Prom 1: First Night of the Proms - 19.07.19

[Master Jacques]

The Max Davies' 10th resounds splendidly on LSO Live, but did they complete the album with the 9th (whose RLPO Premiere was one of the last concerts I attended)...?

Did they heck.... it remains unrecorded.... (Like 7 and 8)...

Strictly speaking, 7 and 8 have been commercially available in the past on CD-quality downloads (from the dead, lamented maxopus site) but as you say 9 has not. I had the good fortune to be sitting right next to the composer during its Proms performance, shortly after you heard the RLPO premiere, and I won't forget his total, raptor-like involvement with every second. That certainly enhanced my experience of a wonderful piece, which if anything could have been longer to advantage!

[Master Jacques]

The Glagolitic Mass is foolproof, and proved so once again last night. The new work was a superficial occasional piece, poorly put together technically and pretentiously dressed up with nowhere to go. The Dvorak was very poorly done, unidiomatic and low-voltage - very sadly, as (almost unbelievably) this turned out to be the first time it's been heard at the Proms. It's a great piece when done properly, and in the context of the four symphonic poems.

I hear from a reliable source that even David Pickard is depressed by the mediocre, populist programming he's been forced into for this year's Proms - apparently his more interesting ideas got stomped on by the suits, who gave instructions that they wanted a robustly mainstream, commercial look to the list. Well, they certainly got their wish.

But at what cost? It's looking like just another middle-brow swank-fest this year, with very little to frighten the horses or excite real enthusiasts. The emphasis is on the tourist trade and people wanting a "sophisticated" night out, culture with drinks and nibbles. Especially given the inflated prices for the foreign orchestras, it's about status now rather than art. Let alone new British music - which it's there to foster and is failing completely.

[LMcD]

Does anyone else find the applause between movements particularly irksome in a sacred work? I thought it really intruded between the Agnus Dei and the big organ solo.

'The Planets' isn't a sacred work, but I'll wager each movement of the upcoming performance will be warmly greeted.
I suspect that most people with strong views, among whom I include myself, on applause between movements have already shared them with other Forumistas.

[Bryn]

'The Planets' isn't a sacred work, but I'll wager each movement of the upcoming performance will be warmly greeted.
I suspect that most people with strong views, among whom I include myself, on applause between movements have already shared them with other Forumistas.

What's the betting that most of 'em are devoted tie-wearers.

[Once Was 4]

What's the betting that most of 'em are devoted tie-wearers.

Like me! A female colleague once tried to use a pair of scissors on my tie She never tried again but we remain friends. Why is designer-sloppy all the rage.

For the record, and sadly, I dozed off during the Dvorak which is very unusual for me when I listen to really good music; I had a good snooze between 19.30 and 20.00 but was rivited by the Janacek.

[Serial_Apologist]

What's the betting that most of 'em are devoted tie-wearers.

NOT at a Proms concert!

But there again........... or, in my case, not.

[Prommer]

Canellakis = Kind of like this!

[Lordgeous]

'The Planets' isn't a sacred work, but I'll wager each movement of the upcoming performance will be warmly greeted.
I suspect that most people with strong views, among whom I include myself, on applause between movements have already shared them with other Forumistas.

In Beethove's day (and after) weren't individual movements applauded, and even encored?

[Bryn]

I didn’t warm very much to the three tv guests.

A routine jog through all the normal house priorities, access points and inclusivity just when I was feeling upbeat at the start of another season.

Did I gather they’re to be on every week??

Their introduction to the Janacek was garbage. No mention of the use of the Critical Editon of the revised version, nor of Belohlavek's 2011 Proms performance use of the companion critical edition of the original version, with its more complicated polyrhythms, was beyond the simple 2 against 3 demonstrated. And this useless trio get paid for such garbage.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

A routine jog through all the normal house priorities, access points and inclusivity just when I was feeling upbeat at the start of another season.

Four middle-class accents congratulating each other on the "diversity" of the Proms.

[Bryn]

Just back from the hall. All I can say is 'Wow!' The Janacek was absolutely thrilling, the organ properly overwhelming and, yes, KC is most definitely the real deal. A great performance.

I have not quite got to the organ solo following the Agnece Bozij but that in the Veruju was for too swift, I thought. Not up to the standard of that in performances with the same organ (both before and after its restoration).

[BBMmk2]

Rather not a bad FNOTP last night. Looking forward to the rest of the season!

[Joseph K]

Hmm - not so much "prejudice" as "premonition". Sort of "We can't afford to commission Saariaho or Adams, so could you give us something that sounds a bit like either/both of them?" And a few "modernistic" techniques chucked into the mixture with all the aplomb and self-assurance of Del-boy sticking French phrases into his conversation.

The Dvorak waffles along from one stock Bohemian idea to another pleasantly enough, but I'm impatient for the Janacek.

Creme de menthe, Rodney; creme de menthe ...

I must have missed the modernist techniques... at the same time, it doesn't sound as awkward to me as you make out - just a bit conventional, middle of the road. A decidedly sublunary experience for me I'm afraid.

[Bryn]

I must have missed the modernist techniques... at the same time, it doesn't sound as awkward to me as you make out - just a bit conventional, middle of the road. A decidedly sublunary experience for me I'm afraid.

I certainly made the right choice of concerts to attend last night.

[LMcD]

The music itself last night was wonderful. Shame about the elements outside of that (parts of the audience...the TV presentation) which tried their best to ruin things.

FYI: BBC 4's coverage tomorrow of 'A Bohemian Rhapsody' will be fronted by Jess Gillam and Katie Derham. On Friday, your guide to the Wellber/BBC Philharmonic concert will be Suzy Klein.