Prom 27: 5.08.16 - Helen Grime, Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Was there a cat in the hall ?
Sure I heard it miaow after the first movement of the Chickovsky.

That was the audience, who thought it was the end.

[Richard J.]

He [Service] has become without doubt the least tolerable voice on radio, shouting over the applause this time

I agree. For those heading for the iPlayer to hear this concert but wanting to avoid Tom Service, BBC4 has Petroc Trelawny.

I can't say the Tchaikovsky matched my view of the work, but the encore was hilarious!

[DracoM]

TS's 'presentation skills'? Now there's an interesting concept.
I'm afraid I try to switch off or turn down as soon as I hear his shouty, gushing incoherence.
Tonight he was yelling into the mic as if commentating at a football match.

The encore was easily the best thing about the evening.

[marvin]

Ha but who would you prefer out of Sean Rafferty or TS if they were the only two on offer?

[Hornspieler]

The Right to Perform

...Actually, as my Music Master told me at school, there are three "Rights" which the aspiring musician should observe:

The right note, In the right place, The right way.

Last night, I thought that I must have tuned in to the first round of "The X Factor" by mistake!

To make mockery of one of the greatest works ever written for violin is, IMV, unforgivable.

Unfortunately, the contagion spread to the orchestra.

Atrocious intonation in the lower woodwind, double basses and horns from an orchestra which I have always admired.

But I couldn't face Petrushka after that circus performance, so I will watch it tonight.

Come back Lang Lang - all is forgiven!

Keep practising, Nicola - you'll get there in the end!

Paavo Berglund must be turning in his grave!

HS

[Bryn]

[DracoM]

In the case of T.Service, more is less.

[Stanfordian]

Last night a friend watched Prom 27 on tv. He wasn't keen on it at all and wrote me:

"Watched Proms tonight. Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. Awful. Pekka Kuusisto grinning, knee bending and was still wearing his night shirt. Wiry tone. Arbitrary application of vibrato. Idiosyncratic interpretation. - Encore - clowning around. - Audience thought he was wonderful."

I wasn't at the Prom concert and didn't hear it on the radio or see it on TV. But it did make me think. To me a Proms audience seems enthusiastically welcoming and highly appreciative. Does a Proms audience ever show displeasure to an orchestra or a soloist if a performance is judged to be of a poor standard? If not why not?

[Serial_Apologist]

Just as well they didn't play any Grime.

(Warning: the link below contains graphic language):-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7rxm0vcazI

[Jonathan]

I've recorded the prom from BBC4, will watch it when I get time.

[Nick Armstrong]

In the case of T.Service, more is less.

And none at all is infinite(ly preferable).

[BBMmk2]

I didn't like that organ player chap who turned up to give his organ recital in a string vest!!!

[edashtav]

Helen Grime Catterline in Winter

This, the first of two Eardley pictures, is an uneasy, slow lullaby shot through with shafts of brighter activity. The piece is well scored and sounds grateful to play. Whilst its colour palette is subdued, it’s not a study in shades of grey. I liked Grime’s bass lines that give a firm sense of direction, Helen’s not afraid of getting her tuba out. The piece is cut off in its prime but then it’s part one of a two movement work. Grime’s new work is full of impeccable craftsmanship. However, the idiom is conservative and on two hearings, I fear that it has insufficient newness to deserve a permanent place in repertoire. It could be a source of plunder for those looking for something fresh to add to a sound-track of a play or documentary. The performance by the BBC SSO under Thomas Dausgaard was well-rehearsed and full of conviction.

[mercia]

Dave's chord of the week

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p043pdnq

& Dave on counterpoint this morning

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07mw2s5

[symphony1010]

The Right to Perform

...Actually, as my Music Master told me at school, there are three "Rights" which the aspiring musician should observe:



Last night, I thought that I must have tuned in to the first round of "The X Factor" by mistake!

To make mockery of one of the greatest works ever written for violin is, IMV, unforgivable.

Unfortunately, the contagion spread to the orchestra.

Atrocious intonation in the lower woodwind, double basses and horns from an orchestra which I have always admired.

But I couldn't face Petrushka after that circus performance, so I will watch it tonight.

Come back Lang Lang - all is forgiven!

Keep practising, Nicola - you'll get there in the end!

Paavo Berglund must be turning in his grave!

HS

Agree with every word. A look on Twitter found people fawning over this performance. To my mind (and that of my wife who is a pro violinist) it was an abomination. My only answer to the way he (tried) to play it was that he can't compete with most of the super-virtuosos who despatch this in their sleep and so had decided to take a route like this.
Like you, I'd lost the will to live by the end but my wife was unimpressed with the Petrsuhka performance.