Prom 31 (28.08.21) - Bartók Roots

[DracoM]

Good repertoire mix. Thx.

[Ein Heldenleben]

There was some pretty sensational playing tonight - sadly competing with a neighbouring street party so I shall listen again tomorrow .

[jayne lee wilson]

Playing of remarkable intensity and brilliance in the Suite No.2, deeply idiomatic in its realisation of the dreamlike, the fantasy and the dance in Bartok’s folkloric inspirations. As with the Concerto in Part One you had the feeling that the music might swerve off in any direction, any time…

Perhaps the string-sound was a little fierce at high levels (which may well have been a deliberate orchestral effect from Dausgaard of course); but sound-balancing vividly conveyed the sheer vitality and character of this very successful Bartok concept-concert.

So yes - to soundbalancer Graham Taylor...

[Bryn]

Playing of remarkable intensity and brilliance in the Suite No.2, deeply idiomatic in its realisation of the dreamlike, the fantasy and the dance in Bartok’s folkloric inspirations. As with the Concerto in Part One you had the feeling that the music might swerve off in any direction, any time…

Perhaps the string-sound was a little fierce at high levels (which may well have been a deliberate orchestral effect from Dausgaard of course); but sound-balancing vividly conveyed the sheer vitality and character of this very successful Bartok concept-concert.

So yes - to soundbalancer Graham Taylor...

No disrespect to Dausgaard intended, far from it, but Ilan Volkov has been preparing for tonight, with an orchestra of which he is principal guest conductor, for some time. These are musicians with a considerable history of performing together, though I am not too clear to what extent he has previously worked with Pat Kop. Such a pity that this Prom was not to be televised.

[edashtav]

The BBC Scottish is truly the Bartok ensemble par excellence.

Gosh, what a sensational concert: everyone was on fire. Revelation followed revelation.

"Between heaven and earth, past and future, I sank for a moment into the Hungarian cosmos and sensed whispers, fragments and signs of living and immortal souls. From light and darkness, dream and wakefulness, music burst forth."

Patricia Kopatchinskaja

[richardfinegold]

I have never liked this Concerto despite my general love for BB. This program was interesting but in the end despite the undoubted excellence of the performance I still find my attention wandering during the main course

[rauschwerk]

I have never liked this Concerto despite my general love for BB. This program was interesting but in the end despite the undoubted excellence of the performance I still find my attention wandering during the main course

Bartók could be an episodic composer, and this piece needs particular care from its interpreters to keep the momentum going through the very many tempo changes. I don't think it received enough of that in this performance.