Prom 13: 24.07.16 - Beethoven: Symphony No. 9

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

20:00 Sunday 24 Jul 2016
Royal Albert Hall

Magnus Lindberg: Two Episodes (world premiere)
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No 9 in D minor, 'Choral'

Miah Persson (soprano),
Anna Stéphany (mezzo-soprano),
John Daszak (tenor),
Christopher Purves (bass),
London Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra,
Vladimir Jurowski (conductor).

Beethoven helped change the European musical landscape but in his final symphony he imagined the most startling transformation of all: from a brutal, joyless world to one of uplifting and embracing brotherhood. He did it by writing his most vivid music yet and employing a chorus, proclaiming Friedrich Schiller's uplifting 'Ode to Joy'.

Vladimir Jurowski returns to the Proms, opening with a new work from one of the finest orchestral craftsmen of our time, Magnus Lindberg.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07lf715

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07lg0s9

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The Lindberg really must be 'hot off the press', as the title wasn't known when the Proms listings first went online.

[pastoralguy]

Ooh, Miah Persson...

[Darkbloom]

Surely even the most jaded Prommer will be interested to hear what Jurowski does with the Ninth. Nelsons last year, now another youngish hotshot. He's one of the few conductors who I automatically want to hear, no matter the programme.

[Darkbloom]

Ooh, Miah Persson...

I'm still on blood pressure medication from Anna Samuil a few years ago.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

Well, it'll be a few minutes shorter this year; no Turkish March after all.

[edashtav]

Surely even the most jaded Prommer will be interested to hear what Jurowski does with the Ninth. Nelsons last year, now another youngish hotshot. He's one of the few conductors who I automatically want to hear, no matter the programme.

I agree, entirely, Darkbloom.

[BBMmk2]

I rather like Jurowski's programmes

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I rather like Jurowski's programmes

:pk: This one especially.

[BBMmk2]

:pk: This one especially.

Indeed! Should be rather good. I always remember going to see Erich Leinsdorf conduct this when I was a kid at a Prom. Second to last night, in those days. Ofcourse, I didn't really appreciate how good the performance was of this, until a board member told me! If anyone knows, I be most grateful!

[Nick Armstrong]

Surely even the most jaded Prommer will be interested to hear what Jurowski does with the Ninth. Nelsons last year, now another youngish hotshot. He's one of the few conductors who I automatically want to hear, no matter the programme.

Like ed., I also agree completely with this, Darkbloom!

Ooh, Miah Persson...

Yes - haven't fully recovered from her seraphic performance in Hymnus Paradisi a few seasons back

[Petrushka]

Indeed! Should be rather good. I always remember going to see Erich Leinsdorf conduct this when I was a kid at a Prom. Second to last night, in those days. Ofcourse, I didn't really appreciate how good the performance was of this, until a board member told me! If anyone knows, I be most grateful!

Leinsdorf conducted the Beethoven 9 on Sept 15 1972 and I remember listening to it on the radio. His Boston SO recording of the work is one of my favourites.

Looking forward to hearing what Jurowski makes of it. Had wanted to go to this one but had to reduce the number because of cost and this was one that felt the axe

[pastoralguy]

Yes - haven't fully recovered from her seraphic performance in Hymnus Paradisi a few seasons back [/QUOTE]

I was lucky enough to meet her last year when she sang the Countess in 'Marriage of Figaro' with the Budapest Festival Orchestra under Ivan Fischer as part of the Edinburgh Festival. She's even more gorgeous in real life as well as being lovely to talk to.

[pastoralguy]

A fine performance of Beethoven's ninth, IMHO. Nice 'springy' tempi and a light feel to it. I enjoyed the few untidy moments which any performance of this work should have to remind the audience what a hard piece it is.

[edashtav]

A fine performance of Beethoven's ninth, IMHO. Nice 'springy' tempi and a light feel to it. I enjoyed the few untidy moments which any performance of this work should have to remind the audience what a hard piece it is.

I love Jurowski's interpretations and tonight's performance confirmed his stature in my eyes and I agree with pastoralguy's assessment. I have to add that the Beethoven ended bathetically for me: I just heard the bass's stentorian entry in the choral finale when I looked at the clock: gosh it was past 21.30, the light was failing and I hadn't taken Mum's dog out for her final pee. The issue: Millie won't pee in the dark. So... The Choral was brutally truncated. We(e) returned to hear the audience's final huzzahs.
Those in the know will identify the cause of my miscalculation: the evening concert started 10 minutes late due to 10 pieces over-running.
I want to deal with Lindberg's 2 Episodes but I'm too tired to do them justice. I'll the work until the morning and hope that another Boarder starts the ball rolling. I'm afraid I shall be disrespectful towards Magnus and compare his pieces to the meretricious, Rodion Shchedrin.