Prom 37: Orchestra of the Academy of Santa Cecilia & Sir Antonio Pappano -10.08.18

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

19:30
Royal Albert Hall

Joseph Haydn: The Creation – Chaos
Leonard Bernstein: Symphony No. 1 'Jeremiah'
Gustav Mahler: Symphony No 1 in D major

Elizabeth DeShong mezzo-soprano
Orchestra of the Academy of Santa Cecilia, Rome
Sir Antonio Pappano conductor


The Bernstein centenary celebrations continue in a programme that pairs his 'Jeremiah' Symphony with music by two composers he admired and championed.

Appearing at the Proms for the first time in five years, Rome's Santa Cecilia Orchestra (of which Bernstein was Honorary President for almost a decade) and its Music Director Sir Antonio Pappano perform Bernstein's youthful First Symphony, charged with political anxiety and dread, alongside another symphonic debut, Mahler's dramatic First.

The evening opens with Haydn's arresting musical vision of primordial chaos.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

[Pulcinella]

On my iPad screen, in one of the formats I look at new postings, this topic appeared simply as Prom 37: Orchestra of the Academy of Santa. I always wondered what his little helpers were doing when they weren't helping to pack and deliver Christmas presents.


Looking forward to this concert very much indeed.

[BBMmk2]

On my iPad screen, in one of the formats I look at new postings, this topic appeared simply as Prom 37: Orchestra of the Academy of Santa. I always wondered what his little helpers were doing when they weren't helping to pack and deliver Christmas presents.


Looking forward to this concert very much indeed.

Does with my new tablet too Pulcie! Looking forward to this one too.

[jayne lee wilson]

Another well-planned programme. Pappano and the band showcasing the new album...

Don't know the Jeremiah? You'll really want to if you hear it tonight....gorgeous, prodigious piece, composed by a 20-something Bernstein...

[oddoneout]

On my iPad screen, in one of the formats I look at new postings, this topic appeared simply as Prom 37: Orchestra of the Academy of Santa. I always wondered what his little helpers were doing when they weren't helping to pack and deliver Christmas presents.


Looking forward to this concert very much indeed.

Sponsored by Disney?

[edashtav]

Another well-planned programme. Pappano and the band showcasing the new album...

Don't know the Jeremiah? You'll really want to if you hear it tonight....gorgeous, prodigious piece, composed by a 20-something Bernstein...

But, you may come away thinking as Virgil Thomson did... “Bernstein … does not compose with either originality or much skill. His pieces lack contrapuntal coherence, melodic distinction, contrapuntal progress, harmonic logic, and concentration of thought."
And , possibly your belief in Bernstein’s intellectual calibre has been undermined by reading Tom Wolfe’s 1970 essay, "Radical Chic: That Party at Lenny’s,"

(Just being provocative, acting as the ’s advocate, Jayne [ I can’t make my mind up about him! HELP!])

[jayne lee wilson]

But, you may come away thinking as Virgil Thomson did... “Bernstein … does not compose with either originality or much skill. His pieces lack contrapuntal coherence, melodic distinction, contrapuntal progress, harmonic logic, and concentration of thought."
And , possibly your belief in Bernstein’s intellectual calibre has been undermined by reading Tom Wolfe’s 1970 essay, "Radical Chic: That Party at Lenny’s,"

(Just being provocative, acting as the ’s advocate, Jayne [ I can’t make my mind up about him! HELP!])

Early this morning I listened to the Baltimore SO/Alsop, and Bernstein's NYPO Jeremiahs, back-to-back - two wonderful recordings, and by the end of the hour I was feeling a little in love... "one for the heart"...

Devotededly Lamentational singing too, from Cano and Tourel, beautifully placed, not too forward...
The Santa-Band's new album is of all three Bernstein Symphonies, just arrived on Qobuz, which will get my closest attention later tonight...

[jayne lee wilson]

Orchestrally superb Bernstein 1st, as you might expect from an orchestra and conductor who recorded it just a few months ago. Delivered with great power and passion, rhythmic verve in the Profanation and striking dynamic subtlety. All the more impressive from a very cultured-sounding European band.

