Prom 31: Brahms, Bruckner & Strauss - 10.08.19

[edashtav]

I've caught up with Lise Davidsen's delightful interpretation of Richard Strauss's wedding present for his wife, Pauline: his four orchestral songs op.27. Lise is lucky to have a voice that never sounds challenged, she has power aplenty but is just as convincing in quiet, delicate moments. Whilst we had a substantial Wagnerian encore, I was left wanting more from her and it was perhaps a missed opportunity that whilst the programme was adroitly planned, a shorter opener, perhaps a 7 minute overture rather than the 18' Brahms Variations would have made room for more from this quickly rising star.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

From the arena...

The disturbance was due to person(s) in the upper circle - unwell I think not, unless from over-indulgence. EPS did the right thing in aborting at that point, prompting intra-movement applause. “Have they gone?” “Yes, they’ve gone” came the reply from front left (makes a change, I suppose).

Diego Incertis Sánchez, recently appointed No. 3 horn at the Philharmonia but “guesting” as principal (no stranger to doing so elsewhere) plays an absolute blinder, kicking off from the top again. When EPS sets off from the podium 65 minutes later there is no doubt where he is going first.

The chap is only 22, by the way. A horn deity already. Arena hornplayers will be back in the morning to collect their jaws.

[alywin]

What on earth was it all about...? Completely destroyed my concentration which never really came back. Wish E-PS had left the stage and returned after a five minute pause to help everyone compose themselves.

I too could have done with more of a break, since we had to have one inflicted on us - I didn't really settle, either. Some guy belting out "Big Yellow Taxi" from somewhere - Circle, I'd have guessed - but I couldn't see what happened from where I was in the gallery, and I missed anything happening downstairs. It seemed to go on for quite some time, but I assume someone removed him. Poor horn player, in particular :(

[Darkbloom]

I too could have done with more of a break, since we had to have one inflicted on us - I didn't really settle, either. Some guy belting out "Big Yellow Taxi" from somewhere - Circle, I'd have guessed - but I couldn't see what happened from where I was in the gallery, and I missed anything happening downstairs. It seemed to go on for quite some time, but I assume someone removed him. Poor horn player, in particular :(

I think a short pause would have been helpful too. The atmosphere at the beginning of the piece is so crucial that people need to settle down again after a distraction like that. If it was just a mobile going off that's one thing, but this was far more disruptive.

[jonfan]

Diego Incertis Sánchez, recently appointed No. 3 horn at the Philharmonia but “guesting” as principal (no stranger to doing so elsewhere) plays an absolute blinder, kicking off from the top again. When EPS sets off from the podium 65 minutes later there is no doubt where he is going first.

The chap is only 22, by the way. A horn deity already. Arena hornplayers will be back in the morning to collect their jaws.

Wow, this lad should surely be offered number one after this ultimate test. As a lowly amateur I always break out in a cold sweat when hearing this piece live, feeling for the first horn even though as a listener I don’t have to play a note.
Mess up the opening and the next hour is spoilt. One of the most famous Bruckner 4 on disc, VPO Bohm, has a tape edit in the middle of the solo; weird.
Last night EPS made total sense to me of the problematic movement four. His flexible approach to tempo and dynamics reminded me of the great Eugen Jochum.
I notice iplayer/Sounds are ignoring this prom, hopefully will clear out the disturbances for Friday’s repeat. Great music making.

[BBMmk2]

A great prom, despite the initial disturbances.