Prom 42 (7.09.21) - Benjamin Grosvenor Performs Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4

[Keraulophone]

At least the pianists were named on the wireless

Yes, Gemma and Paul were given their bow - and rightly so!
.

[jonfan]

I’ve played horn, piano and organ in this piece and by far the easiest note wise is the organ, mainly slow moving chords. As Roger says the main problems are balance and keeping with the orchestra by watching the conductor. The piano parts are absolute pigs; not only the notes, which fly by very quickly, but putting them in the right place.

[Keraulophone]

The Hallé, Mark Elder and Anna Lapwood gave us lesson in how it should be done, IMO.
RJ

It seemed there was a lot of emotion in that elongated final note - the Hallé’s triumphant return to the RAH.

(Not wishing to compare live relays with studio recordings) Every time I hear this work I have in my mind’s ear the ff organ entry in the finale of Gaston Litaize at Chartres Cathedral, dubbed onto the Chicago SO/Barenboim recording on DG. Still a marvel.
.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I’ve played horn, piano and organ in this piece and by far the easiest note wise is the organ, mainly slow moving chords. As Roger says the main problems are balance and keeping with the orchestra by watching the conductor. The piano parts are absolute pigs; not only the notes, which fly by very quickly, but putting them in the right place.

Just had a stab at them . If they were straightforward arpeggios they wouldn’t be a problem but they are not . Like some cruel Czerny exercise they have a blip in them forcing more work on the fourth and fifth fingers and flying in the face of all that arpeggio practice induced finger memory . Would anyone other than the fellow virtuoso sitting next to you notice if you made a subtle ossia adjustment I wonder? And would they tell on you ?

[cloughie]

Yes, Gemma and Paul were given their bow - and rightly so!
.

The Rayson Whalley heirs in the Halle kitchen dept! A traditional brilliant and undersung dept!

[Alison]

Bachtrack review (Alexandra Hall) of Ben Grosvenor:

‘Beethoven the pussycat without any leonine roars’

Rubbish.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Bachtrack review (Alexandra Hall) of Ben Grosvenor:

‘Beethoven the pussycat without any leonine roars’

Rubbish.

I would like to hear the critic play the rondo at the speed Ben took it at . if he’s a pussycat he’s definitely a cheetah . A remark so far wide of the mark you wonder what concert she was at..

[Rolmill]

I would like to hear the critic play the rondo at the speed Ben took it at .

...and with his amazing articulation!

[Ein Heldenleben]

...and with his amazing articulation!

To be fair the critic praises that and his brilliant passage work . But she thought it understated …

[Rolmill]

To be fair the critic praises that and his brilliant passage work . But she thought it understated …

As you say, makes you wonder if she was at the same concert as me - very far from understated imv.

[Ein Heldenleben]

As you say, makes you wonder if she was at the same concert as me - very far from understated imv.

“One-dimensional” and “self-effacing” are the exact epithets. Ridiculous….

[Alison]

To be fair the critic praises that and his brilliant passage work . But she thought it understated …

And one-dimensional

[Alison]

“One-dimensional” and “self-effacing” are the exact epithets. Ridiculous….

[Ein Heldenleben]

And one-dimensional

Just wish I inject some of that “one dimensional playing” into my pianistic efforts . I thought it was beautifully characterised where perhaps Pavel with the Goldberg last night went a tiny bit over the top maybe ? It’s all about your tastes really.

[french frank]

It’s all about your tastes really.

Yes, I can't see 'one-dimensional' as being anythng but a criticism, but 'self-effacing', and even 'understated', will be appealing to some tastes.