Prom 16 (13.08.21) - Martyn Brabbins & the BBC Symphony Orchestra

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

19:30 Friday 13 August 2021
Royal Albert Hall

Anthony Payne: Spring’s Shining Wake
Hector Berlioz: Les nuits d'été
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F major, 'Pastoral'

Martyn Brabbins conductor
London Symphony Orchestra
Dame Sarah Connolly mezzo-soprano
BBC Symphony Orchestra

The BBC Symphony Orchestra is joined by conductor Martyn Brabbins for its second concert of the season. Anthony Payne’s Spring’s Shining Wake, which takes its inspiration from Frederick Delius’s In a Summer Garden, is followed by Berlioz’s dazzling song-cycle Les nuits d’été, featuring mezzo-soprano Dame Sarah Connolly. Beethoven's ‘Pastoral’ Symphony No. 6 rounds off the evening.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I'm unfamiliar with Anthony Payne's music (other than works that are also by Elgar), so I look forward to this opportunity.

[Petrushka]

Sir Andrew Davis has withdrawn from this Prom and his place has been taken by Martyn Brabbins.

[Alison]

Will be interesting to hear Martyn conduct a LvB symphony.

[jayne lee wilson]

Will be interesting to hear Martyn conduct a LvB symphony.

It has certainly, er, "inspired even greater curiosity" in this event hasn't it?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Sir Andrew Davis has withdrawn from this Prom and his place has been taken by Martyn Brabbins.

Oops! I missed that. Many thanks.
Duly amended.

[oddoneout]

I see that the online schedule has allocated precise times to the pieces -18 mins for the Payne, 31 for the Berlioz and 39 for LvB. I assume that is something to do with the technical side of the broadcast, so why is it there - and does Martyn Brabbins know how many minutes he's been allocated!?
The interval apparently includes Anthony Payne "in an archive interview with R3", (my bold) which is an interesting concept. Save money by dispensing with a human interviewer?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I see that the online schedule has allocated precise times to the pieces -18 mins for the Payne, 31 for the Berlioz and 39 for LvB. I assume that is something to do with the technical side of the broadcast, so why is it there - and does Martyn Brabbins know how many minutes he's been allocated!?
The interval apparently includes Anthony Payne "in an archive interview with R3", (my bold) which is an interesting concept. Save money by dispensing with a human interviewer?

Anthony Payne is no longer with us, so it would require considerable ingenuity to bring about a live interview.

The timings have been a feature of Proms concerts, online and in the printed prospectus, for many years.

[edashtav]

Anthony Payne is no longer with us, so it would require considerable ingenuity to bring about a live interview.

The timings have been a feature of Proms concerts, online and in the printed prospectus, for many years.

The timing for the Berlioz does suggest that the complete cycle will be sung which is not always the case.

[oddoneout]

Anthony Payne is no longer with us, so it would require considerable ingenuity to bring about a live interview.

The timings have been a feature of Proms concerts, online and in the printed prospectus, for many years.

It wasn't the archive bit I was commenting on, I know AP is no longer alive, but the lack of a named interviewer. If it was AP doing a talk rather than an interview then why not say so, otherwise leave out "with R3" which doesn't make sense.
The timings comment was because listing "to the minute" durations, rather than approximate starting times(and I don't think those have appeared either,other than possibly for the afternoon concert repeats) , haven't appeared before .
Me being somewhat petty perhaps but part of my ongoing annoyance at what seems to be the increasingly shoddy (careless) state of the online information, not just for the Proms.

[notnerb]

Will be interesting to hear Martyn conduct a LvB symphony.

. . . and it's Martyn Brabbins's 62nd birthday today - hope the Prommers will marl the occasion appropriately.

[Bryn]

. . . and it's Martyn Brabbins's 62nd birthday today - hope the Prommers will marl the occasion appropriately.

And that, now that, AFAIK, the audio engineering is now back in-house, he and the other musicians will be better served them than when some outsourced sports broadcast specialists messed up the dynamic limiting of his Havergal Brian 'Gothic' (and other Proms) a few years ago.

[jayne lee wilson]

And that, now that, AFAIK, the audio engineering is now back in-house, he and the other musicians will be better served them than when some outsourced sports broadcast specialists messed up the dynamic limiting of his Havergal Brian 'Gothic' (and other Proms) a few years ago.

Consistently fine on the live AAC relays so far, as I've commented, with only one or two anomalies of level manipulation or tonal balance etc. Last night's wonderful LPO concert was again impeccable.

[Bryn]

Consistently fine on the live AAC relays so far, as I've commented, with only one or two anomalies of level manipulation etc. Last night's wonderful LPO concert was again impeccable.

Yes, very fine, especially considering the different conditions they are having to respond to, the year.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Anthony Payne is no longer with us, so it would require considerable ingenuity to bring about a live interview.

The timings have been a feature of Proms concerts, online and in the printed prospectus, for many years.

Anthony is with us in interview at the moment through the miracle of recording and very welcome he is too!