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

[zola]

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

Didn't he do that last year too ? Or was it Pomp and Circumstance ? I know it was in conjunction with his speech from the podium.

[edashtav]

Didn't he do that last year too ? Or was it Pomp and Circumstance ? I know it was in conjunction with his speech from the podium.

P. and C. with full animation, I seem to recall.

[jayne lee wilson]

Back for a second listen to the Tchaikovsky Concerto... I found it absolutely glorious....

Batiashvili's freedom in the solo part (not to mention a stunning coloristic display) never forced or too angular, was even more daringly apparent (that elegantly fantastical 1st movement cadenza!), and Barenboim followed her with wonderfully well-matched rubato (they know each other intimately in the work through that lavishly-praised recording; but in fact, I preferred this concert for its even greater freedom and freshness). He tends to encourage a Staatskapelle-like warmth in the strings; his climactic passions are Princely rather than wild; but there were tender, sweet, wind solos throughout, and in the canzonetta most of all. Their conductor let them play in every sense - with, and for, the soloist. We were in a secret garden.

I liked the light and shade the finale was allowed too - again as per their record, Batiashvili and Barenboim find more here than rampant fire (thrilling though that can be undiverted, unleashed in other hands - Pat Kop and Teo C!)... but really, all this approach needs to compensate is a certain heavy-handedness on the volume control. Then its Romantic Grandeur is fully liberated...

So I'm grateful to the qualms expressed above, bsp and Ed... this dawn revisit made up for my failure-to-connect with any of the music in Part 2, and helped me through yet another white night...
As The Cat tends to spend the night downstairs in the warmer months, I hope a further strong dose of Lemon Balm and Valerian will finally take me away...

[BBMmk2]

Couldn’t agree with you more, JLW!

[Barbirollians]

Back for a second listen to the Tchaikovsky Concerto... I found it absolutely glorious....

Batiashvili's freedom in the solo part (not to mention a stunning coloristic display) never forced or too angular, was even more daringly apparent (that elegantly fantastical 1st movement cadenza!), and Barenboim followed her with wonderfully well-matched rubato (they know each other intimately in the work through that lavishly-praised recording; but in fact, I preferred this concert for its even greater freedom and freshness). He tends to encourage a Staatskapelle-like warmth in the strings; his climactic passions are Princely rather than wild; but there were tender, sweet, wind solos throughout, and in the canzonetta most of all. Their conductor let them play in every sense - with, and for, the soloist. We were in a secret garden.

I liked the light and shade the finale was allowed too - again as per their record, Batiashvili and Barenboim find more here than rampant fire (thrilling though that can be undiverted, unleashed in other hands - Pat Kop and Teo C!)... but really, all this approach needs to compensate is a certain heavy-handedness on the volume control. Then its Romantic Grandeur is fully liberated...

So I'm grateful to the qualms expressed above, bsp and Ed... this dawn revisit made up for my failure-to-connect with any of the music in Part 2, and helped me through yet another white night...
As The Cat tends to spend the night downstairs in the warmer months, I hope a further strong dose of Lemon Balm and Valerian will finally take me away...

Do you have their recording ? If so how did it compare to that ? IGI of this parish I recall was rather lukewarm about it although there were lots of rave reviews.

[edashtav]

Couldn’t agree with you more, JLW!

Well, when these two Northern Powerhouses are in unison, us Southerners need to prick up our ears and listen again on iPlayer.

My initial reaction on doing so was to yell ,’Gotcha’, as the pace slowed dramatically as Lisa came in, launching, no luxuriating in her main theme. But, her playing was faultlessly languid, relaxed and dreamy. ‘Gosh,’ I thought, ‘Have I been conditioned by too many provincial performances, united in accepting that this piece was an old Warhorse, in which you fly roughshod by the seat of your leather pants with plentiful use of the whip.

What was to be done? Fortunately, you can pause iPlayer whilst you pop to to your library and have a rummage through MS corner. There it was, an old, once yellow, Donajowski edition, proudly priced at 2/- net! I have not used it in anger, perhaps for 15 years. Let’s start again... Hells, bells and buckets of blood, the crochet speed for the violin theme was 80 (Moderato Assai) whereas the orchestra starts at 126 (Allegro Moderato) ... a 37% speed reduction after a less than break-neck start. Well, I never realised that before... and neither had I heard such a strong contrast. This is Tchaik. preparing the ground for the likes of Arnold Bax who delighted in starting with ferocious energy only to find himself lost and languid in L’ Après-midi d’un faune wood after a few minutes. I realised that this Tchaikovsky concerto doesn’t follow the rule book and is more multi-layered and inward than I had realised.

Thereafter, I settled down and appreciated soloist, orchestra and conductor with fresh ears. No need to give a blow by blow of their triumphs, that’s been done by Jayne... just scroll back! I must put it on that not to be missed list on another thread.

[teamsaint]

Well, in the interests of fairness, and to support the continuing efforts of Jayne, Ed, and others to keep these threads lively, I’m giving the Tchaik another go.
I’ve never really got on with it, and have acquired numerous CDs of it by chance, so maybe this is the one that will crack me.

Wish Pastoral guy was around to comment, he adores this concerto.

The down side of this years season has too often been the presentation on and by R3.

Worse than Match of the day with Lineker , Shearer and Wrighty.

[teamsaint]

Yeah, well , if that doesn’t get you converted, nothing will.
Absolutely sensational performance. She has that trick of seeming to have so much time, even when playing at at great speed. Would probably put Ed in mind of Barry Richards.

Stunning power when needed, and on Iplayer downloaded onto ipad, and through my lovely headphones, sounded like being in the front row.

Of a much better hall.( Though I have more time for the RAH, faults and all, than some do).

I’ve never heard her play live, so ought to put that right asap. Got to thank the guys up thread for their advocacy.

Every season has to have one outstanding Violin Concerto performance .Thats a rule , isn’t it ? Benedetti in DSCH last year......

[edashtav]

Well middled, ts... you’re absolutely right to compare Lisa Battershhhvili with Barry at his Betterbattershhhvili: both had grace and ample time.

And... you’re right, after a period in the doldrums, Nicola suddenly turned up trumps in the DSCH #1 at last year’s
Proms and, thereafter, has never looked back!

That what the Proms does for performers and public, alike.

[teamsaint]

Monday November 12.

https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2018/event/thibaudetbatiashvilicapucon-trio

Heck that is a great programme, and tickets at very sensible prices.

[BBMmk2]

Well, in the interests of fairness, and to support the continuing efforts of Jayne, Ed, and others to keep these threads lively, I’m giving the Tchaik another go.
I’ve never really got on with it, and have acquired numerous CDs of it by chance, so maybe this is the one that will crack me.

Wish Pastoral guy was around to comment, he adores this concerto.

The down side of this years season has too often been the presentation on and by R3.

Worse than Match of the day with Lineker , Shearer and Wrighty.

I find that the presentation ok with me. Better than most.