Proms on Afternoon Concert 9 (06.08.20): BBC NOW - Messiaen, BBC SO - Turnage

[bluestateprommer]

"Penny Gore with great BBC Prom concerts from recent years by BBC orchestras and choirs: today the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in Messiaen and the BBC Symphony Orchestra playing Turnage.

Today's programme features two major choral-orchestral works. From a Prom given in 2008, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and their then-Principal Conductor Thierry Fischer are joined by massed choirs and seven instrumental soloists in Messiaen's gigantic La Transfiguration de Notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ. Plus, from the 2017 Proms, the European premiere of Hibiki by Mark-Anthony Turnage, who celebrates his 60th birthday this year.

(a) 2.00pm
2008 Proms, Prom 14, 27 July 2008

Messiaen: La Transfiguration de Notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ
Adam Walker (flute)
Julian Bliss (clarinet)
Sonia Wieder-Atherton (cello)
Adrian Spillett (marimba)
Colin Currie (xylorimba)
Richard Benjafield (vibraphone)
Gerard Bouwhuis (piano)
Philharmonia Voices
BBC Symphony Chorus
BBC National Chorus of Wales
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Conductor: Thierry Fischer

(b) 3.50pm
2017 Proms, Prom 39, 14 August 2017

Mark-Anthony Turnage: Hibiki (European premiere)
Sally Matthews (soprano)
Mihoko Fujimura (mezzo-soprano)
Finchley Children's Music Group
New London Children's Choir
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Kazushi Ono"

BBC R3 programme page: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000lhdy

Past R3 thread (*) on Prom 39, 2017 Proms: http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...nthony-Turnage

(*) no past R3 Forum thread on 2008 Prom

[Anastasius]

I think that Messiaen was playing hookie the days they taught harmony and melody at the Conservatoire

[bluestateprommer]

Heard the Messiaen from this Afternoon Concert Prom earlier today (or yesterday, in terms of UK time). Very well performed indeed, and all credit to all involved, the BBC NOW, all the choirs, the soloists, and Thierry Fischer guiding the celestial ship. As for the work itself: this was actually my first experience of it. However, if you know your Messiaen, or even just Turangalila, then to be really superficial, you've kind of heard it all before. (I wouldn't say that Messiaen was "playing hooky" from the Conservatoire, more that he found his style and ran with it, rather like Bruckner.)

Penny Gore's intro guest was Adrian Partington, who called this one of the 3 most difficult projects that he'd ever worked on with the BBC National Choir of Wales (not hard to imagine that Havergal Brian 1 was one of the others). AP also gave a shout-out to Stephen Jackson, which was a nice gesture, given what extremely little that I understand of how he got the boot from the BBC Symphony Chorus.

[Anastasius]

.... However, if you know your Messiaen, or even just Turangalila, then to be really superficial, you've kind of heard it all before. (I wouldn't say that Messiaen was "playing hooky" from the Conservatoire, more that he found his style and ran with it, rather like Bruckner.)

..

Eloquently put, Sir. Your comment re Bruckner reminded me of my own thoughts ...I find listening to Bruckner is like having a very severe migraine. He goes on and on and on. You know what's coming next.

[Bryn]

I think that Messiaen was playing hookie the days they taught harmony and melody at the Conservatoire

I guess that's why he was only awarded second prize for harmony there at the age of 15, rather than first. There's nothing quite like the arrogance of ignorance, is there?

[Anastasius]

I guess that's why he was only awarded second prize for harmony there at the age of 15, rather than first. There's nothing quite like the arrogance of ignorance, is there?

No need to be abusive, is there ?

[Bryn]

No need to be abusive, is there ?

If the cap fits . . .

[Anastasius]

You really are a piece of work.

Your inbox is full BTW. Must be all those groupies emailing you for a signed photo of the Welsh Windbag

[Bryn]

You really are a piece of work.

Your inbox is full BTW. Must be all those groupies emailing you for a signed photo of the Welsh Windbag

Troll-on.

[Anastasius]

Troll-on.

Really. Shall we have a little reprise ? You took it upon yourself to make a very snide and insulating dig in response to my perfectly legitimate post. Made slightly tongue-in-cheek by me, I agree. Maybe you were not in school the day that they taught irony ? So that makes you the troll.

You have a history on this from of stalking me and having snide, sly little digs. Rather pathetic really. How old are you ? Two ? It's a shame this forum has not got an Ignore feature as I'd put you on it certainly.

Troll-on, sunshine. I'll pretend you're on Ignore.

[Cockney Sparrow]

It's a shame this forum has not got an Ignore feature as I'd put you on it certainly.

It has. I'll update this post in a minute to point you in the right direction.....

Here you are:
"Forum Actions" on the ring menu at the top on left (darker red band) - Advanced search is on that level on far right.

"General Settings"

In the 3rd Box down on the far left "My Settings"

"My Account" --> "Edit Ignore List"

[Bryn]

It has. I'll update this post in a minute to point you in the right direction.....

Here you are:
"Forum Actions" on the ring menu at the top on left (darker red band) - Advanced search is on that level on far right.

"General Settings"

In the 3rd Box down on the far left "My Settings"

"My Account" --> "Edit Ignore List"

Thanks for posting that. I did not see the message quoted as I had already reactivated the inclusion of the poster concerned on mine (the sole individual on it).

[bluestateprommer]

Forgot to mention Adrian Partington's comment on the appropriate choice of this archival Prom for that day:

"...incidentally, I have got to congratulate the BBC on air, because today, of course, is the Feast of the Transfiguration in the Church of England. So somebody has done their homework, and we're hearing it again on the best day of the year for it."

This does get back to the subtle point that I've noted elsewhere, in the choices made for the Afternoon Concert Proms repeats, namely at the subtleties of reasoning behind a number of these choices. Even if we here look at some of the choices and go "Huh?" (e.g. I wonder about the choices of some of the American-themed Proms for next week, but never mind), as AP says, clearly none of the choices are made in a slapdash manner, without reason.

[LMcD]

It has. I'll update this post in a minute to point you in the right direction.....

Here you are:
"Forum Actions" on the ring menu at the top on left (darker red band) - Advanced search is on that level on far right.

"General Settings"

In the 3rd Box down on the far left "My Settings"

"My Account" --> "Edit Ignore List"

Since I was introduced to the 'Ignore List' function by a friendly fellow Forumista, my blood pressure has dropped by 10 points, I've shed 16 lbs and my dahlias and gladioli have put on a magnificent display.