Proms at ... Cadogan Hall 6 – The Sense of An Ending - 20.08.18

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

13:00
Cadogan Hall

Frank Bridge: Music, when soft voices die
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Rest
Gustav Holst : Nunc dimittis
Laura Mvula:The Virgin of Montserrat - BBC commission: world première
Hubert Parry: Songs of Farewell

BBC Singers
Sakari Oramo conductor

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

What a wonderful concert.

... oh, wait ...

[Serial_Apologist]

What a wonderful concert.

... oh, wait ...

You can always either delete your post, or claim powers of prophesy, EA!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

You can always either delete your post, or claim powers of prophesy, EA!

I can't prophesy whether the BBC Singers will sound like a well-blended choir or not.

[bluestateprommer]

First, change of title for Laura Mvula's work, which is 'Love like a lion' (I had to change the Forum Calendar entry myself on this). LM's work actually sounded quite 'traditional', i.e. not necessarily reflecting her work in popular music. It was a bit of a curiosity that she herself didn't chat with Ian Skelly (who made for a surprise announcer, at least to me, since it's standard to hear Petroc introduce the Cadogan Hall Monday Proms) about her work, as she let Sakari Oramo speak in her place. It was nice to hear that LM sang in the CBSO Youth Choir when Oramo was CBSO music director, making this a 'reconnection' of a sort.

This is a nicely put together program, and the BBC Singers did well, to my admittedly not-very-literate-in-choirs ears. Besides LM's new work, the clear heart of this concert was Parry's Songs of Farewell. I've actually heard it once live before (yes, even on this side of the pond). Kind of carrying on the Parry sub-thread from the BBC NOW all-English Prom, the Songs of Farewell kind of stayed in the vein of nice, well-crafted music that didn't necessarily leap out at me, which was my impression of the work that one time I heard it in person.

[antongould]

First, change of title for Laura Mvula's work, which is 'Love like a lion' (I had to change the Forum Calendar entry myself on this). LM's work actually sounded quite 'traditional', i.e. not necessarily reflecting her work in popular music. It was a bit of a curiosity that she herself didn't chat with Ian Skelly (who made for a surprise announcer, at least to me, since it's standard to hear Petroc introduce the Cadogan Hall Monday Proms) about her work, as she let Sakari Oramo speak in her place. It was nice to hear that LM sang in the CBSO Youth Choir when Oramo was CBSO music director, making this a 'reconnection' of a sort.

This is a nicely put together program, and the BBC Singers did well, to my admittedly not-very-literate-in-choirs ears. Besides LM's new work, the clear heart of this concert was Parry's Songs of Farewell. I've actually heard it once live before (yes, even on this side of the pond). Kind of carrying on the Parry sub-thread from the BBC NOW all-English Prom, the Songs of Farewell kind of stayed in the vein of nice, well-crafted music that didn't necessarily leap out at me, which was my impression of the work that one time I heard it in person.

Well said IMVVHO .... enjoyed it ..... The Squire is in Edinburgh ......

[jonfan]

BBC Singers on stupendous form with superb balance and immaculate intonation. SO proving himself an inspiring choral conductor, I hope he conducts the Singers again soon. Wonderful programme and agree about the new piece reviewed above. IMHO Parry’s Songs of Farewell are his best work and are masterpieces doing full justice to the well chosen texts. A truly moving performance. Beautiful sound well engineered - another wow prom. I’m waiting for Alpie to put in a word regarding his prophecy at #2.

[underthecountertenor]

BBC Singers on stupendous form with superb balance and immaculate intonation. SO proving himself an inspiring choral conductor, I hope he conducts the Singers again soon. Wonderful programme and agree about the new piece reviewed above. IMHO Parry’s Songs of Farewell are his best work and are masterpieces doing full justice to the well chosen texts. A truly moving performance. Beautiful sound well engineered - another wow prom. I’m waiting for Alpie to put in a word regarding his prophecy at #2.

Nearly a week on and Alpie remains strangely silent about his prejudice I mean prophecy.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

BBC Singers on stupendous form with superb balance and immaculate intonation. SO proving himself an inspiring choral conductor, I hope he conducts the Singers again soon. Wonderful programme and agree about the new piece reviewed above. IMHO Parry’s Songs of Farewell are his best work and are masterpieces doing full justice to the well chosen texts. A truly moving performance. Beautiful sound well engineered - another wow prom. I’m waiting for Alpie to put in a word regarding his prophecy at #2.

Nearly a week on and Alpie remains strangely silent about his prejudice I mean prophecy.

I've only just caught up with this, prompted by the relevant comments on the Tallis Singers' Prom. I general avoid the BBC Singers, as it always feels like "more of the same". However, jonfan's enthusiasm suggested I should give it a chance. I listened to a selection, before comparing it with the Tallis Singers' concert.

The BBCS is always 100% professional, with, as jonfan says, "superb balance and intonation". However, there's so much more to a musical performance than that, and comparing the BBCS with the Tallis Singers showed this in bucketloads. Maybe if I could ignore the BBC's wobblers, I would be able to appreciate its qualities to a greater extent, but that is too big an issue for me to suppress.

I've been told by some professional singers that vibrato is inevitable with a trained singer, the action of the diaphragm being responsible. But, like any other aspect of performance, it can be controlled. I sing in a choir with an MD who demands that we sing without vibrato, demonstrating the difference. Every time a little wobble creep in, a gentle reminder is issued. Clearly this doesn't happen with the BBCS.

My prophecy turned out exactly as expected.

[jonfan]

I've only just caught up with this, prompted by the relevant comments on the Tallis Singers' Prom. I general avoid the BBC Singers, as it always feels like "more of the same". However, jonfan's enthusiasm suggested I should give it a chance. I listened to a selection, before comparing it with the Tallis Singers' concert.

The BBCS is always 100% professional, with, as jonfan says, "superb balance and intonation". However, there's so much more to a musical performance than that, and comparing the BBCS with the Tallis Singers showed this in bucketloads. Maybe if I could ignore the BBC's wobblers, I would be able to appreciate its qualities to a greater extent, but that is too big an issue for me to suppress.

I've been told by some professional singers that vibrato is inevitable with a trained singer, the action of the diaphragm being responsible. But, like any other aspect of performance, it can be controlled. I sing in a choir with an MD who demands that we sing without vibrato, demonstrating the difference. Every time a little wobble creep in, a gentle reminder is issued. Clearly this doesn't happen with the BBCS.

My prophecy turned out exactly as expected.

I note you heard a selection of the BBC Singers and I suppose all the Tallis Scholars’ concert in order to make your judgement. I didn’t detect wobblers and anyway, just like your choir, can be suppressed if requested by the M.D. It seems this is the criterion you use to judge the bucketloads of difference. TS are a specialist choir but the BBCS sing any style and period IMO very successfully. I think you have the problem, not the BBCS, as just seeing their name in a concert promotion condemns them before they’ve performed a note. Not worthy of expectant listening that people get excited about on these threads.