Prom 69 - 4.09.17: Anne-Sophie Mutter plays Dvořák’s Violin Concerto

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

19:30 Monday 4 September 2017
Royal Albert Hall

John Adams: Lollapalooza
Antonín Dvořák: Violin Concerto in A minor
Gustav Mahler: Symphony No 1 in D major

Anne‐Sophie Mutter violin
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Manfred Honeck conductor

Following hot on the heels of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra is a visit from another great American ensemble. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Manfred Honeck continue this season's strand of Mahler symphonies with the First, a work that started life as a tone-poem and retains all of that narrative energy. A young hero sets out, hopeful, into the world, only to have his ambitions dashed by cruel fate.
Anne-Sophie Mutter makes a welcome Proms return as soloist in Dvořák's vivacious Violin Concerto, and the concert opens with a nod to great American Minimalist John Adams's 70th birthday, with his joyous orchestral dance Lollapalooza.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

A very fine violinist, who is only in her early 50s, yet who seems to have been around for an epoch.

[pastoralguy]

A very fine violinist, who is only in her early 50s, yet who seems to have been around for an epoch.

And born on exactly the same day as my good self! She must have been way ahead in the queue when talent was being handed out.

[bluestateprommer]

Chris Newman would have been pleased as punch to know of the Pittsburgh SO's return to the RAH. His comment on the PSO's blog back from their 2011 Prom is still available here:

http://blogs.pittsburghsymphony.org/2011/09/london-paris/

[marvin]

Please let's hope that the BBC record the concert with that fine violinist and gorgeous creature in her stunning dresses. Somehow I fear they won't as so far some of BBC 4's recorded output has been appalling, giving too much time to non-'classical' stuff. Shame on them.

[Prommer]

Please let's hope that the BBC record the concert with that fine violinist and gorgeous creature in her stunning dresses. Somehow I fear they won't as so far some of BBC 4's recorded output has been appalling, giving too much time to non-'classical' stuff. Shame on them.

Nope. No TV recordings of any of the big visiting orchestras now, doing e.g. the Mahler symphonies. Blame the thematic hellhounds and programmatic wonks. They still put everything with Rattle or Barenboim in the can, mysteriously!

[antongould]

Chris Newman would have been pleased as punch to know of the Pittsburgh SO's return to the RAH. His comment on the PSO's blog back from their 2011 Prom is still available here:

http://blogs.pittsburghsymphony.org/.../london-paris/

Wonderful blueser thanks for that ......

[Barbirollians]

Saw ASM play this in Birmingham with Nelsons shortly after the recording was released . We should be in for a treat if it is anywhere near as fine as that performance was.Honeck of course conducted the recording with the Berlin Phil .

[BBMmk2]

Looking forward to this then!

[Once Was 4]

Please let's hope that the BBC record the concert with that fine violinist and gorgeous creature in her stunning dresses. Somehow I fear they won't as so far some of BBC 4's recorded output has been appalling, giving too much time to non-'classical' stuff. Shame on them.

A very interesting comment which struck a chord with me. I do not want in any way to decrie the superb musicianship of most (not all) of the fine artists that we have seen in the 'non-classical stuff' programmes. Many do nothing for me but I do accept their talent and the fact that they bring pleasure for millions. I also appreciate that the planners wish to vary the diet and not just offer the same repertoire in different permutations (I have been looking at some Proms programmes from the 50s and, even then, this seems to have been a tendency).

But I ask:

1. What are the Proms for?
2. Do some of the 'non-classical stuff' broadcasts fit in with this remit?
3. What about the 'Proms Extra' broadcasts on BBC 2? Yes, David Owen-Norris' contributions are fascinating and illuminating (how about giving him a series of his own?) But what about the rest: some fine artists whose opinions could be valuable but they sit there making rather daft, meaningless observations that seem to have been written for them by somebody else. And some pretty faces who may or may not be experts in their own comfort zones but are, well, how can I put it politely? (difficult for a Yorkshireman) a waste of space.

Am I a snob - or what? I accept that, having spent most of my working life playing the horn in orchestras, I thought that in semi-retirement and final retirement I would want to experiment musically. No, wrong, I want to hear the works that turned me on to music in the first place and which went on to be my living. I hope that I have not been brainwashed.

[DoctorT]

They still put everything with Rattle or Barenboim in the can, mysteriously!

At least we do get to see Rattle and Barenboim. There is very poor TV coverage of what are advertised as the 'BBC Proms.' This year's BBC 4 offerings have been particularly disappointing. But why show classical music when airtime is needed for all those Top of the Pops re-runs?

[pastoralguy]

Wonderful playing from the mighty Anne-Sophie Mutter. Perhaps missing a little in charm but she's certainly taking no prisoners in this rendition!

[pastoralguy]

Absolutely unbelievable violin playing!! Just incredible. I have to go and re-set my jaw.

[bluestateprommer]

Good clean fun with JCA's Lollapalooza to start the party, with Manfred Honeck probably more than a bit out of his comfort zone than usual. Fine rendition of the Dvorak; maybe one really high note in the first movement that sounded a bit like "phew, I got it!", but as pg noted above, sure work throughout. Generous of her to add the JSB encore as well.

On their last appearance, some of the musicians made a donation to the PMC during the interval. I wonder if they'll do the same again this year.

BTW, after the Mahler (where, for anyone in the RAH, the horns will stand in their moment in the finale), be prepared possibly for 1, possibly 2, encores, if their earlier tour material is anything to go by, either one or both of:
(a) Tchaikovsky: The Sleeping Beauty - 'Panorama'
(b) Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet - 'The Death of Tybalt'

PS: Obviously guessed wrong on the above encore guesses. The guess was based on the encores on this concert of the PSO's tour:

http://blogs.pittsburghsymphony.org/2017/08/a-warm-wiesbaden-welcome-the-rheingau-musik-festival/

[Prommer]

Good clean fun with JCA's Lollapalooza to start the party, with Manfred Honeck probably more than a bit out of his comfort zone than usual. Fine rendition of the Dvorak; maybe one really high note in the first movement that sounded a bit like "phew, I got it!", but as pg noted above, sure work throughout. Generous of her to add the JSB encore as well.

On their last appearance, some of the musicians made a donation to the PMC during the interval. I wonder if they'll do the same again this year.

BTW, after the Mahler (where, for anyone in the RAH, the horns will stand in their moment in the finale), be prepared possibly for 1, possibly 2, encores, if their earlier tour material is anything to go by, either one or both of:
(a) Tchaikovsky: The Sleeping Beauty - 'Panorama'
(b) Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet - 'The Death of Tybalt'

Fab: one can only hope.

Surely earlier sections of Mahler 1 first movement are pastoral? Haven't looked...

V. fine so far: the brass!