Prom 5 (2.08.21) - Ryan Bancroft conducts the BBC National Orchestra of Wales

[Goon525]

Got round to last night’s concert this morning, my first of the season. The Saint-Saens, which I don’t know well, was really well put across, fully persuading me of its quality. Guy Johnston good enough not to miss Sol Gabetta at all. Brahms 4, which I know about as well as anything (my first full price LP c1973, was Boult’s then new LPO version, and very good it was too), I thought a bit routine, pleasant enough but no more, lacking real symphonic drive and the build up of tension. Maybe because of social distancing, sounded more like a chamber orchestra, short of heft for the piece. Back to Kleiber and Chailly (very different, both excellent) for me. Sound? Perfectly acceptable using JLW’s recommended BBC Sounds website, not I think as good as the 2017 FLAC, but comfortably better than FM if a bit woolly in the bass. I did find I needed to turn the volume up very considerably to get much impact, and that may have coloured my impression of the Brahms.
PS Also agree about the terrific flute solo.

[gradus]

I also just got round to listening to the Brahms 4 and felt a little underwhelmed by the performance. Similarly I found the Sounds recording oddly harsh with a digital glare on louder passages and strings a little undernourished. I tried the RPO Mendelssohn immediately afterwards and thought it sounded better balanced and decidedly warmer to my ears. Just personal observations as so much depends on the quality of the system and not least the listening room acoustics - mine is lively and probably needs more sound absorbent surfaces.

[Barbirollians]

This was a first-rate Brahms 4. Lovely playing, beautifully-judged tempi, and a sure overall grasp of the work's architectural and emotional thrust from Ryan Bancroft. A conductor to watch.

Agreed - with this and MGT’s very different Brahms 3 we have been spoiled for fine Brahms symphony performances . Looks like BBCNOW audiences have landed a bit of a star.