I'm afraid I found the mezzo a shade overbearing though - with too much of a throb in the voice, a little too often (the recording has a different singer, Marie-Nicole Lemieux)... fine performance, and very welcome programming, nonetheless.....

[Pulcinella]

Orchestrally superb Bernstein 1st, as you might expect from an orchestra and conductor who recorded it just a few months ago. Delivered with great power and passion, rhythmic verve and striking dynamic subtlety. All the more impressive from a very cultured-sounding European band.

I'm afraid I found the mezzo a shade overbearing though - with too much of a throb in the voice, a little too often (the recording has a different singer, Marie-Nicole Lemieux)... fine performance, and very welcome programming, nonetheless.....

They might have played all the notes, but for me it lacked the 'panache' that I feel this piece needs. If that had been the first time I had heard the work, I'd be left wondering what all the fuss was about. Agree about the soloist, though.
The raw energy of the 1945 Bernstein St Louis performance with Nan Merriman probably hits the spot most for me (I have the Sony and DG Bernsteins too, as well as the Alsop).

[BBMmk2]

I just can’t think why there’s not more posts on this Prom? Surely , from what I’ve heard so far, it deserves more?

[Beef Oven!]

Ok, here's another. If I get time, I'll post some more later.

[edashtav]

Sir Antonio doesn’t need to feel he’ll be the Lone Ranger, if I’m around, I’ll join his possé any day. Why? I just love his way with scores: he understands the lyrical muse and constantly find the tune and then shapes it with the most elegant and sensitive touches of rubato. When listening to his Respighi encore, I thought, gosh, Antonio’s Tommy Beecham’s ghost. Both have that knack of turning hackneyed pieces into fragrant lollipops. I felt his Mahler was very emotional, and why not, to misquote Elgar, Mahler might have said, “I don’t want my music conducted as if it were a cardboard box with straight edges and square corners.” I did wonder whether Pappano’s basic tempo for the finale was a tad slow; later when roughness spoiled the string tone , I wondered whether it could have been caused by tiredness.

Both orchestra and conductor showed the virtues of a long, happy marriage over a series of one-night stands. I smiled when the orchestra struck up The Lone Ranger as AP came back on stage after the first encore. Constantin Silvestri’s Bournemouth band could start Enescu’s 1st Romanian Rhapsody with a nod from its principal clarinettist, Ray Carpenter.
Many happy returns, please!

[Lat-Literal]

I'll definitely listen to this Prom on the I-Player. I do know the Jeremiah. In fact, I have worked hard to listen to all of Bernstein's symphonies. I own most. They are not easy - I do need to find my right time for them - but the very fact that he was so able in writing such diverse works including the well known musicals is the only musical context that is hugely relevant.

No one else could do it. Then Bernstein the conductor, Bernstein the great educator and entertainer including for young people, Bernstein the personally complex and the charismatic and Bernstein the only person who was able to fill the Fairfield Hall, Croydon with soul. If anyone doesn't get it, they are losing out on a lot. Yes, I could criticise him too but no need.

Tbh I started from the attitude "prove it". On research, I'd go so far as saying that he was an individual whose loss was a genuine societal loss - his achievements were under-rated.

[jayne lee wilson]

They might have played all the notes, but for me it lacked the 'panache' that I feel this piece needs. If that had been the first time I had heard the work, I'd be left wondering what all the fuss was about. Agree about the soloist, though.
The raw energy of the 1945 Bernstein St Louis performance with Nan Merriman probably hits the spot most for me (I have the Sony and DG Bernsteins too, as well as the Alsop).

I just listened to the first two movements of the Jeremiah again and I'm still very, very impressed with it. Taken on its own terms - a sophisticated European ensemble playing in a very large space - it was led with great subtlety and care for shape and detail. Pappano wasn't afraid to play sweetly and softly, so it seemed to lack some presence at first, but built up, very skilfully, to some extremely powerful climaxes. They may have lacked a little weight in the RAH as webcast (beautifully distanced on the HDs feed, which was never tempted to boost some very quiet pps), but had a brilliant, well-defined cutting edge. I thought it lacked for nothing in rhythmic drive in the second movement, again with well-judged varying of pace and power.

It'll be interesting to see how the recording presents it.