunter, Chunter....

Yeah but no but,he's spoiling the concert.

[bluestateprommer]

Seems to have improved since the start ??? not sure how/why

Probably some adjustments by the broadcast engineers, more or less in real time, from the actual circumstances now that 6000 people are in the RAH, as opposed to microphone set up in an empty hall. All things considered, this marathon evening is going quite well. YYM seems to be pacing himself admirably, and earned a good rest in the pause between 3 & 4.

[pastoralguy]

Yeah but no but,he's spoiling the concert.

[Barbirollians]

That portentous **** from Service made me switch off with an oath...

Me too what a prize twit that man is " one man, one cello one Prom " .

[bluestateprommer]

Yeah but no but,he's spoiling the concert.

Only if you misdirect your priorities and you let it. I'm not. (And, in all honesty, if YYM or some other great cellist were doing this concert locally, I'd steal that "One man, one cello" line for advertising. Or "woman", if we were to get Natalie Clein or Alisa Weilerstein for such an event.)

That aside, Suite # 4 came off as perhaps the 'scruffiest' of the evening, kind of a surprise given the nominal pause between 3 and 4. But if nothing else, it's a reminder that it's a human, not a machine, pulling off this remarkable evening.