Prom 31: Minnesota Orchestra & Osmo Vänskä - 6.08.18

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Royal Albert Hall

Leonard Bernstein: Candide – overture
George Gershwin: Piano Concerto in F major
Charles Ives: Symphony No. 2

Inon Barnatan piano
Minnesota Orchestra
Osmo Vänskä conductor


A great American orchestra marks Leonard Bernstein's 100th-anniversary year with a concert of 20th century American classics that represent Bernstein in his multiple guises as composer, conductor and pianist.

The breathless exuberance of Bernstein's Candide overture is extended by Inon Barnatan in Gershwin's Concerto in F major, which filters the composer's popular jazz idiom through classical structures and Lisztian virtuosity.

Premiered by Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic in 1951, Ives's attractive Second Symphony melds European techniques with an all-American sound-world.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

When I was a student, Ives was revered above all others by many around me.

[LMcD]

Another shortish programme (73 minutes). I know quantity isn't the only criterion, but the Parry/Holst/Vaughan Williams concert last Friday was scheduled at 104 minutes.

[Cockney Sparrow]

I suppose with orchestras on tour, there may well be little room for choice, but as they will have rehearsed/played in concert the works more than once I can't see an excuse for short measure. With UK out of London orchestras I wonder if an early finish enables the players to be decanted in Cardiff/Birmingham/Manchester at a time when they their conditions of service do not insist on London hotel rooms? But a touring orchestra will be going to a hotel (or London night life) so its reasonable to expect more for the considerable price we are asked to pay.
But yes, including those UK orchestras - my feelings exactly - I would have turned out for last Friday, had there not been a diary clash. But not for 73 minutes, at stalls prices (not up for queuing then standing these days). And I can get there door to door (well security bag check) in 75 minutes.

I was told by someone in the broadcast (TV) production world, that Proms ticket sales are problematically low this year. If so, the lightweight programmes would be a contributor - us loyal (likely older) attenders feel they have crossed a line, and maybe their much sought after younger audience look at the prices and demur? (All this last para surmise and speculation, by all means shoot my line of thought down, especially if members are seeing pretty full houses all through the week. I wonder if we will get the usual stats in the last night speech?)

[Bryn]

With both Bernstein and Ives on the programme, I wait with bated breath to find how Vanska approaches the final chord of the latter's 2nd Symphony. Will he opt for Ives or Bernstein? I do hope to find out sooner, rather than later.

[BBMmk2]

Hmmm, be interesting to listen to, whatever?

[PhilipT]

With UK out of London orchestras I wonder if an early finish enables the players to be decanted in Cardiff/Birmingham/Manchester at a time when they their conditions of service do not insist on London hotel rooms?

It is well known that if the BBC/NOW aren't back over Offa's Dyke before midnight they need to be paid extra. Nothing concentrates the minds of concert promoters more.

[bluestateprommer]

Another shortish programme (73 minutes). I know quantity isn't the only criterion, but the Parry/Holst/Vaughan Williams concert last Friday was scheduled at 104 minutes.

This leaves room for encores from both the pianist and the orchestra. Since the Minnesota Orchestra is subsequently proceeding to South Africa, my guess is that the orchestra, at least, has an encore or two up their collective sleeve. Don't freak out :) .

PS: From the orchestra's preview performance of this Prom from this past Wednesday in Minneapolis, Barnatan, at least, offered an encore:

http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-orchestra-throws-a-send-off-filled-with-american-fireworks/489894051/

Per Bryn's concern about the closing chord, reviewer Terry Blain simply said:

"And the monstrous dissonance employed by Ives at the ending was timed to perfection."

[Nick Armstrong]

Bumping this ahead of tonight, looking forward to hearing this orchestra live for the first time.

[mrbouffant]

Bumping this ahead of tonight, looking forward to hearing this orchestra live for the first time.

A perfect concert for my two youngest kids. Looking forward to being in the hall tonight!

[Nick Armstrong]

A perfect concert for my two youngest kids. Looking forward to being in the hall tonight!

Yup - also going with a youngster.

[Zucchini]

Yup - also going with a youngster.

To many radio 3 listeners and most forum members, 45-54 y olds qualify as youngsters & 35-44s as kids and under 35s haven't been born yet ...

[Nick Armstrong]

To many radio 3 listeners and most forum members, 45-54 y olds qualify as youngsters & 35-44s as kids and under 35s haven't been born yet ...

... well the one I shall be with was born with the present century well underway (He was already gripped by the 'London' symphonies last week )

[Richard Tarleton]

There was a lengthy article by Richard Morrison in Friday's Times about this orchestra's and conductor's lengthy lock-out/strike

[jayne lee wilson]

That was pretty good, wasn't it? This very polished much-recorded ensemble (their many recordings owned, I'm sure, by many here) showing their pedigree...
Guess the Gershwin never figures in my top ten, but it was hot-to-trot and cool-to-move tonight.. even my fussy internal rhythm-o-meter was happy with the soloist/orchestra snap, give and take....
Enjoying the easy, cultured tones of Brian Newhouse from MPR.... should've let him do it solo.

And now for the main event: will the Bronx Cheer get the Bryn Award?