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

[Pulcinella]

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

Especially with a different mezzo in the third movement.

[BBMmk2]

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, when holes appeared the string tone seemed uneven but that could have been 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!

Quite agree Edash! The concert was top notch. Loved. The encores.

[richardfinegold]

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.

There aren’t that many Bernstein Symphonies, Lit. It shouldn’t be as much work as mastering the output of Havergal Brian or Haydn.
I also feel with Bernstein’s Symphonies that he was trying to hard to make a big statement, to chisel a place amongst immortals, whatever. His natural metier was the Stage, whether it was Broadway, Opera, or some type of neo Berliozian hybrid, such as Mass. I also wish that he had written a Piano Concerto, because as his Symposium shows, he had affinity for the Soloist vs Orchestra. Just my opinion

[Pulcinella]

There aren’t that many Bernstein Symphonies, Lit. It shouldn’t be as much work as mastering the output of Havergal Brian or Haydn.
I also feel with Bernstein’s Symphonies that he was trying to hard to make a big statement, to chisel a place amongst immortals, whatever. His natural metier was the Stage, whether it was Broadway, Opera, or some type of neo Berliozian hybrid, such as Mass. I also wish that he had written a Piano Concerto, because as his Symposium shows, he had affinity for the Soloist vs Orchestra. Just my opinion

Well, The Age of Anxiety (Symphony 2) almost counts as one, doesn't it?

[Pulcinella]

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

The set is Gramophone's Recording of the month (as you probably know by now!).
Despite last night's reservations, I'm a little bit tempted......especially as the performance of the third symphony (Kaddish) gets a particularly strong recommendation.

[teamsaint]

The set is Gramophone's Recording of the month (as you probably know by now!).
Despite last night's reservations, I'm a little bit tempted......especially as the performance of the third symphony (Kaddish) gets a particularly strong recommendation.

I'm listening to Kaddish, ATM, and I would certainly say it is living up to the recommendations. Narration well done, sound is beautiful, and Nadine Sierra is really very good indeed.

I wasn't especially bowled over by Jeremiah though.

[BBMmk2]

I'm listening to Kaddish, ATM, and I would certainly say it is living up to the recommendations. Narration well done, sound is beautiful, and Nadine Sierra is really very good indeed.

I wasn't especially bowled over by Jeremiah though.

Haven’t heard this set yet, so looking forward to that. Wonder how it compares to Lennie’s NY recordings.