Prom 46: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra - 22.08.19

[LMcD]

I watched the first 3 items on BBC4 last night. 'Lamia' was pleasant enough, if strongly reminiscent of Debussy at times. In the Elgar, while I quite enjoyed it overall, I gained the distinct impression that the soloist got tired in the 3rd movement, although he recovered to finish strongly. I think it's a work he can and will grow into. The Oliver Knussen was new to me, and provided further proof, were it needed, of just how good the CBSO, and their charismatic young conductor, are. I thought they were magnificent in each of the three pieces I watched. (I couldn't face the Weinberg, which I sat through during the live Radio 3 broadcast - I'm afraid that, to me, it sounded like rather too much second-rate Shostakovitch).

[Edgy 2]

i watched the first 3 items on bbc4 last night. 'lamia' was pleasant enough, if strongly reminiscent of debussy at times. In the elgar, while i quite enjoyed it overall, i gained the distinct impression that the soloist got tired in the 3rd movement, although he recovered to finish strongly. I think it's a work he can and will grow into. The oliver knussen was new to me, and provided further proof, were it needed, of just how good the cbso, and their charismatic young conductor, are. I thought they were magnificent in each of the three pieces i watched. (i couldn't face the weinberg, which i sat through during the live radio 3 broadcast - i'm afraid that, to me, it sounded like rather too much second-rate shostakovitch).

[bluestateprommer]

A real treat to hear the Weinberg symphony and another really absorbing programme as a whole.
Good comments Edgy, Tavers and DracoM.
I struggle to grasp the Proms as a ‘season’ now; it feels more like an extended time of individual concerts.
And this CBSO/Mirga was one of the very good ones.

The words of Bernard Hughes from his review of this Prom at The Arts Desk might be worth keeping in mind in this light:

https://theartsdesk.com/classical-music/prom-46-kanneh-mason-cbso-gra%C5%BEinyt%C4%97-tyla-review-brilliant-programme-brilliant

"Let us never tire of singing the praises of the Proms, nor ever take them for granted. For two months concerts, many of which would be the highlight of any ‘normal’ week, keep coming night after night. And for all that it is a critic’s job to comment in detail and find fault where necessary, it is also helpful sometimes to step back and say: the Proms is an astonishing festival which we should be grateful to have."

Of course, from this side of the pond, I don't contribute fiscally to supporting the Proms. I would happily do so, much as I contribute to my local orchestra, if I could.

Finally caught up with this Prom on iPlayer, listening in full from the very beginning, to give the Dorothy Howell work another go. As Alison notes, a very good program, well done by MG-T and the CBSO. With "The Sheku and Mirga Show" (not my phrase), perhaps the slightly shaky (pun not intended) moments came in the Scherzo, where SK-M's intonation slipped ever so slightly at a few moments. But he did fine, and it was a nice gesture to offer the Weinberg encore. From no works of Weinberg in the history of the Proms to 4 in one season - not too shabby.

Fine tribute to "Olly" from MG-T and the CBSO made for a solid opener to the 2nd half. For the Weinberg, the opening actually reminded me of a more upbeat-in-mood take on Mussorgsky's "Dawn on the Moskva River", if that makes sense. As with other Weinberg works that I've heard both on record and from the Proms relays this summer, the 3rd Symphony is a mix of interesting moments, and others that noodle along without grabbing me tremendously. But full marks to the CBSO and Mirga for giving it an airing, and in such a strong performance.