Prom 36 (Radio 3 14.08.20/BBC4 19.07.20) CBSO/Grazinyte-Tyla

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

This Prom is being broadcast on BBC4 before its Radio 3 appearance in August.

Beethoven: Overture ‘Leonore’ No. 3
Stravinsky: Violin Concerto in D major
Gerald Barry: Canada (BBC commission: world premiere)
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C minor

Allan Clayton (tenor)
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla (conductor)

(From BBC Proms 2017, 21 August)

The CBSO and Mirga Gražinyte-Tyla explore the theme of political and artistic freedom. Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3, written for his rescue opera Fidelio, celebrates the triumph of truth over tyranny in music of radiant beauty, while his Fifth Symphony rewrites the rules for the classical symphony.

In his new work, maverick composer Gerald Barry sets a text from Fidelio’s Prisoners’ Chorus – including the lines ‘Speak softly! We are watched with eyes and ears’, suggesting a resonance with today’s concerns over public surveillance. And Leila Josefowicz amps up the drama in the fierce brilliance of Stravinsky’s neoclassical concerto.

[Bryn]

CBSO play Beethoven’s Fifth BBC Proms 2017 (BBC FOUR)

Tuned in about half way through Stravinsky's Concerto for foot stamping with obligato violin and orchestra. Josefowicz's intonation and occasional improvised portamenti did not help, either. Good C minor Symphony (so far) though.

[Pulcinella]

Tuned in about half way through Stravinsky's Concerto for foot stamping with obligato violin and orchestra. Josefowicz's intonation and occasional improvised portamenti did not help, either. Good C minor Symphony (so far) though.

It certainly didn't.
At least the conductor used a baton, unlike her emotive 'dancing' (so described) in the Beethoven.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I don't know why she didn't use a baton in the Beethoven items. For much of the time, there seemed to be very little relationship between the arm movements seen and the actual sounds heard.

[kernelbogey]

Heard this again last night and found the Beethoven 5 very convincing. I listen to it rarely, because of familiarity, but Mirga's phrasing and balance brought it up fresh and exciting.