Prom 36 - 12.08.17: Schubert and Mahler

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Very briskly paced rendering by TD and the BBC SSO of the Schubert, with a slight touch of relaxation at the end. Some bits in the second movement at the quick pace did threaten to become a gabble. Overall, tight ensemble from the orchestra. I actually haven't heard much of TD's concerts with the BBC SSO in his 1st year as chief conductor.

I'm not one who goes along with the tasteless habit of playing slow movements at reckless speeds that end up sounding faster than the so-called quicker movements. However, tonight's performance of the Schubert didn't feel at at rushed to me, whereas the 2nd movement of Beethoven 1, as played the other evening, did. It all confirms the old adage that can't please all the people all of the time.

[Petrushka]

I'm not one who goes along with the tasteless habit of playing slow movements at reckless speeds that end up sounding faster than the so-called quicker movements. However, tonight's performance of the Schubert didn't feel at at rushed to me, whereas the 2nd movement of Beethoven 1, as played the other evening, did. It all confirms the old adage that can't please all the people all of the time.

It was the other way round for me! The LvB 1 the other night sounded just right to my ears while tonight's Schubert sounded rushed and robbed of all feeling. The Mahler 10 was a different matter entirely, an excellent rendition all round.

[jayne lee wilson]

SCHUBERT 8/MAHLER 10. BBCSSO/DAUSGAARD. R3 CONCERT SOUND - unusually, technical standards well below expectation - see below.

Very audible level manipulation - boosting the levels of the quietest string passages, the hall atmosphere rumbling up towards you, exaggerated immediacy/resonance of strings, with subsequent effects of overloud wind solos etc - really distracted my attentions here.
The performance was very intense, with sharp articulation, daringly extreme rubato (very fast end of scherzo 1; scherzo 2 set off at a great pace, but very much slower - touchingly so - in the lyrical episodes. This underlined the sense of the emotional narrative intensifying as the work develops,
especially given the wide dynamic range in scherzo 2 (much better engineering through (ii) - (iv)) where the climaxes opened out with terrific force.

But I felt I shouldn't have gone back to the work yet. Too early for any Mahlerian rapprochement. Couldn't connect, except near the very end - when that level-boosting returned to nip my late responses in the bud....

Schubert 8th as expected - very impressive 1st movement, very quick and sharply articulated, with a beautifully-judged relaxation for the cellos' 2nd subject. Powerful and disciplined dynamics. But yes, I still wanted a little more light-and-shade in the andante. It is con moto, of course, but perhaps this speed is better suited to a four-movement version.

All the same, a fine, successful, unfinished "Unfinished" , (with very polished playing) on its own interpretative terms.

[Alison]

A rather strange sounding drum in the Mahler (v) - a sort of reinforced dustbin lid timbre.

[duncan]

Heard this in the hall. Not convinced by the Schubert I'm afraid but thought the Mahler was pretty fine, especially the final movement. The muffled military drum thuds, as scored, were notably effective. A real memento mori.

[Rolmill]

I was also in the hall.

I did like the Schubert: swift but certainly not perfunctory, clear distinction between the Allegro moderato of the first movt and Andante con moto of the second (I feel that all too often the pulse of the two movements is too similar), some lovingly shaped phrasing and a pleasing delicacy at times, but power enough when needed. All in all, a real treat to hear a different, but (imv) successful, take on such a familiar piece.

I had never previously heard Mahler 10 live, so this was the real reason for booking the concert - and it did not disappoint: generally very fine playing, the orchestra seemingly showing real commitment and fire, as well as poise and lyricism, and what a great, vibrant, moving, satisfying work it is when heard live (the Rattle Berlin CD pales by comparison).

One of the most enjoyable concerts I have attended in recent years.

PS It may not be a coincidence that the BBCSSO was also responsible for another of my favourites, the Manze V-W 4/5/6 Prom a couple of years ago.

[kernelbogey]

While Mahler 9 always moves me, Mahler 10 leaves me cold. Can't explain that. I just wonder if I'm alone with that. (And I love most all the other symphonies.)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Not convinced by the Schubert I'm afraid ...

I'm never convinced by the Schubert nowadays, unless I hear this after the close of the Andante con moto.

[Alison]

While Mahler 9 always moves me, Mahler 10 leaves me cold. Can't explain that. I just wonder if I'm alone with that. (And I love most all the other symphonies.)

I certainly don't feel that way myself. Maybe 10 is more performance dependent e.g. the Rattle Berlin 10 does leave me cold.

[Petrushka]

I certainly don't feel that way myself. Maybe 10 is more performance dependent e.g. the Rattle Berlin 10 does leave me cold.

You should have heard the Leipzig Gewandhaus/Chailly Prom performance in 2009. I was there and it was simply overwhelming. I'm long past the stage of fully accepting the 10th as part of the Mahler canon (I first heard it before I knew some of the others) and in the right hands I find that it can be more moving than even the 9th.

[Bryn]

You should have heard the Leipzig Gewandhaus/Chailly Prom performance in 2009. I was there and it was simply overwhelming. I'm long past the stage of fully accepting the 10th as part of the Mahler canon (I first heard it before I knew some of the others) and in the right hands I find that it can be more moving than even the 9th.

i ever find Chailly's performances of the work very much curate's egg experiences. All goes pretty well until he insists on turning the composer's discrete muffled drum strokes at the cusp of the 4th and 5th movements into drum rolls. Not what Alma and others confirmed as authentic.

[Alison]

You should have heard the Leipzig Gewandhaus/Chailly Prom performance in 2009. I was there and it was simply overwhelming. I'm long past the stage of fully accepting the 10th as part of the Mahler canon (I first heard it before I knew some of the others) and in the right hands I find that it can be more moving than even the 9th.

I didn't make myself clear Pet. I agree with you - as usual!

[Alison]

i ever find Chailly's performances of the work very much curate's egg experiences. All goes pretty well until he insists on turning the composer's discrete muffled drum strokes at the cusp of the 4th and 5th movements into drum rolls. Not what Alma and others confirmed as authentic.

And he doesn't quite nail the finale as a whole on his recording, the performance feels exaggerated and inorganic to my ears.