Prom 73: VPO/Bychkov (10.09.15)

[Barbirollians]

I know I gush about this orchestra, but I continue to think of it as the greatest in the world, and if there is such a place as heaven, it will be the Vienna Philharmonic playing non-stop, and I will be amongst them, playing one of those funny oboes.

Will Kathleen Ferrier be singing and Bruno Walter conducting ?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Will Kathleen Ferrier be singing and Bruno Walter conducting ?

Barbirolli will be conducting Elgar 1.

[teamsaint]

I think I might have mentioned it a couple of times over the years - but that is, perhaps, a separate Thread. I don't really subscribe to the "WGO" idea these days - given the right repertoire and conductor, even ensembles once regarded as "Third Division" are nowadays capable of the very best standards. But with Schmidt and Bychkov and the VPO, this looks set to being one of the stand-out events of this Season. (The Brahms might be pretty good, too!)

Well it had better be. After reading this, I just moved my week around ( with the help of some understanding customers)...and assuming the Queues aren't too long, I should be there.

What time to get in the Queue? Anybody got any thoughts?

[EnemyoftheStoat]

I'm rather hoping the VPO do a better job of the tuning than a certain aforementioned "WGO" did in their Chandos recording of Schmidt 2, certainly in the first movement. The beginning has been described as a piano etude but in their case a fortepiano was involved.

[Nick Armstrong]

I'm rather hoping the VPO do a better job of the tuning than a certain aforementioned "WGO" did in their Chandos recording of Schmidt 2, certainly in the first movement. The beginning has been described as a piano etude but in their case a fortepiano was involved.

"... The Detroit Symphony Orchestra under Neeme Järvi play with a freshness and enthusiasm that are totally persuasive. They almost sound Viennese, and the recordings are very good indeed."
The Penguin Guide - 1000 Greatest Classical Recordings 2011-12

[EnemyoftheStoat]

"... The Detroit Symphony Orchestra under Neeme Järvi play with a freshness and enthusiasm that are totally persuasive. They almost sound Viennese, and the recordings are very good indeed."
The Penguin Guide - 1000 Greatest Classical Recordings 2011-12

I completely agree, but Detroit only did 1 & 4; it was the CSO in 2 (and 3) and the tuning is, erm, piquant...

[Nick Armstrong]

I completely agree, but Detroit only did 1 & 4; it was the CSO in 2 (and 3) and the tuning is, erm, piquant...

Ah! However, I think the WGO in question above is Detroit.. unless I have become lost in all the veiled geographical references....

[EnemyoftheStoat]

Aha! My mistake then - easy to make, though isn't Järvi Estonian for "lake"?

Still, it's a good Schmidt set, though I find no 3 hard work - does it ever really go anywhere? - and no 4 is beyond Mahler 6 as an emotional "wringer".

(I just checked and my US geography is better than I thought; Detroit is not on the shores of Lake Michigan.)

[Prommer]

This, and the Gerontius, will be my only Proms this year, but here's hoping....!

[EnemyoftheStoat]

What time to get in the Queue? Anybody got any thoughts?

Apologies, TS, I rather derailed your question, but I'd like to ask it too as I may need to engineer an early departure from the day-job...

[Nick Armstrong]

(I just checked and my US geography is better than I thought; Detroit is not on the shores of Lake Michigan.)

And mine is worse! The Severance Hall reference above is Tony's bid for Cleveland as WGO - so richardf was indeed talking about the Chicago. I withdraw, abashed, and with apologies.

Really enjoyed the Schmidt G major piano quintet which was played as a 'filler' after tonight's prom transmission

Franz Schmidt
Piano Quintet in G major
Performer: Leon Fleisher - piano, Joseph Silverstein - violin, Joel Smirnoff - violin, Michael Tree - viola, Yo-yo Ma - cello.

[Serial_Apologist]

Really enjoyed the Schmidt G major piano quintet which was played as a 'filler' after tonight's prom transmission

Franz Schmidt
Piano Quintet in G major
Performer: Leon Fleisher - piano, Joseph Silverstein - violin, Joel Smirnoff - violin, Michael Tree - viola, Yo-yo Ma - cello.

Damn - I missed it!

Am I right in thinking that's a very long work - over an hour?

[Roehre]

Damn - I missed it!

Am I right in thinking that's a very long work - over an hour?

Quite long, but not that long: 37 minutes.

[Nick Armstrong]

Damn - I missed it!

Am I right in thinking that's a very long work - over an hour?

No you're wrong!

37' in that performance.... I came in during the slow movement, and it may be that they didn't play the first on the radio, given the time available after the concert finished. I failed to note that it's one of Schimdt's works for Paul Wittgenstein, so for piano left-hand and strings (hence Leon Fleischer's recording during his one-hand period)

Thanks for inspiring me to find it on Apple Music! Listening again now! (It's also on the iplayer of course http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b068tm70 )

[Roehre]

No you're wrong!

37' in that performance.... I came in during the slow movement, and it may be that they didn't play the first on the radio, given the time available after the concert finished. I failed to note that it's one of Schimdt's works for Paul Wittgenstein, so for piano left-hand and strings (hence Leon Fleischer's recording during his one-hand period)

Thanks for inspiring me to find it on Apple Music! Listening again now!

the original Sony CD coupled this quintet with Korngold's Suite for piano quintet opus 23, also composed for Wittgenstein.