Prom 45 - 18.08.17: Mahler – ‘Resurrection’ Symphony

[Simon B]

Nor am I in all honesty but I'll be in the hall regardless. I've no recollection of him taking on Mahler during his time with the CBSO but surely he must have done. Whatever, the case, Oramo is a fine conductor while the BBCSO is in tip-top form these days so I'm anticipating a great evening.

Recently (2015) he conducted a very well reviewed 3rd Symphony with the BBCSO:

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:e7rwGBiIAE8J:www.telegraph.co.uk/music/classical-music/bbc-symphony-orchestra-season-opener-mahler-3rd-symphony-barbican-review/+&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk

An entirely personal subjective view: Oramo's interpretations across a range of repertoire often seem to combine (total stereotype/cliche alert) measures of both Finnish reserve and unshowiness as the surface over quite an ardent core not at all afraid of a) fervour and b) giving it some right good welly. This seems a good combination for Mahler 2. Admittedly, that's just so much adjectival bilge. Regardless, the BBCSO seem to love him (or their acting skills have improved immensely) which is rarely a bad thing.

We'll find out soon enough what sort of racket ensues on this occasion. At least we should be guaranteed an adequate or better sized chorus and the RAH organ, which will make a change from some of the numerous feebly underwhelming Aufersteh'n bits the Proms have delivered over the years. Was the BRSO/Jansons the last Proms M2? The end of that was more like salon music to accompany a vicar's tea party than a blaze of redemptive glory!

[Darkbloom]

Recently (2015) he conducted a very well reviewed 3rd Symphony with the BBCSO:

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:e7rwGBiIAE8J:www.telegraph.co.uk/music/classical-music/bbc-symphony-orchestra-season-opener-mahler-3rd-symphony-barbican-review/+&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk

An entirely personal subjective view: Oramo's interpretations across a range of repertoire often seem to combine (total stereotype/cliche alert) measures of both Finnish reserve and unshowiness as the surface over quite an ardent core not at all afraid of a) fervour and b) giving it some right good welly. This seems a good combination for Mahler 2. Admittedly, that's just so much adjectival bilge. Regardless, the BBCSO seem to love him (or their acting skills have improved immensely) which is rarely a bad thing.

We'll find out soon enough what sort of racket ensues on this occasion. At least we should be guaranteed an adequate or better sized chorus and the RAH organ, which will make a change from some of the numerous feebly underwhelming Aufersteh'n bits the Proms have delivered over the years. Was the BRSO/Jansons the last Proms M2? The end of that was more like salon music to accompany a vicar's tea party than a blaze of redemptive glory!

The last one, I think, was Harding and the Swedish RO, about three years ago, but they come around so often I might be mistaken. I'm not a big Harding fan and it sounded a bit flat to me.

[Alison]

Doesn't seem five mins since the Uncle Bernie one with a feeble and accident prone BBCSO yet delivering a finale that had Simon blubbering!

[Prommer]

Or Leif Segerstam perhaps, a long season :)

Now that's an idea: a Bruckner cycle with Segerstam, and nothing Leif-ed out.

[Petrushka]

Doesn't seem five mins since the Uncle Bernie one with a feeble and accident prone BBCSO yet delivering a finale that had Simon blubbering!

Ah yes, I was at that one. (2006) The BBCSO was on an off-night until Haitink just seemed to pick them up by the scruff of the neck and gave an account of the finale not to be forgotten.

Previous accounts in recent years have come from the Swedish Radio SO/Harding (2014), BRSO/Jansons (2013), Simon Bolivar SO/Dudamel (2011). I was present at all except the Harding. One immense advantage in having the home team on stage is the mighty beast that is the RAH organ can make a suitably telling contribution at the very end.

The Resurrection doesn't appear at the Proms as often as one might think so looking forward to this.

[gedsmk]

Ah yes, I was at that one. (2006) The BBCSO was on an off-night until Haitink just seemed to pick them up by the scruff of the neck and gave an account of the finale not to be forgotten.

Previous accounts in recent years have come from the Swedish Radio SO/Harding (2014), BRSO/Jansons (2013), Simon Bolivar SO/Dudamel (2011). I was present at all except the Harding. One immense advantage in having the home team on stage is the mighty beast that is the RAH organ can make a suitably telling contribution at the very end.

