Prom 34: West–Eastern Divan Orchestra - 12.08.19

[Alison]

Not my favourite artists but an enjoyable evening.

Not really worth queuing for whatever KM’s irritating take on proceedings.

Bring on Brabbo tomorrow.

[jayne lee wilson]

It’s worse still on television, when LD tells us what we can already see on the screen.

Re exposition repeats, they’re unnecessary if you were listening the first time around.

Rather categorical, EA?
How can Brahms 4 or Beethoven Op59/1 make one of their most significant structural points if repeats aren't taken in earlier works?
What about concerto-sonata-forms?

I can't live without repeats, first movement or finale, in this of all Schubert 4-Movement Symphonies (or any of them really)....But maybe we shouldn't open this huge can of worms now....

I'd just add that it's shame to see so many complaints about KM or others' post-performance comments, when the lack of significant musical info in her intro before it was far more damaging....(v. #16)

[Bryn]

Rather categorical, EA?
How can Brahms 4 or Beethoven Op59/1 make one of their most significant structural points if repeats aren't taken in earlier works?
What about concerto-sonata-forms?

I can't live without them, first movement or finale, in this of all Schubert 4-Movement Symphonies (or any of them really)....But let's not open this huge can of worms now....

I'd just add that it's shame to see so many complaints about KM or others' post-performance comments, when the lack of significant musical info in her intro before it was far more damaging....(v. #16)

Quite! And good musicians would not play the repeats as booring carbon copies, anyway.

[Darkbloom]

This is emphatically not a criticism, merely a personal observation, but try as I might I really can't see what the fuss is all about with Barenboim. I have the greatest admiration for some of the things he's achieved but my word, his conducting (right across the board) leaves me completely cold. The Schubert was a good example: I'm afraid I found it bland, uninspired and uninspiring.

My loss, of course.

Maybe I'm bitter because I got turned away despite getting there early (apparently there were 200 queuing up at 9am) but I agree with your assessment about Barenboim. He rarely convinces me as a conductor, I feel there is something missing, maybe a reluctance to trust the orchestra and let go a bit.

[Bert Coules]

Darkbloom, one of the most unfortunate Proms disappointments I've ever felt was a few years back: first I discovered that there was going to be a complete Ring, then I learned who was conducting.

But I don't want to dwell on what is really just a matter of personal taste: I'm pleased that the audience both there and here enjoyed the concert, especially the second half which I wasn't able to catch. And I'm pleased that the announcer enjoyed it too, though I do wish that she'd kept that to herself.

[Edgy 2]

I'd just add that it's shame to see so many complaints about KM or others' post-performance comments, when the lack of significant musical info in her intro before it was far more damaging....(v. #16)

Yeh but no but the whole experience of listening to the Proms on the radio,or watching on telly,has been ruined (for me at least) by the pre and post concert nonesense that now passes for presentation

[Darkbloom]

Martin Handley likes to give his opinions, often preparing us by saying how great they were in rehearsal too! Unless they are prepared to offer brickbats as well as bouquets it's meaningless puffery. Donald Macleod does this occasionally but somehow it isn't irritating. After a performance of Mahler 10 once he almost sounded like he was in tears, and it's hard to object to someone genuinely responding to the occasion. It's the premeditated commentary that I find hard to take.

[jayne lee wilson]

Yeh but no but the whole experience of listening to the Proms on the radio,or watching on telly,has been ruined (for me at least) by the pre and post concert nonesense that now passes for presentation

Is it too obvious to suggest leaving the level low until you hear applause for leader/conductor etc...?
Then at least you wouldn't have to miss the music... (this is, believe it or not, usually the best bit...)..

Babies, bathwater, etc....

[LMcD]

KM is Kate Molleson but is LD what happens when you mean Katie Derham but hit the next door key ....?

Thank you!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Martin Handley likes to give his opinions, often preparing us by saying how great they were in rehearsal too! Unless they are prepared to offer brickbats as well as bouquets it's meaningless puffery. Donald Macleod does this occasionally but somehow it isn't irritating. After a performance of Mahler 10 once he almost sounded like he was in tears, and it's hard to object to someone genuinely responding to the occasion. It's the premeditated commentary that I find hard to take.

I often wondered when OTT sycophantic presentation began. I only noticed on the day of the funeral of Princess Diana.

The BBC and ITV basically allowed the events to speak for themselves, with a few occasional helpful interventions. Channel 5, on the other hand, had wittering presenters doing a KD, with endless and tiresome jabbering. (Channel 4 showed cartoons.)
From then on, the BBC seemed to go soft in the head.

[BBMmk2]

Yeh but no but the whole experience of listening to the Proms on the radio,or watching on telly,has been ruined (for me at least) by the pre and post concert nonesense that now passes for presentation

Quite agree, noless than by TS and that upstart JG.

[LMcD]

Quite agree, noless than by TS and that upstart JG.

More initials! I guess TS might be Tom Service, but as for JG - the late Jade Goody perhaps?

[gurnemanz]

More initials! I guess TS might be Tom Service, but as for JG - the late Jade Goody perhaps?

I immediately thought of John Gardiner, shorn of his Eliot.

[Pulcinella]

Jess Gillam

[Sir Velo]

I'd just add that it's shame to see so many complaints about KM or others' post-performance comments, when the lack of significant musical info in her intro before it was far more damaging....(v. #16)

To be fair, listening again this morning, she had little more than about a minute to introduce the work before Barenboim made his on stage entrance. In the short space of time allotted to her I think she probably did as well as could be expected. Clearly a lot more could have been said, but she was not given the opportunity.