Prom 6 (21.07.20) John Tavener’s The Protecting Veil - 7.30 p.m.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

A Prom from 1989 conducted by the late Oliver Knussen, one of the most respected figures in British contemporary music.

Knussen composed his Flourish with Fireworks for American conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, to reflect a shared admiration for the music of Stravinsky, here represented in the symphonic poem he made in 1917 from his opera The Nightingale. Song of the Nightingale later became a successful ballet, with choreography by Massine and later Balanchine.

Also premiered were two other works by British composers: the Symphony by Minna Keal; and John Tavener’s The Protecting Veil for cello and orchestra, a radiant expression of Tavener’s faith, which, in his own words, attempted to ‘capture some of the almost cosmic power of the Mother of God’. Commissioned by the BBC, it has since become a contemporary classic, having received over a dozen recordings.

Knussen: Flourish with Fireworks
Debussy: Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune
Keal: Symphony, Op. 3 (first concert performance of complete work)
Tavener: The Protecting Veil (world premiere)
Mussorgsky: Intermezzo in modo classico (orchestral version)
Stravinsky: Song of the Nightingale

Steven Isserlis (cello)
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Oliver Knussen (conductor)

(From BBC Proms, 4 September 1989)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Right back to 1989 for this one! Good to hear Knussen as both composer and conductor.

[Belgrove]

I was in the Hall for this one. It was the Stravinsky that was the principal attraction, but it turned out rather different. Prior to the performance the prom had gained the attention of R4 because of the Keal premier, essentially because of her age I recall. I wonder how many times that piece has been performed professionally since - I’d jotted down ‘sub-Simpson’ in the programme. But it was the other premier, The Protecting Veil that made this such a memorable and special prom. The audience was utterly rapt from the first notes and one sensed that we were listening to the unfolding of something quite extraordinary. It will be interesting to revisit it.

[LeMartinPecheur]

But it was the other premier, The Protecting Veil that made this such a memorable and special prom. The audience was utterly rapt from the first notes and one sensed that we were listening to the unfolding of something quite extraordinary. It will be interesting to revisit it.

I remember precisely where I was for this: in the bath, listening to it on a trannie

Was absolutely staggered, and of course rushed for the first CD issue. Have to say it was a slight disappointment so will listen again with great interest, trying to work out whether these reactions were to something in that live performance or to something in the keeping properties of the composition.

[Pulcinella]

I remember precisely where I was for this: in the bath, listening to it on a trannie

Was absolutely staggered, and of course rushed for the first CD issue. Have to say it was a slight disappointment so will listen again with great interest, trying to work out whether these reactions were to something in that live performance or to something in the keeping properties of the composition.

I'd forgotten that the first performance was with the BBCSO under Knussen, assuming that it was with the performers on the 1992 Virgin recording, the LSO under Rozhdestvensky.

[Bryn]

I must confess that while I have often found Tavener's works both attractive and impressive on first hearing, they have all too often palled somewhat for me on repeated listening. The Protecting Veil falls within the works of that category.

[kernelbogey]

I remember precisely where I was for this: in the bath, listening to it on a trannie

Was absolutely staggered, and of course rushed for the first CD issue. Have to say it was a slight disappointment so will listen again with great interest, trying to work out whether these reactions were to something in that live performance or to something in the keeping properties of the composition.

Or was it the Badedas?

[edashtav]

I must confess that while I have often found Tavener's works both attractive and impressive on first hearing, they have all too often palled somewhat for me on repeated listening. The Protecting Veil falls within the works of that category.

I'm with Bryn and my CDs of Tavener are akin to headstones that have failed a Health and Safety test and been relegated to a dim corner where they rest leaning on a stout wall. They are covered with dust and ivy's embrace may not be far away.

I still listen to a rare secular work, 'To a Child Dancing in the Wind' (1983), a setting of poems by Yeats. The work deals with the loss of childhood innocence and no song outstays its welcome.

[Richard Barrett]

I'm with Bryn and my CDs of Tavener are akin to headstones that have failed a Health and Safety test and been relegated to a dim corner where they rest leaning on a stout wall. They are covered with dust and ivy's embrace may not be far away.

Look, if Ivy likes them that much why not just give them to her!

When I first heard Tavener's music it was back in the 70s when he was producing weird and intermittently wonderful things like The Whale and Celtic Requiem, and it seemed to me that he was a musical force to be reckoned with. By the time of The Protecting Veil though, his typical combination of sentimentality and melodramatic religiosity had gone completely over the top as far as I was concerned. I'm prepared to accept that it may not be fake, but to me it seems as totally fake as the ridiculously pious photos of him that appeared on many CD covers.

[Alison]

I must confess that while I have often found Tavener's works both attractive and impressive on first hearing, they have all too often palled somewhat for me on repeated listening. The Protecting Veil falls within the works of that category.

How true is that.

[BBMmk2]

A wonderful Prom. I enjoyed it immensely.

[Belgrove]

Good to be reacquainted with this eclectically programmed concert - we certainly got our money’s worth and the orchestra sounded in fine form. Sadly there was little sense of the atmosphere generated in the hall, the original presenter being replaced by the eager interjections of Kate Molleson (who always sounds as though she’s smirking). Perhaps the presenters of three decades past are deemed to be insufficiently gushy and too straight laced for today. Have all the repeats so far had their original presentations replaced?

[Pulcinella]

Good to be reacquainted with this eclectically programmed concert - we certainly got our money’s worth and the orchestra sounded in fine form. Sadly there was little sense of the atmosphere generated in the hall, the original presenter being replaced by the eager interjections of Kate Molleson (who always sounds as though she’s smirking). Perhaps the presenters of three decades past are deemed to be insufficiently gushy and too straight laced for today. Have all the repeats so far had their original presentations replaced?

I do wish they'd cut the cackle.
I suppose that there's some interest in interviewing the original performers, but I found last night's chat with Isserlis (and the previous night's with Andsnes) made me reach for the remote to turn the volume down. Unfortunately, in both cases, we didn't get the welcoming applause before the start of the next piece to act as the prompt to turn it up again.

[teamsaint]

I do wish they'd cut the cackle.
I suppose that there's some interest in interviewing the original performers, but I found last night's chat with Isserlis (and the previous night's with Andsnes) made me reach for the remote to turn the volume down. Unfortunately, in both cases, we didn't get the welcoming applause before the start of the next piece to act as the prompt to turn it up again.

Perhaps the new normal will deal with this sort of issue. But I doubt it.
Kate Molleson really is ubiquitous on R3 .
Anyway, I'll give this a listen today with luck. Did people enjoy the Keal ?I have a recording with the BBC SO on CD, but in truth I think I have only listened to it once.

[hmvman]

Did people enjoy the Keal ?I have a recording with the BBC SO on CD, but in truth I think I have only listened to it once.

Just caught up with this Prom. Very much enjoyed the Tavener. I wasn't so sure about the Keal to start with but it grew on me. I'll give it a second listen.