The Resurrection doesn't appear at the Proms as often as one might think so looking forward to this.

I am looking forward to this one too. I was at the damp squib Haitink - the finale was IMVHO simply --OK-- after all the slips from the previous movements, and Haitink's annoying way of slowing down in the first movement when he should have been speeding up. The Dudamel Finale (the previous movements were a bit dodgy with odd tempi decisions) was in a different class - orchestra, organ at full tilt and what a fantastic chorus the National Youth Choir provided. That Finale still impresses thanks to a pretty good youtube provision.

[Alison]

I am looking forward to this one too. I was at the damp squib Haitink - the finale was IMVHO simply --OK-- after all the slips from the previous movements, and Haitink's annoying way of slowing down in the first movement when he should have been speeding up. The Dudamel Finale (the previous movements were a bit dodgy with odd tempi decisions) was in a different class - orchestra, organ at full tilt and what a fantastic chorus the National Youth Choir provided. That Finale still impresses thanks to a pretty good youtube provision.

No, that over indulgent concert rather put me off Dudamel for a while, it all felt a bit like Disneyland to me. But I am pleased to have revised my opinion since.

[Simon B]

Doesn't seem five mins since the Uncle Bernie one with a feeble and accident prone BBCSO yet delivering a finale that had Simon blubbering!

Yes, I remember that one well - and the slightly staggering fact it was over 10 years ago. Both for personal reasons (which in hindsight probably heightened the impact of the latter stages when it suddenly came alive) and for the rather remarkable performance, in several contradictory senses.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but after regular collaborations over many years, Haitink has never conducted the BBCSO again. This may, or may not, be a coincidence... Totally different orchestra now, though many of the members are the same.

[Alison]

I think you're right Simon. In later years BH can't have presided over many orchestras that played quite as badly as that.

Shame he couldn't do a Solti and have a turn with the BBC Philharmonic.

[Petrushka]

I think you're right Simon. In later years BH can't have presided over many orchestras that played quite as badly as that.

Shame he couldn't do a Solti and have a turn with the BBC Philharmonic.

That's odd, I was only recalling Solti and the BBCPO just the other day. To be honest, he found the orchestra ideal for use as a laboratory to try out his interpretations of music that was either new to him or not touched for a long while, presenting his concerts more out of the limelight then taking them to Chicago or Vienna and the recording studio. It was a win-win situation all round for Solti, Manchester audiences, the BBC and the orchestra.

Back on topic, there haven't really been many successful Prom outings for the Resurrection with most failing to please in some way. My first was LPO/Haitink in 1978 and one I still recall well as it was my second ever Prom. It is still the best Prom performance of the Mahler 2 I've heard. Hoping that Oramo and the BBCSO can finally buck the trend.

[Darkbloom]

I think you're right Simon. In later years BH can't have presided over many orchestras that played quite as badly as that.

Shame he couldn't do a Solti and have a turn with the BBC Philharmonic.

I saw Haitiink do Mahler 2 with the LPO a few years before the Proms one. Again, it was very slow, but the main thing that stuck in my mind was the number of mistakes the orchestra made. It was announced before the concert that the performance was being recorded, but the number of fluffs must have made it unusable.

[vinteuil]

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... such a good idea. I think we shd have a year of Proms with no Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Mahler, Bruckner, Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Bach, Handel, Strauss, Brahms, Schubert, Schumann, or any other 'big name' ....

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So what would you like to hear?

... ideally, one year with nothing at all - a palate-cleanser to make people appreciate (a) what had come before and (b) what is to come.

Then perhaps five years with music composed before 1685 and music composed after 1976, but excluding anything 1685-1976.

A little relaxation thereafter, but no British music pre-1976 for the next fifteen years.

That should about do it...




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[Ein Heldenleben]

According to the proms website there are still weekend passes available . If thiis is true then this concert together with Gurreleider tomorrow and the St John Passion Sunday must represent the Choral singing ( German section ) bargain of the century.

[cloughie]

Just caught a snatch of the action, sounds wonderful, must listen to the whole, recording on good old MD!

[DracoM]

Blimey, this has to be the slowest Mahler 2 I have ever heard............!!