Prom 4 (1.08.21) - An Evening of Mozart with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra

[LMcD]

What a train wreck of a concert! With every successive piece of self indulgence, the conductor seemed constantly to be shrieking "Me! Me! Me!"" instead of "Mozart Mozart Mozart", rewriting the music in his own image. I only persevered because I wanted to see what he would inflict on the Jupiter. Those awful pauses and rubatos constantly interrupting the flow, the lazy dotted notes, sea-sick making tempo changes, smart alec ornamentation, you name it, it was there and did a great disservice to the wonderful SCO. Talk about the emperor's new clothes....

So ... you weren't too impressed, then? I've watched the 39th and 40th so far, and thoroughly enjoyed them both. Friends with whom I've exchanged views disagree with me, but not in such strong terms! The critic from The Times gave this this concert 5 stars, but then what does he know? What, for that matter, do I know?
(By the way - it's Smart Aleck, isn't it?)

[Westfield999]

(By the way - it's Smart Aleck, isn't it?)

I believe Alec, Aleck and Alek are all acceptable usages!

[Westfield999]

The critic from The Times gave this this concert 5 stars, but then what does he know?

And the Telegraph gave it three stars... All very subjective, I acknowledge. Hope you enjoy 41 when you get to it :)

[Bryn]

. . . Talk about the emperor's new clothes....

Whose? Stasevska's or yours?

[Bryn]

I believe Alec, Aleck and Alek are all acceptable usages!

So not Alec Hoag?

[LMcD]

And the Telegraph gave it three stars... All very subjective, I acknowledge. Hope you enjoy 41 when you get to it :)

Thank you! I'll be sure to offer my honest opinion for those to whom that might be of interest.

[Westfield999]

Whose? Stasevska's or yours?

I meant the Emperor's New Clothes as portrayed by Maxim Emelyanychev's interpretations.

[LMcD]

I meant the Emperor's New Clothes as portrayed by Maxim Emelyanychev's interpretations.

He was NAKED?

[Westfield999]

He was NAKED?

All I think I am trying to say is that in this current (justified, of course!) season of euphoria at the return of live music making with live audiences, I think there is a tendency to gush, and a reluctance to say anything negative or critical... Jane Glover perhaps came closest to calling out this rendering with her guarded comment about it "perhaps going a little further than I would" (can't remember the exact words)

[Ein Heldenleben]

All I think I am trying to say is that in this current (justified, of course!) season of euphoria at the return of live music making with live audiences, I think there is a tendency to gush, and a reluctance to say anything negative or critical... Jane Glover perhaps came closest to calling out this rendering with her guarded comment about it "perhaps going a little further than I would" (can't remember the exact words)

I don’t know whether you heard Elizabeth Brauss in K488 over the weekend but to me she bought out more of the essential Mozart - that pain behind the seeming joy - than this concert - enjoyable thought it was . The constant driving in the end wears the ears out.

[Bryn]

I meant the Emperor's New Clothes as portrayed by Maxim Emelyanychev's interpretations.

Ah, with the mixing up of Proms thread I thought you were treating with the First Night. There are many ways of playing Mozart and I was more than happy to hear the SCO/Emelyanychev's approach. More grist to their mill.

[Westfield999]

Ah, with the mixing up of Proms thread I thought you were treating with the First Night. There are many ways of playing Mozart and I was more than happy to hear the SCO/Emelyanychev's approach. More grist to their mill.

Fair enough! :)

[french frank]

Jane Glover perhaps came closest to calling out this rendering with her guarded comment about it "perhaps going a little further than I would" (can't remember the exact words)

I've heard all three symphonies three times now (and still failed to eliminate the annoying instant 'whoop' that marked the end of No 41). I'm about to listen to Mackerras again and I suspect I may give him my personal palm.

Trivial factoids: Emelyanychev was born 200 years after Mozart wrote the symphonies and at 32 (just) he was exactly the same age as Mozart was when he composed the symphonies. I certainly felt there was something more youthful about his interpretation but I wouldn't agree that he was naked.

[kernelbogey]

I've heard all three symphonies three times now

I, several times

(and still failed to eliminate the annoying instant 'whoop' that marked the end of No 41).

Though less annoying than the BRAVO at the end of Brahms 3 last night...

[....]Mackerras... I may give him my personal palm.

Emelyanychev.... I wouldn't agree that he was naked.

... though possibly distracting to watch.

[Bryn]

I've heard all three symphonies three times now (and still failed to eliminate the annoying instant 'whoop' that marked the end of No 41). I'm about to listen to Mackerras again and I suspect I may give him my personal palm.

Trivial factoids: Emelyanychev was born 200 years after Mozart wrote the symphonies and at 32 (just) he was exactly the same age as Mozart was when he composed the symphonies. I certainly felt there was something more youthful about his interpretation but I wouldn't agree that he was naked.

Look out for a PM with a download link. I have done a crafty edit to the aac file, using mp3directcut.