Originally posted by Alison
View Post
Prom 68 - 3.09.17: Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich
Collapse
X
-
Originally posted by Simon B View PostThe Prokofiev was a classic of the Gergiev experience. Seat-of-the-Pants "rehearsal is for wimps" stuff. Plus a fair bit of the orchestration seemed to be left out with a somewhat expanded onstage brass section in lieu of the large extra offstage compliment at every other performance I've been to.
You know what you're getting with Matsuev, if it is inner reflection and poetry you're after, disappointment is your dish of the day. For fireworks stuff like this he is just the job IMV. Phenomenal technique and showmanship, job done.
Comment
-
-
Bryn - oh I agree. Attempted sardonic tone + text = no worky. I think I've been to 6 live Cantatas over the last 20 years (Elder + BBCSO x2, Elder + Halle x1, Gergiev + CBSO+Kirov, Gergiev + LSO, tonight) and tonight was in 5th place. The CBSO+Kirov (simultaneously!) was a shambles IMO. They played the Berlioz Requiem in the 2nd half which just came across as a vacant racket. I'm not convinced it isn't personally, but that's besides the point.
Apologies for list-mode there.
Elder and the BBCSO at the Proms many years ago was the most convincing though he seems to have the measure of it generally from the others.
Jarvi/Philharmonia the benchmark recording IMV.
I still enjoyed tonight up to a point. Great piece! It was a + to have authentic Russian pronunciation from the chorus. Couple of hundred more needed though...
Comment
-
-
Yes, the best part of the concert wasn't on the official programme AFAIK.
That was the Lutoslawski Paganini Variations I presume? I don't know it well enough to be absolutely certain though it sounded stylistically exactly right and I can't think what else it could be. Thrilling stuff, brilliantly executed.
Comment
-
-
Originally posted by Simon B View PostYes, the best part of the concert wasn't on the official programme AFAIK.
That was the Lutoslawski Paganini Variations I presume? I don't know it well enough to be absolutely certain though it sounded stylistically exactly right and I can't think what else it could be. Thrilling stuff, brilliantly executed.
I did not identify it at the concert, but somewhat to my embarrassment I find that I have two recordings on CD, by Jablonski and Glemser, so I should have known. Incidentally, there's a very nice set of Paganini variations by Boris Blacher, for orchestra only, well worth a hearing.
Comment
-
-
Originally posted by LeMartinPecheur View Postbsp: it's also been 'pretty conclusively proved' that most of the proof is no such thing. Steer very, very well clear of Laurel Fay and Richard Taruskin on all but the bare bones of DSCH's biography and read this instead
Last edited by Bryn; 17-09-17, 11:39.
Comment
-
-
Originally posted by Bryn View PostOn the basis of your recommendation I added this book to my small collection of Shostakovich discussion. However, more recently I came across G. C. Ginther's 2008 thesis "REVISIONISM IN THE MUSIC HISTORY OF DMITRY SHOSTAKOVICH: THE SHOSTAKOVICH WARS". An interesting adjunct, I feel."The sound is the handwriting of the conductor" - Bernard Haitink
Comment
-
-
Originally posted by Petrushka View PostBryn, I'm clicking on that link and nothing happens.
Also worth considering is Ho and Feofanov's Shostakovich Wars. (Scroll to the top for first page.)
Comment
-
Comment