Prom 15 (12.08.21) - Vladimir Jurowski & the LPO

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

19:30 Thursday 12 August 2021
Royal Albert Hall

Igor Stravinsky: Jeu de cartes
William Walton: Cello Concerto
Johann Sebastian Bach: 14 Canons (Goldberg Variations) arr F.Goldmann (UK première)
Paul Hindemith: Symphony 'Mathis der Maler'

Steven Isserlis cello
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Vladimir Jurowski conductor

Vladimir Jurowski makes his final appearance as the London Philharmonic Orchestra's Principal Conductor after nearly 20 years in a concert of the 20th-century repertoire he has championed so passionately during his time in London. The rise of nazism is the catalyst for both Stravinsky’s ballet Jeu de cartes (‘Card Game’), in which forces of good triumph over the wicked Joker, and Hindemith’s symphony Mathis der Maler (‘Mathis the Painter’), in which the demons and angels of the Isenheim Altarpiece are vividly dramatised. Walton’s rhapsodic Cello Concerto takes us forwards to the 1950s and the end of the composer’s career.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Does anyone know anything about the Bach/Goldmann?

[jayne lee wilson]

Does anyone know anything about the Bach/Goldmann?

For chamber orchestra, ca.14 minutes.....

http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Arran/OT-Goldmann-F.htm

...part of a very intriguing program with a blockbuster finish....

Over the glorious coda to the symphony Hindemith writes "mit aller kraft".....
No wonder it was an early hifi demo when stereo appeared (Boston SO/Steinberg etc) .....and there's plenty of space to play with the utmost force in the RAH...let it rip!

[Alison]

Good programme.

[gradus]

Donkey's years ago there was supposed to be a recording of Mathis conducted by Klemperer has anyone ever come across it?

[jayne lee wilson]

Donkey's years ago there was supposed to be a recording of Mathis conducted by Klemperer has anyone ever come across it?

He gave the first USA performances in the 1930s, but the only Hindemith of his I ever heard or came across on record is the Nobilissima Visione...

[edashtav]

He gave the first USA performances in the 1930s, but the only Hindemith of his I ever came across on record is the Nobillissima Visione...

Now.. we could do with a Prom’s performance of that Hindemith Suite…
..

[edashtav]

Good programme.

It is, and I’m looking forward to it. Like some others, I see Walton’s Impressionistic cello concerto as his reaction to Prokofiev’s first violin concerto. It will be wonderful to hear how Jurowski who is a master of Prokofiev shapes its rhythms and colours.

[Serial_Apologist]

It is, and I’m looking forward to it. Like some others, I see Walton’s Impressionistic cello concerto as his reaction to Prokofiev’s first violin concerto. It will be wonderful to hear how Jurowski who is a master of Prokofiev shapes its rhythms and colours.

Or even more so his own!

[jayne lee wilson]

It is, and I’m looking forward to it. Like some others, I see Walton’s Impressionistic cello concerto as his reaction to Prokofiev’s first violin concerto. It will be wonderful to hear how Jurowski who is a master of Prokofiev shapes its rhythms and colours.

That's very intriguing parallel Ed., please could you say a little more about it? It had never occurred to me...

[edashtav]

That's very intriguing parallel Ed., please could you say a little more about it? It had never occurred to me...

I think it may have been Anthony Burton who first floated this idea in his sleeve note on the Chandos CD of the piece which had Paul Watkins as soloist, and Ed Gardner conducting the BBC SO, Jayne.
Anthony wrote:
“Like Walton’s earlier concertos for viola and violin ( and like Prokofiev’s First Violin Concerto which may have been Walton’s initial model) , the Cello Concerto has a moderately paced opening movement followed by a central scherzo.”

You will note that AB was drawing a general structural comparison between Walton’s string concerti and Prokofiev’s dreamy VC#1 but do you not feel that there is a similar mood conveyed in the opening movement of the Cello Concerto and its Prokofievian model? Certainly, I do. Biographies of Walton’s life post WWII on Ischia suggest that Walton was wont to order parcels of scores from his publishers back in GB to help him with ideas, kernels to coalesce and shape his own ideas which tended to be fitful which often led to unfortunately long gestation periods.

[jayne lee wilson]

The excellence of this orchestra was immediately apparent, the Stravinsky brilliantly and effortlessly dispatched, polished to a high sheen.
Then the Walton played with tenderness, precision and subtly coloristic variety from soloist and accompanists, the performer-partnerships close. And I think I really could hear the Prokofiev parallel...

And yet, and yet..... I'm very fond of many works by both composers, but still find it hard to connect with these two on an instinctive, emotional level.... so a part one paradox... much admiration, but less of the love.... hope those Angels and Temptations take me higher...

[bluestateprommer]

Agree with JLW that the LPO, VJ, and SI are all on strong form in the 1st half of this Prom. Fun encore from SI as well (couldn't catch the name of the Georgian composer quickly enough, so I'll have to archive it in the Forum Calendar later).

With the question of connecting with the works, I admit that I hadn't though of the parallel of Walton's Cello Concerto with Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 1 that Ed mentioned. I generally link it more closely to Walton's Viola Concerto, in the same general structure. IMHO, Walton pretty much recycles his bag of tricks from his earlier works in this concerto, rhythmic tics and such. With respect to Stravinsky, I tend to get a same-old, same-old reaction to works of his neoclassical period, in terms of overall style. However, I rate Jeu de cartes more highly and as more engaging, from that historical segment of Stravinsky's catalog.

[jayne lee wilson]

"Take me higher" did I say?

Well if there are more heavens than seven, I must be in one of them!

A glorious Mathis der Maler Symphony from the LPO and Jurowski.

Some years ago, some critic or commentator said - I forget the context - that the LPO were "the most German-sounding of London Orchestras". I wondered whether this LPO would be overshadowed by the favourite Dresden Phil recording I heard last night.
But Jurowski (and the R3 soundbalancers on the live webstream) seemed to transform the RAH into the Lukaskirche, the strings rich and textured, the brasses full, bold and weighty with a truly idiomatic Hindemith sound. Lovely expressive fine detail from the winds.

With the divertingly contemplative Bach Canons as a perfect upbeat, this was yet another highlight in a wonderful first Proms fortnight, which has almost become a celebration of The Classical Symphony. Such a marvellous range of musical styles, orchestral presentational traditions and tonal palettes....!

[Alison]

Yes altogether a life enhancing programme with performances to match.

Edward G is inheriting some orchestra :-)

I do love the full brass sound which seems to be a feature of the top London orchestras.