Prom 74 - 8.09.17: Vienna Philharmonic – Brahms, Mozart and Beethoven

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

19:30 Friday 8 September 2017
Royal Albert Hall

Johannes Brahms: Variations on the St Anthony Chorale
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Concerto No 14 in E flat major, K449
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No 7 in A major

Emanuel Ax piano
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Michael Tilson Thomas conductor

Michael Tilson Thomas and pianist Emanuel Ax join the Vienna Philharmonic for the orchestra's second concert this season - a programme filled with song and dance.

Wagner famously described Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 as 'the apotheosis of the dance', and it's hard to hear the breathless Scherzo or exuberant finale without becoming swept up in the work's restless energy.

That energy also invigorates Brahms's Variations, taking a theme once thought to be by Haydn and transforming it by turns into a graceful sicilienne and a swaying, syncopated dance.

For Mozart it is song that offers the inspiration for his dramatic Piano Concerto No. 14, with its arching melodies and almost operatic musical dialogues between soloist and orchestra.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Music that has been very much the core of the Vienna Philharmonic's repertoire. (In the grand scheme of things, music of the Strauss family is relatively insignificant, being played only at New Year and occasionally for encores.)

[BBMmk2]

Npt a prom that would take to me for going but on this occasion, I would.

[richardfinegold]

Has MTT ever conducted the VPO before?

[BBMmk2]

Has MTT ever conducted the VPO before?

I've been thinking this too, RFG. I think, as far as I can tell, it's the first time!

[Petrushka]

Decided to skip this Prom. I'm fairly sure that MTT will have conducted the VPO before but this isn't the kind of repertoire that suits him best. However, I'm sure the VPO will play for him as if he were Karajan.

[richardfinegold]

Decided to skip this Prom. I'm fairly sure that MTT will have conducted the VPO before but this isn't the kind of repertoire that suits him best. However, I'm sure the VPO will play for him as if he were Karajan.

It is an atypical type of a program for MTT. One wonders if he is a wee bit overly respectful of the VPO and doesn't want to challenge them as his mentor, LB once famously did

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Has MTT ever conducted the VPO before?

This may answer the question:

http://michaeltilsonthomas.com/2014/12/01/mtt-conducts-mahlers-fifth-symphony-with-vienna-philharmonic-orchestra/

[vinteuil]

This may answer the question:

http://michaeltilsonthomas.com/2014/...nic-orchestra/

"... Following last season’s performances in the Austrian capital, Yerevan,"

Clearly the Austro-Hungarian Empire has new expansionist aims...


.

[Bryn]

"... Following last season’s performances in the Austrian capital, Yerevan,"

Clearly the Austro-Hungarian Empire has new expansionist aims...


.

Yes, that comma after Yerevan is not merely redundant. It quite undermines the intent.

[Barbirollians]

Wonderful playing but faceless interpretation of the St Anthony Variations .

[Barbirollians]

This Mozart isn't doing much for me either . I wish this concert was being conducted by Haitink with Pires at the piano .

[Alison]

This Mozart isn't doing much for me either . I wish this concert was being conducted by Haitink with Pires at the piano .

[Barbirollians]

I just found that K449 boring and lacking in any sort of sparkle .

[kernelbogey]

I just found that K449 boring and lacking in any sort of sparkle .

And this Schubert too, I feel... routine?