Prom 18: 29.07.16 - Mahler: Symphony no. 3

[underthecountertenor]

Interesting perspective on the distractions, Petrushka. From my position half way back in the Arena (directly opposite the divine Sarah Connolly), I was impressed by how quiet the capacity audience was (in a perilously quiet piece). But perhaps that was just the luck of the draw as far as auditorium acoustics are concerned. I was also far enough away to be relatively (though not entirely) undistracted by the swooping. But I was aware.

It was a glorious performance, on its own terms, I think.

[Flay]

Is there anything we as an interested public can do to reduce these irritating antics of TV producers? Is anything gained in the viewing by having constantly changing perspectives? I think not. Just because they can do fancy techniques doesn't mean they should.

It doesn't just apply to music. Andy Murray was livid about the distracting movement of the overhead camera during his serves in the recent French Open final.

[Beef Oven!]

A great performance. We’re so lucky that BH still performs works like this. I didn’t realise that the first movement was so long. I looked at my watch at the end of the movement (incurable habit) and saw that it was over 36 minutes. My go-to M3 is Sinopoli/Philharmonia and has a first movement of c32 mins.

Half-way back in the arena, I noticed no coughing etc - it was a peaceful Prom in that regard!

The shout at the end didn’t bother me and the chap next to me turned and smiled and said it summed up his own feelings. Must’ve sounded idiotic on the radio and I have to be honest, if it happens at the next Prom I’m at, I’d be tempted to perform a public service act on him.

(My iPhone isn’t at its best in the low artificial light at Proms)

[Petrushka]

Is there anything we as an interested public can do to reduce these irritating antics of TV producers? Is anything gained in the viewing by having constantly changing perspectives? I think not. Just because they can do fancy techniques doesn't mean they should.

It doesn't just apply to music. Andy Murray was livid about the distracting movement of the overhead camera during his serves in the recent French Open final.

Yes, one longs for the artistry of a Humphrey Burton, a Barrie Gavin or a Rodney Greenberg to name just three former BBC directors who really knew how to present classical music to a TV audience.

It's good to have the Proms on TV but I came to the conclusion some years ago, mostly due to the problems of hyperactive camera direction, that the classical concert is best heard in the aural medium only.

[DracoM]

Erm........Just don't watch Proms on TV? Just a suggestion.
BUT
totally agree about sport: I'm always amazed that a batsman stalking back to the pavilion having been dismissed for a duck does not use his bat to smack the relentlessly stalking camera and operator.

OTOH, ALL sports people spend an amazing amount of time looking / ogling / checking on themselves on the big screens in stadia - 'does my hair look good? Shall I get my teeth whitened? Do I look big in this?' Certain cricketers seem to be among the vainest sportspeople on the planet, but I suppose that's because their game is slow, and they have plenty of time to stare up at their huge images. Yes, I know they are also checking how they played the shot or bowled the ball, but even so....honestly.......when simply walking from one fielding position to another....come on!

Have been trying to watch the Sky Arts Ring cycle, and the camera work was / is simply dotty. Mind you, the sets are so unbelievably cluttered, built not for theatre but for TV /film/lighting geeks that the singers are being rendered almost incidental, or in deeply, deeply unflattering close-up.

Oh dear.........I'm getting cross....................

[Petrushka]

A great performance. We’re so lucky that BH still performs works like this.

Absolutely! It's difficult to imagine other great conductors of the past at the age of 87 even contemplating programming a work of such length. It is demanding enough on the listener as well as those standing in the Arena! Haitink used his seat only during inter-movement pauses and at moments when he felt he could keep his direction to the bare minimum. Otherwise he stood throughout.

[pastoralguy]

I'm sure that there was a letter in Radio Times some years about the distracting activity of the cameras. The patronising BBC reply, (NO, NEVER, I hear you cry!), was that because the Proms are essentially 'Broadcasting events' then complainers should keep quiet and thank the organisers for allowing the audience to be a tiny part of their magnificent bounty!

Or words to that effect.

[Flay]

Erm........Just don't watch Proms on TV? Just a suggestion.....

What about those in the hall who have to put up with the distractions as described above?

[Anastasius]

I seem to be in the minority as I find that Haitink does absolutely nothing for me when he conducts Mahler. I find his tempo leaden, plodding and the pace at times soporific. He seems, to these ears, to place strange emphasis and phrasing of the music. Give me Abbado and the Lucerne any day.

[pastoralguy]

Give me Abbado and the Lucerne any day.

Could be a problem if one is looking for a live performance...

[Anastasius]

Could be a problem if one is looking for a live performance...

[pastoralguy]

Couldn't resist! I know what you mean though.

[P. G. Tipps]

I've mostly found Mahler very hard-going and have often wondered what all the hysteria is really about regarding this composer.

However, I was bowled over by Friday night's televised performance, which I recorded, and I have repeated my viewing of the concert twice since.

Maybe it was the undemonstrative Haitink who helped to work this magic for me, I really don't know.

As the conductor himself said in his pre-concert interview the final movement cannot be explained adequately with words. It is a thing of very rare grandeur and beauty and should simply be experienced and cherished for what it is without the need for any further explanation.

The lovely Suzy, though, did bring me back down to earth with an almighty thud when almost immediately after the final sounds of this glorious concert had died away she implored viewers that they 'mustn't miss' the David Bowie tribute concert later in the evening.

Thanks for that beautifully-timed reminder, Suzy ...

[Hornspieler]

=Flay;573175 Is there anything we as an interested public can do to reduce these irritating antics of TV producers? Is anything gained in the viewing by having constantly changing perspectives? I think not. Just because they can do fancy techniques doesn't mean they should.

I quite agree.

Come back, Patricia Foy - all is forgiven!

When Paddy used to direct all the TV transmissions from live performances, there was a joke about her directions which circulated throughout Music Departments in the BBC Regions. (Purely apocryphal of course!)

"On you, two."

"Coming to you , one"

"Stand by, three,"

"Oops! Sorry, four!"

This was a magnificent performance, directed by one of the world's most experienced and finest conductors.

For those complaining about the occasional split note in the brass and horns, perhaps my friend Tony can explain why eight horns playing in unison at the top of their compass will each be affected by a slight variance in pitch causing a clash (as any horn player who has experienced the perils of Shostakovitch's Eighth symphony (1st movement) will tell you - and that is only 4 horns, playing in unison at the top of the accepted horn register)

HS

[pastoralguy]

Quite agree, HS. If one wants 'perfection', buy a recording!