Prom 1 (30.07.21) - First Night of the Proms 2021

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

19:30 Friday 30 July 2021 ON TV
Royal Albert Hall

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Serenade to Music
Francis Poulenc: Organ Concerto
Sir James MacMillan: When Soft Voices Die BBC co-commission with Help Musicians: world première
Jean Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 in D major

Elizabeth Llewellyn soprano
Jess Dandy contralto
Allan Clayton tenor
Michael Mofidian bass-baritone
Daniel Hyde organ
BBC Singers
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Dalia Stasevska conductor

Dalia Stasevska leads a First Night featuring Vaughan Williams’s ravishing Serenade to Music – written to celebrate Proms founder-conductor Henry Wood’s 50 years on the podium and premiered by him at his jubilee concert in the Royal Albert Hall in 1938. Sir James MacMillan offers a new companion piece to the Serenade and Poulenc’s Organ Concerto is a piquant foil, showcasing the instrument in a vivid play of light and shade.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The first proper "First Night" for two years.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I notice VW’s Serenade to Music is not the original 16 voice version, but just 4 soloists plus the BBC Singers. Others will be aware that I’m not a fan of the BBCS, but acknowledge that in this instance, they may fit the bill well, as it was soloists,
rather than a blended choir that he required. That said, VW left several options for subsequent performances -
The original, for 16 soloists and orchestra,
The same, but for 4 soloists with the chorus filling in (like this performance),
Full chorus with orchestra (no soloists)
Orchestra only.

It was one of the first VW works I ever heard. My uncle lent the family his recording of The Wasps Overture, Serenade to Music, Toward the Unknown Region & Fantasia on Greensleeves, conducted by Sargent.
A wonderful introduction to this composer.

[Serial_Apologist]

I notice VW’s Serenade to Music is not the original 16 voice version, but just 4 soloists plus the BBC Singers. Others will be aware that I’m not a fan of the BBCS, but acknowledge that in this instance, they may fit the bill well, as it was soloists,
rather than a blended choir that he required. That said, VW left several options for subsequent performances -
The original, for 16 soloists and orchestra,
The same, but for 4 soloists with the chorus filling in (like this performance),
Full chorus with orchestra (no soloists)
Orchestra only.

It was one of the first VW works I ever heard. My uncle lent the family his recording of The Wasps Overture, Serenade to Music, Toward the Unknown Region & Fantasia on Greensleeves, conducted by Sargent.
A wonderful introduction to this composer.

I used the original recording as the introductory music to my father's funeral.

[Alison]

Quite like the feel to this programme; it’s good that the (token?) contemporary piece isn’t first as it so often is.

[jonfan]

Rachmaninov also performed at the 50th Anniversary Concert and was observed weeping while listening to the VW in his box. Did VW write anything more beautiful!?
An appropriate choice as live music-making is beginning again.

[jayne lee wilson]

MacMillan notes......

https://www.boosey.com/cr/music/James-MacMillan-When-Soft-Voices-Die/108462

I worry a little about putting an epic like Sibelius 2 at the end of such a concert.....won't the final impression always be of the quality of the big, very familiar symphony? The polish, drive and discipline? It does seem very ambitious, especially if its hot.....would the Sibelius 3rd, or Nielsen 2nd be a better fit?

The orchestra appear not to be overworked before it..... it may depend on rehearsal time after the Poulenc/MacMillan of course...

[Pabmusic]

I notice VW’s Serenade to Music is not the original 16 voice version, but just 4 soloists plus the BBC Singers. Others will be aware that I’m not a fan of the BBCS, but acknowledge that in this instance, they may fit the bill well, as it was soloists,
rather than a blended choir that he required. ...

True enough, but he didn't exactly 'require' the 16 soloists; rather, he wrote solos for each of the 16 soloists, placing their initials by each entry in the score. So - one-off music written with specific voices in mind. The 4 soloist/chorus version was clearly for 'normal' use when those 16 soloists weren't available.

[Cockney Sparrow]

True enough, but he didn't exactly 'require' the 16 soloists; rather, he wrote solos for each of the 16 soloists, placing their initials by each entry in the score. So - one-off music written with specific voices in mind. The 4 soloist/chorus version was clearly for 'normal' use when those 16 soloists weren't available.

Good point, of course, thinking about it, it was such a very special occasion for a very special person in the musical life of the country. If a less demanding form wasn't available, how often would the work be performed live? I can recall one performance - BBC resources enabled and at the Proms I think (all this without checking) for an anniversary occasion I somehow recall.

Without the other settings, practically, we would only hear it on recorded performances? Apart from rare instances, that is. (Rather like the RNCM performances of "Pilgrims Progress" which I didn't know about until after the performances......). I've read about Rachmaninov's reaction to it before - its a wonderful story, I wonder if RVW knew - I do hope it really happened.

[Alison]

MacMillan notes......

https://www.boosey.com/cr/music/James-MacMillan-When-Soft-Voices-Die/108462

I worry a little about putting an epic like Sibelius 2 at the end of such a concert.....won't the final impression always be of the quality of the big, very familiar symphony? The polish, drive and discipline? It does seem very ambitious, especially if its hot.....would the Sibelius 3rd, or Nielsen 2nd be a better fit?

The orchestra appear not to be overworked before it..... it may depend on rehearsal time after the Poulenc/MacMillan of course...

I suppose the First Night indicates a blockbuster.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I suppose the First Night indicates a blockbuster.

I do prefer this to the "sampler" First Nights, which were more like live editions of Essential Classics.

[Prommer]

Looking forward to it... only slight downer is that my last Sibelius 2 in the Hall was fairly epic, Sir Colin Davis conducting it (with the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra?) and I was sitting in the choir...

[Serial_Apologist]

Looking forward to it... only slight downer is that my last Sibelius 2 in the Hall was fairly epic, Sir Colin Davis conducting it (with the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra?) and I was sitting in the choir...

I always wish Sibelius had terminated the finale on reaching the culminating resolution, rather than just keeping on banging on like someone who doesn't know when enough is enough! The change in direction for the Third would be a welcome one!

[jayne lee wilson]

I always wish Sibelius had terminated the finale on reaching the culminating resolution, rather than just keeping on banging on like someone who doesn't know when enough is enough! The change in direction for the Third would be a welcome one!

Well, it is something of a Nationalistic tone-poem...... fascinated to see how it goes tonight.... I just hope its tight and focussed, whatever aural splendours may be enunciated at the conclusion....(these need to be spectacular....otherwise, well...you know....)

[jayne lee wilson]

Start delayed due to.......er....cufflinks.....?