Prom 12: Beethoven, Shostakovich & Rachmaninov - 23.07.18

[underthecountertenor]

I'm pleased to have seen the enthusiasm for Canellakis's conducting on this site, contrasting as it does with a typical 'cleverer-than-thou' review by Richard Morrison in The Times, featuring this extraordinary piece of nonsense:

"I wasn’t quite so dazzled by the American on the podium. It’s easy to see why Karina Canellakis has risen fast. She keeps the music neat, makes lovely choreography with her arms and does nothing stupid with tempo. Where’s the temperament, though? Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances, the last orchestral testament of a depressive genius, has an undertone of black irony entirely missing in this sweetly untroubled reading."

I wonder if RM would ever write, about a male conductor, 'he keeps the music neat, makes lovely choreography with his arms....'. I somehow doubt it.

[jayne lee wilson]

I'm pleased to have seen the enthusiasm for Canellakis's conducting on this site, contrasting as it does with a typical 'cleverer-than-thou' review by Richard Morrison in The Times, featuring this extraordinary piece of nonsense:

"I wasn’t quite so dazzled by the American on the podium. It’s easy to see why Karina Canellakis has risen fast. She keeps the music neat, makes lovely choreography with her arms and does nothing stupid with tempo. Where’s the temperament, though? Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances, the last orchestral testament of a depressive genius, has an undertone of black irony entirely missing in this sweetly untroubled reading."

I wonder if RM would ever write, about a male conductor, 'he keeps the music neat, makes lovely choreography with his arms....'. I somehow doubt it.

...(RM comments...

[edashtav]

I agree, Richard Morrison was not alive to profound insights of Karina’s interpretation of the Rachmaninov, but worse, he let himself down by his off-colour comments.

We all have bad days at the office and I wish Richard a quick recovery... perhaps, he not good on hot, sultry nights.

[Alison]

Only just caught up with this concert. Wonderful performance of the Symphonic Dances, fresh and detailed.

Shocking comments from RM. Good judge he ain’t. But then we knew that from his library building efforts.

[underthecountertenor]

Only just caught up with this concert. Wonderful performance of the Symphonic Dances, fresh and detailed.

Shocking comments from RM. Good judge he ain’t. But then we knew that from his library building efforts.

[underthecountertenor]

I agree, Richard Morrison was not alive to profound insights of Karina’s interpretation of the Rachmaninov, but worse, he let himself down by his off-colour comments.

We all have bad days at the office and I wish Richard a quick recovery... perhaps, he not good on hot, sultry nights.

[bluestateprommer]

FWIW, the beginning and end of this Prom was sent out on the World Service a short time after the full Prom, for anyone who wants to revisit the Beethoven and Rachmaninov:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csxh0m

There's also a tiny audio snippet of rehearsal footage. If you want to revisit the whole concert, one 'back door' was is via the US public radio program SymphonyCast, where you have to put up with some US radio announcer audio footage as sandwich around the main course:

https://www.yourclassical.org/programs/symphonycast/episodes/2018/08/13

KC has a big, big future ahead if this Prom was any guide.

Your one comment about the BBC SO and KC was the one thing that I forgot to comment on at the time, namely that one doesn't doubt that KC is now on the short list of conductors for the BBC SO to keep in mind for post-Oramo. (My guess is that Edward Gardner is also on that short list. Granted, every orchestra needs to keep such a running short list.) She does need to build up some career experience with one orchestra, in case the BBC SO comes calling some years down the line. The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic should serve her well, and she them, in that regard.

Plus, her near-term future is jaw-droppingly full, where she barely seems to have any time off. Her future itinerary does include a guest appearance with the Royal Northern Sinfonia next April 18, if anyone wants to plan ahead.