Prom 43: Daniel Barenboim & West–Eastern Divan Orchestra - 14.08.18

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

19:30
Royal Albert Hall

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto
David Robert Coleman: Looking for Palestine - London première
Alexander Scriabin - The Poem of Ecstasy

Elsa Dreisig soprano
Lisa Batiashvili violin
West–Eastern Divan Orchestra
Daniel Barenboim conductor

Daniel Barenboim and his pioneering West-Eastern Divan Orchestra return to the Proms for a concert marrying passion and politics.

One of the most richly Romantic works in the repertoire - Tchaikovsky's heart-rending Violin Concerto, performed here by Georgian violinist Lisa Batiashvili - is paired with Scriabin's ecstatic, orgiastic 'The Poem of Ecstasy', an attempt to bridge the divide between spirituality and sexuality in music.

At the centre of the concert is David Robert Coleman's 'Looking for Palestine' for soprano and orchestra, a work commissioned by the ensemble, and one that speaks to its uniquely political identity.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The Brahms Violin Concerto appears to have been replaced by the Tchaikovsky.

Not sure why.

[Lat-Literal]

I find this a very difficult one. There is an appeal with Barenboim because he is so significant historically. There are question marks in my mind in regard to his relationship with Du Pre which we have visited before and which elicited some strong responses. There is a very big plus point with this Orchestra - building bridges etc - but with the knowledge that the Israeli musicians got short shrift a while back for something that was not their fault. Then you stick Scriabin in the mix. It looks like fireworks. I'm not sure if that would be for better or worse.

[jayne lee wilson]

Brief, helpful intro from Coleman here....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8KSZHyRB7g

[bluestateprommer]

The Brahms Violin Concerto appears to have been replaced by the Tchaikovsky. Not sure why.

This might have to do with it:

https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/us/cat/4796038

Or not. But LB is a splendid violinist, so whatever concerto she wants to give @ The Proms is fine with me :) . The last minute addition to the program, the 'Polonaise' from Eugene Onegin, just warmed up the palate for this concert.

[Bryn]

This might have to do with it:

https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/us/cat/4796038

Or not. But LB is a splendid violinist, so whatever concerto she wants to give @ The Proms is fine with me :) . The last minute addition to the program, the 'Polonaise' from Eugene Onegin, just warmed up the palate for this concert.

[jayne lee wilson]

Splendid, spirited Tchaikovsky tonight!
Lovely warm, cohesive sound from the W-E Divan, with some gorgeous wind solos, lingered over by Barenboim, ever the Romantic...

Batiashvili... just wow, really...and that's some sound from her del Gesù.

[bluestateprommer]

I was a bit less blown away by LB's reading of the Tchaikovsky just now, compared to JLW. Pretty much everything was in place, and to her great credit, she didn't overcook the music, which can certainly invite it. But maybe her interpretation sounded a bit undercooked to me, if that makes sense.

[jayne lee wilson]

I was a bit less blown away by LB's reading of the Tchaikovsky just now, compared to JLW. Pretty much everything was in place, and to her great credit, she didn't overcook the music, which can certainly invite it. But maybe her interpretation sounded a bit undercooked to me, if that makes sense.

Well I could say I wish it had been Kopatchinskaja (with Currentzis!), but that would be needlessly provocative...

[BBMmk2]

Splendid, spirited Tchaikovsky tonight!
Lovely warm, cohesive sound from the W-E Divan, with some gorgeous wind solos, lingered over by Barenboim, ever the Romantic...

Batiashvili... just wow, really...and that's some sound from her del Gesù.

Yes, wasn't it. Loving the Scriabin, right now.

Danny saying the orchestra has become one of the greatest? Could be right?

[edashtav]

I was a bit less blown away by LB's reading of the Tchaikovsky just now, compared to JLW. Pretty much everything was in place, and to her great credit, she didn't overcook the music, which can certainly invite it. But maybe her interpretation sounded a bit undercooked to me, if that makes sense.

I’m with you, bsp, the logical intellectual, DB, kept his orchestra firmly in control whilst ensuring that the structure of the Tchaikovsky concerto was kept firmly directed, leaving the fine soloist little wriggle room.

I was interested in one of the interviews that Michael Barenboim suggested that every piece should have one fff and one really quiet moment. I wanted more letting go and more rough Russian rhythms. The performance was romantic but it wasn’t on the edge.

Much the same could be said of the Polonaise. Never boring, never dull, thoughtfully precise but I wanted abandon.

[jayne lee wilson]

Very impressive control and clarity through the vast obsessive volumes of the L'Extase, but I've never got on with the work and that didn't change tonight I'm afraid...

[edashtav]

The new piece had some striking moments and the soprano soloist, Elsa Dreisig, sang with commitment and visceral intensity. I want to hear the work again before passing judgement on the music but I was moved and involved.

I know the Poem of Ecstasy very well but DV clarified many moments that I’d not fully appreciated. Again, I was worried by his careful control and the sense that his fine orchestra was holding something back for the ultimate, overwhelming climax. Some great conductors raise their orchestras to fever pitch earlier, and then... drive them, challenging them, to beat their new record. Scriabin in 1908 was no man for half measures. DB is too musical to go wild , or for broke.
A-

I very much enjoyed Nimrod as the encore: affectionate, intense, but never sentimental.

[Petrushka]

The new piece had some striking moments and the soprano soloist, Elsa Dreisig, sang with commitment and visceral intensity. I want to hear the work again before passing judgement on the music but I was moved and involved.

I can agree with this but wish I had the text in front of me as I found it difficult to make out what was being sung. All too often this hinders enjoyment.

[johnn10]

I thought that the Polonaise as a curtain raiser was an excellent idea. Got me thinking -has it been done before at a Prom?