Prom 22 - 31.07.17: Monteverdi's Vespers

[DracoM]

What on earth was that fiercely syllabic Lord's Prayer doing at the beginning?

Absolutely. Seemed totally at odds with what followed.

[doversoul1]

I think this is very much a one-off, special festival edition for The Proms by Raphaël Pichon and Ensemble Pygmalion, and as such, it suited the venue and the audience excellently without cheapening Monteverdi.

[Nevilevelis]

I think this is very much a one-off, special festival edition for The Proms by Raphaël Pichon and Ensemble Pygmalion, and as such, it suited the venue and the audience excellently without cheapening Monteverdi.

Absolutely. Seemed totally in the spirit of the work and its time.

[teamsaint]

So that's what is was!

I wonder if ts got a programme which will tell us.

TS didn't as, due to the endless signalling failures into Waterloo meant he was running a bit late, and didn't in fact see any on sale.

So can't help you there, Pulcers, sorry.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Just finished listening to the afternoon repeat, which I found highly enjoyable. Lots of little moments/ideas* that I wouldn't particularly want to hear repeatedly, but for a Live event I found a heckuvalot more to delight in than to dislike.

(* - I thought about mentioning the repeat of the opening "fanfare" chorus at the end, but it's usually at moments like this that somebody points out recent research which discovered letters from the composer and his contemporaries which show that this is precisely the sort of thing he used to do. )

[kernelbogey]

Just finished listening to the afternoon repeat, which I found highly enjoyable[...]

I missed a few minutes of the original broadcast performance on Monday (and repeated my error this afternoon!). I don't know it well, and couldn't understand why it sounded so different from the JEG recording I possess.

This afternoon I had a much more agreeable experience. I endorse comments above about freshness, excitement etc.

I recall Donald MacLeod on COTW saying how astonished the first to hear this work would have been, and he recalled his own teenage experience of hearing it in a freezing Scottish church (Cathedral, maybe) and being bowled over by it. It is that kind of coup de theatre that I experienced this afternoon.

[doversoul1]

I know many people here take little notice of what reviewers say but I thought this was a good point to make (not that it’s all that new or unique but worth being reminded).

It is extraordinary what power this sometimes baffling 400-year-old work has on a modern audience.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/aug/03/monteverdis-vespersisrael-in-egypt-review-choral-majesty-colour-and-a-sprinting-soprano

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

It is extraordinary what power this sometimes baffling 400-year-old work has on a modern audience[/I].
https://www.theguardian.com/music/20...inting-soprano

Yes - I did notice that, not only was there no applause between movements, for a long time it seemed as if there wasn't going to be any after the work had finished!

[Nevilevelis]

I know many people here take little notice of what reviewers say but I thought this was a good point to make (not that it’s all that new or unique but worth being reminded).

It is extraordinary what power this sometimes baffling 400-year-old work has on a modern audience.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/20...inting-soprano

A testimony to the performers. Pichon kept his arms raised at the end and very slowly lowered them. The work is iconic and attracts some particular audience members - I saw many other early music performers around me. I would have done a few things rather differently but and open mind has many guests. I was blown away and quite emotional as was my companion, also a professional musician.

NVV

[Richard Barrett]

iconic

[Nevilevelis]

Well done angry man! On form!

[Nevilevelis]

Well done, angry man! On form!

[Richard Barrett]

Well done, angry man! On form!

I just can't help it

[DracoM]

Briefest snapshot of the upcoming Dunedin Consort's version on RR this a.m. [Sat 5th Aug]

[greenilex]

Just listening to this, and finding it very exciting indeed. Love the mezzo.