Prom 36: Mahler, Wagner and Webern – 9.08.18

[gedsmk]

The orchestra has managed to make some suberb appointments, some extremely young and extremely good. I am particuarly thinking of the newish principal oboe (though he was not playing last night and was replaced by an equally sensitive player, Jenny Galloway), the principal timpanist and, very recently, the principal bass trombone.

This is truly a great orchestra.

Enjoyed hugely in the hall on the night. Listening back on iPlayer the quality of the playing in the opening three or four minutes of the Wagner is truly magnificent. Five stars to the engineers as well as the players and conductor. Solti would be proud!

[Conchis]

I'm afraid Robert Dean Smith's name on a programme instantly makes me resolve not to listen. I heard more than enough of him at CG back in the day.

If you can't find a proper Wagnerian tenor to sing a Wagnerian tenor role, then - don't bother!

[Ein Heldenleben]

I'm afraid Robert Dean Smith's name on a programme instantly makes me resolve not to listen. I heard more than enough of him at CG back in the day.

If you can't find a proper Wagnerian tenor to sing a Wagnerian tenor role, then - don't bother!

Good decision - comprehensively out sung by the Hunding. His Walse was almost a trill so wide was the vibrato