Prom 8 (23.07.20) Mariss Jansons conducts Dvorak and Strauss - 7.30.p.m.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The late, great Mariss Jansons and his Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra marked the centenary of Dvorák’s death in a 2004 Prom.

Dvorák: Symphony No. 8 in G major
Strauss: Ein Heldenleben

Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conductor Mariss Jansons

(From BBC Proms 2004, 30 July)

The late Latvian maestro Mariss Jansons appeared at the Proms in 2004 with his renowned German orchestra, of which he was Chief Conductor from 2003 until the end of his life. Together they present Richard Strauss’s autobiographical showpiece, Ein Heldenleben.

Opening the programme is Dvorák’s Eighth Symphony. Written at his brother-in-law’s estate around 30 miles outside of Prague, the symphony reflects Dvorák’s pastoral surroundings, and gives a flavour of the profusion of ideas to come in his ‘New World’ Ninth.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Apologies for any weird sentences, but it can be tricky sorting out the BBC blurb.

[Petrushka]

I wonder if the BBC presenters will stop perpetuating the myth (just mentioned again by Ian Skelly tonight) that all the lights in the hall went out during Ein Heldenleben? I was there that night sitting in G stalls, near the BBC box, and it was just the lights over the stage that suddenly went out during the height of the Battle Scene but the normal hall lights remained on. It's true that it must have been extremely disconcerting for the players, who never missed a beat, but the impression given that the hall was plunged into total darkness is nonsense.

[cloughie]

I know that comments have been made before about the music at the Proms being written by dead composers but this year for the first time some is being directed by dead conductors!

[Petrushka]

I know that comments have been made before about the music at the Proms being written by dead composers but this year for the first time some is being directed by dead conductors!

If they had kept the original presenters on these repeats we could no doubt have some dead announcers as well!

[bluestateprommer]

I wonder if the BBC presenters will stop perpetuating the myth (just mentioned again by Ian Skelly tonight) that all the lights in the hall went out during Ein Heldenleben? I was there that night sitting in G stalls, near the BBC box, and it was just the lights over the stage that suddenly went out during the height of the Battle Scene but the normal hall lights remained on. It's true that it must have been extremely disconcerting for the players, who never missed a beat, but the impression given that the hall was plunged into total darkness is nonsense.

Petroc simply said in his interval discussion with Anna Picard that "the lights went out", not that "'all' the lights went out", unlike Ian Skelly yesterday (a forgivable error in the grand scheme of things). Tim Ashley wrote precisely in his 2004 Guardian review, which Petroc cited:

"Midway through the battle sequence in Strauss's Ein Heldenleben, the platform lights mysteriously failed, plunging the musicians into darkness. Everyone simply carried on as if nothing had happened, maintaining the momentum until illumination was restored."

I certainly couldn't tell from just a quick listen now, admittedly while working (don't tell my boss ), of the exact moment when the stage lights went out.

All this aside, now that I've heard this Prom relay for the first time, my reaction is rather similar to yesterday; good, enjoyable, though this one didn't necessarily blow me away either, although tonight's was perhaps the more satisfying concert overall. Dvorak 8 is a personal favorite, and I did notice some slightly different phrase taperings from Jansons. Big, rich sound from the orchestra in both works, to be sure. The encores were fun as well, and it's clever choice on the part of David Pickard and his team to feature on successive nights two Proms with the same 1st encore, by two conductors who were in succession at the same orchestra.

Again, to sum up: a mind-blower? No, at least for me. But, again, enjoyable, and I'm very happy to have heard it.

(BTW, to give credit where credit is due, then BRSO concertmaster/leader Andreas Röhn is enshrined in the Forum Calendar.)

[Petrushka]

Petroc simply said in his interval discussion with Anna Picard that "the lights went out", not that "'all' the lights went out", unlike Ian Skelly yesterday (a forgivable error in the grand scheme of things). Tim Ashley wrote precisely in his 2004 Guardian review, which Petroc cited:



I certainly couldn't tell from just a quick listen now, admittedly while working (don't tell my boss ), of the exact moment when the stage lights went out.

All this aside, now that I've heard this Prom relay for the first time, my reaction is rather similar to yesterday; good, enjoyable, though this one didn't necessarily blow me away either, although tonight's was perhaps the more satisfying concert overall. Dvorak 8 is a personal favorite, and I did notice some slightly different phrase taperings from Jansons. Big, rich sound from the orchestra in both works, to be sure. The encores were fun as well, and it's clever choice on the part of David Pickard and his team to feature on successive nights two Proms with the same 1st encore, by two conductors who were in succession at the same orchestra.

Again, to sum up: a mind-blower? No, at least for me. But, again, enjoyable, and I'm very happy to have heard it.

(BTW, to give credit where credit is due, then BRSO concertmaster/leader Andreas Röhn is enshrined in the Forum Calendar.)

Having been in the hall on that, I recall, sweltering night, I was more than glad to hear this one again and thought it be be very representative of a Jansons Prom of which there were some fine ones to choose from. Of course it was Jansons' usual generosity with the encores that many will remember. I don't think I could hear Valse Triste (Sibelius) or Wild Bears (Elgar) again without thinking of him.

[alywin]

I don't think I could hear Valse Triste (Sibelius) or Wild Bears (Elgar) again without thinking of him.

No, me neither. I was so glad they left the encores in (and am still kicking myself that I never bought the Jansons Encores CD while it was still available).

I too remember that night, and the lights going out, and the orchestra and conductor continuing as if nothing had happened: very impressive. And I couldn't tell from the recording when it happened, either! What I hadn't expected was quite how emotional re-listening to it was: I've spent probably the past couple of decades moaning "is he bringing Ein Heldenleben AGAIN?" - I think the other night I finally understood why he always seemed to be so passionate about it. I was quite surprised at his interpretation of Dvorak 8, though: it struck me as noticeably different from his CD recording, although I haven't actually listened to that for quite a while, so I could be wrong.