Prom 35: Enigma Variations - 13.08.19

[Simon B]

On the TV relay of this concert, I noticed that one of the three trumpeters was playing a rotary valve instrument. I’ve never seen played alongside piston-valve trumpets before.

The two instruments can sound different from one another, so I wonder why this has come about.

This was again the case at the more recent BBCSSO Prom (cond. Volkov): Tpt 1 Mark O'Keeffe playing a rotary and the rest of the section on pistons. Presumably it is just down to current personal preference.

Unusual as they do indeed sound different. My impression is that most major orchestras not only switch between the two en-bloc but go further than this. I.e. the regular section tend to play on instruments from the same manufacturer and with similar configuration of the smaller details in order to produce a more cohesive sound.

[Nick Armstrong]

Having just failed to tolerate more than a few seconds of this concert’s two central pieces (both of which I love dearly) on account of the singing , I thought I’d check the thread to see if I was alone....

Disappointing singing from the chorus all night which seemed unfocused and wobbly. A pity the VW Serenade wasn’t with solo singers, far preferable. The Brahms was just awful singing.

Well, quite. I feel no need to hear those pieces sung like that. Pity, as the violin solo which opened the RVW was gorgeous (can someone give the name of the orchestra’s leader?).

The Elgar was a great performance though. Some wonderful playing, the warm, grainy woodwind standing out for me (on the television broadcast sound at any rate). I have no problem whatever with Elgar’s music, thank heavens!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

(can someone give the name of the orchestra’s leader?).

Laura Samuel.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/31Zv2Tzh2SvB4kk0l7lzTdR/about-the-orchestra

(Conducted by Father Ted, if that photo's anything to go by!)

http://katemolleson.com/interview-laura-samuel/

https://www.heraldscotland.com/arts_ents/13188998.prime-mover-samuel-loves-being-leader-of-the-pack/

https://www.rhinegold.co.uk/classical_music/archive-1383/

https://www.thestrad.com/violinist-laura-samuel-named-leader-of-bbc-scottish-symphony-orchestra/6192.article

https://www.rcs.ac.uk/staff/laura-samuel/

[Nick Armstrong]

Laura Samuel.

Thanks, ferns, and gosh thank you for all the research, I was feeling lazy last night (and still watching Enigma Variations)

What a great player - and a great orchestra (not the first time I’ve wondered if it isn’t the finest of the BBC orchestras)

(Conducted by Father Ted, if that photo's anything to go by!)

I know. I saw him conducting Mahler 6 once, and it was pretty surreal (as I think I commented here somewhere).

Will y’have a cup o’ tea now, Father?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Co-founder and former member of the Belcea 4tet - so also heard on all those recordings.


I've heard from an orchestral player that Dausgaard is very good in rehearsals at getting players to get a sense of momentum.


Go on, go on, go on, go on, go on ...

[LMcD]

Thanks, ferns, and gosh thank you for all the research, I was feeling lazy last night (and still watching Enigma Variations)

What a great player - and a great orchestra (not the first time I’ve wondered if it isn’t the finest of the BBC orchestras)



I know. I saw him conducting Mahler 6 once, and it was pretty surreal (as I think I commented here somewhere).

Will y’have a cup o’ tea now, Father?

I'm also of that view. I emailed them last year after their magnificent VW2 under Andrew Manze- apparently they posted my congratulations on the orchestra's notice board.

[Bryn]

Co-founder and former member of the Belcea 4tet - so also heard on all those recordings. . . .

Which she left, IIRC, in 2010, i.e. before either of their two commercially issued Beethoven String Quartet surveys.

[Nick Armstrong]

I'm also of that view. I emailed them last year after their magnificent VW2 under Andrew Manze- apparently they posted my congratulations on the orchestra's notice board.

Yes, I remember the discussion - that was the previous time I was impressed with them, as I was at that concert too

... a sense of momentum.

Go on, go on, go on, go on, go on ...

Nicely-worked gag, ferney o’geliebte

Also, I hear he disapproves of too much vibrato.

...

Down with this sort of thing



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