Prom 30: 7.08.16 - National Youth Orchestra of Scotland

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

15:45 Sunday 7 Aug 2016
Royal Albert Hall

Helen Grime: Two Eardley Pictures (Snow) (BBC commission: world premiere)
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No 2 in G major
Igor Stravinsky: The Firebird

Pavel Kolesnikov, piano
National Youth Orchestra of Scotland
Ilan Volkov, conductor

The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland frames the turbulent and virtuosic Second Piano Concerto by Tchaikovsky with the final part of Helen Grime's new two-part work for orchestra (see also Prom 27) and the second of this weekend's trio of Stravinsky ballet scores.
With The Firebird of 1910, Stravinsky was immediately recognised as the most important musical voice of the new century. His relentless rhythmic drive and hypnotising orchestral colours are heard to full advantage in a performance of the complete ballet under the charismatic Ilan Volkov.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07mvvzk

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I much prefer Tchaikovsky's 2nd concerto to the better-known 1st. It may have elements of a triple concerto, but that doesn't diminish it. The only thing that can spoil it is the heavily cut Siloti edition.

[Serial_Apologist]

It would be interesting and useful to have some info on this Eardley artist person.

[Bryn]

It would be interesting and useful to have some info on this Eardley artist person.

[Serial_Apologist]

Fantastic! Thanks a lot, Bryn!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Much about the NYOGB, but not a peep on this one, but it deserves a listen.

[BBMmk2]

Shame on message boarders, here for not being enthusiastic about the younger musicians involvement in this season's proms! I have now caught up with both NYOGB and NYOS. Equally worthy of stature to be included amongst the best adult ensembles!

[bluestateprommer]

...have now caught up with both NYOGB and NYOS. Equally worthy of stature to be included amongst the best adult ensembles!

Much too late posting, but totally agree with Bbm on the quality of both the NYOGB and NYOS. If I had any quibble about the interpretation of The Firebird, it was the slightly glossy pacing in the final peroration, but I put that down to Volkov and not the NYOS' ensemble. I'm still not a huge fan of the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2, as too often for me, it's a lot of notes chasing relatively few tunes, by Tchaikovsky's exalted standard in that department. My memory of the Helen Grime work was that it was OK, rather like the first Picture, but nothing striking to me. But full marks again to the NYOS for their work in this Prom.