Prom 71: 7.09.16 Staatskapelle Dresden, Christian Thielemann and Daniil Trifonov

[gurnemanz]

Appetite was whetted and we have picked up a couple of tickets online at the last moment - presumably returns. We haven't seen orchestra, conductor or soloist before. Would have prommed but don't want to risk going up there and not getting in. I think the last time I went to Bruckner at the Proms was standing in the Arena for the 8th with LA Phil in the 70s.

[Prommer]

Well, this should be a good one, but who knows?!

[P. G. Tipps]

p. g. tipps

Well, this should be a good one, but who knows?!

It's the 'compromise' 1877 version so not ideal but still much better than the third Third alternative.

So before the concert even begins let's be thankful for medium-sized mercies!

[kernelbogey]

I can only agree with those who say that Bruckner suits the RAH: I never miss an opportunity, when Bruckner 7 is on, to sit in the gallery and let the sound wash over me :) :(

I once fell asleep in the gallery during Bruckner 8. Woken by one of the climaxes, I thought for a few moments that I had died and gone to heaven.

[Thropplenoggin]

It's the 'compromise' 1877 version so not ideal but still much better than the third Third alternative.

So before the concert even begins let's be thankful for medium-sized mercies!

Like JLW, do you also recommend the 1873 version? There aren't many versions. There are a couple by Norrington, Simone Young, Yannick Nezet-Seguin and Inbal - the latter receives a positive review on Amazon. It seems to be an unwieldy and formidable version to tackle.

[jayne lee wilson]

In the 21st Piano Concerto, bolder, more projected Mozartian sound from the Dresden Staatskapelle than the Berlin one, solo to match....Just too generalised, tonally and interpretatively, for me I'm afraid, with no sign of the charm and individuality of Barenboim's lovely Berliners (or his own solo) last night. Thielemann and Trifonov poorly coordinated in the andante. I winced more than once...

Finale dispatched with businesslike speed and efficiency. Uh-huh.

[Prommer]

What was the encore? Was in the hall so last to know...

[Ein Heldenleben]

Yes Jayne the Mozart sounded charmless and DT appeared to have a serious memory lapse before the cadenza of the first movt. I had to stay in the car after hearing a coruscating Richter -like Gnomenreigen on In Tune this afternoon to find out the pianist - turned out to be Trifonov . Mozart must be well under his fingers ....but it's just so tricky.

[Tetrachord]

I'm loving the discussion in the break with Christian Thielemann (from 2 years ago), who sounds like such a lovely and intelligent man. I've seen him on the podium many times in Vienna!

[P. G. Tipps]

Like JLW, do you also recommend the 1873 version? There aren't many versions. There are a couple by Norrington, Simone Young, Yannick Nezet-Seguin and Inbal - the latter receives a positive review on Amazon. It seems to be an unwieldy and formidable version to tackle.

Yes, the 1873 version is the one for me. It is raw, uncompromising, unexpurgated Bruckner, the real 'in yer face' thing, which I love.

Some of the composer's most exciting passages are discarded in the later versions, and that applies to the 4th Symphony as well. Still, the 1877 version of the Third will have to do until more conductors finally see the Brucknerian light!

Having said that I think that the final version of the 8th is a genuine improvement on the original, so I tend to take a pragmatic view of the various Bruckner versions.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

What was the encore? Was in the hall so last to know...

Likewise, was in the hall but if it wasn't Prokofiev I'd be surprised.

[Alison]

While I scratch my head and ponder the relative merits of this week's Bruckner conductors and orchestras it feels right to say that I have gasped again at the wonder of these great symphonies. Simply stupendous works.

Devoted Mahlerian that I am, not sure that I would have been up for his Fourth, Sixth and Third on successive nights!

[LeMartinPecheur]

Likewise, was in the hall but if it wasn't Prokofiev I'd be surprised.

R3 said it was indeed Prokofiev, something from Cinderella. I think they said in Proko's own transcription which may narrow it down.

[Alison]

Rather oddly elongated final bars tonight?: didn't add to my pleasure.

[Prommer]

That was some performance of the Third: what a wonderful band. And my dear, the brass were toppest notch.

A very auspicious Proms debut for Thielemann in my view. He is a curious old thing: rather sweet and charming in many ways, jerky of gesture and posture, and occasionally rather demanding of the strings tonight. He appears to struggle to get them to play more quietly and is very prepared to shake his head exaggeratedly when he is not getting what he wants! He doesn't conduct everything, still less is he pleasing to look at, but he cues, shapes, nudges. The work is clearly done in rehearsal in terms of realising an interpretation.