Prom 2: John Wilson conducts the Sinfonia of London (16.07.22)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

18:30 Saturday 16 July 2022 (ON TV)
Royal Albert Hall

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Huw Watkins: Flute Concerto
Arnold Bax: Tintagel
William Walton: Partita for Orchestra
Edward Elgar: ‘Enigma’ Variations

British conductor John Wilson has long been a Proms favourite, but last year’s debut appearance of his new super-orchestra the Sinfonia of London caused a sensation. ‘Astonishing,’ wrote The Times. For The Spectator, this was ‘an orchestra so thrillingly alive with the sheer glory of it all that hearing them play felt like being a teenager in love’. Now Wilson and the Sinfonia are back, in an all-British programme that pairs much-loved classics by Elgar and Vaughan-Williams with Walton’s kaleidoscopic Partita, Bax’s stirring musical seascape and Huw Watkins’s spirited Flute Concerto, played by its dedicatee Adam Walker.

Adam Walker flute
Sinfonia of London
John Wilson conductor

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

In recent years, there has been a tendency to programme the first Saturday Prom as a rather bitty experience, so full marks for the BBC for making this a concert of full works.

[cloughie]

In recent years, there has been a tendency to programme the first Saturday Prom as a rather bitty experience, so full marks for the BBC for making this a concert of full works.

Looks good to me - though I know there are some on the forum who are not impressed by JW, I doubt many would fare better either on the rostrum or as an arranger - this month’s challenge anyone?

[jonfan]

Got tickets for this. We’ve just played Tintagel in our orchestra so if JW’s Horn 2 is indisposed for any reason, and there’s a last minute appeal to the audience, I’m your man!

[cloughie]

Got tickets for this. We’ve just played Tintagel in our orchestra so if JW’s Horn 2 is indisposed for any reason, and there’s a last minute appeal to the audience, I’m your man!

The heat may give you a Thomas Allen type opportunity! Pack the horn just in case!

[mahlerfan]

I really want to attend this - can one still turn up on the day and queue to prom?

[Bryn]

I really want to attend this - can one still turn up on the day and queue to prom?

This year, such tickets are available online only, see:

https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/proms/bbc-proms-2022/day-promming/

[mahlerfan]

This year, such tickets are available online only, see:

https://www.royalalberthall.com/tick.../day-promming/

Thanks Bryn

[Serial_Apologist]

As this soft Betjamen Metroland-inspired version of English early modernist fare is probably more familiar to informal classical music lovers in this land than any other, the Watkins concerto excepted, obviously, I would prefer indulging in it in the comfort of home than in the familiar stifling discomfort of the venue. However, I wonder how many of those in attendance will spot that the theme of the Walton Partita's central Pastorale Siciliano (1958) was directly cribbed from Roussel's Bacchus et Ariadne of 1929.

[mahlerfan]

As this soft Betjamen Metroland-inspired version of English early modernist fare is probably more familiar to informal classical music lovers in this land than any other, the Watkins concerto excepted, obviously, I would prefer indulging in it in the comfort of home than in the familiar stifling discomfort of the venue. However, I wonder how many of those in attendance will spot that the theme of the Walton Partita's central Pastorale Siciliano (1958) was directly cribbed from Roussel's Bacchus et Ariadne of 1929.

Yes, perhaps I should wait for a less lightweight programme. I was going to go along on Saturday, I'm not sure now.

In terms of getting a steer on this, which concerts in the programme do you intend on going to, rather than listening to at home?

[Pulcinella]

As this soft Betjamen Metroland-inspired version of English early modernist fare is probably more familiar to informal classical music lovers in this land than any other, the Watkins concerto excepted, obviously, I would prefer indulging in it in the comfort of home than in the familiar stifling discomfort of the venue. However, I wonder how many of those in attendance will spot that the theme of the Walton Partita's central Pastorale Siciliano (1958) was directly cribbed from Roussel's Bacchus et Ariadne of 1929.

Or those listening at home, as I imagine I'll be.

I was going to post that this piece deserves to be more widely know, but I clearly don't know it very well myself, as I didn't know this!

[Ein Heldenleben]

As this soft Betjamen Metroland-inspired version of English early modernist fare is probably more familiar to informal classical music lovers in this land than any other, the Watkins concerto excepted, obviously, I would prefer indulging in it in the comfort of home than in the familiar stifling discomfort of the venue. However, I wonder how many of those in attendance will spot that the theme of the Walton Partita's central Pastorale Siciliano (1958) was directly cribbed from Roussel's Bacchus et Ariadne of 1929.

Sorry but I don’t see how Betjeman (to spell his name correctly ) could possibly have inspired the Enigma Variations , the Tallis Fantasia , or Tintagel. The first two are masterpieces - key in the development of English music and could not conceivably be described as “soft.” All were composed before JB started writing poetry.You are right about the stifling heat though and the answer to your final question is somewhere between no one and very few.

[mahlerfan]

I didn't know this!

Me neither. Maybe SA can tell us where he read this. I'm confused.

[Pulcinella]

Me neither. Maybe SA can tell us where he read this. I'm confused.

Aha!
I've found this in the liner notes of the Cleveland/Szell recording:

This work has been compared to Roussel's 'Suite en Fa'.

I wonder if SA has misremembered?

I'll update this post if I discover anything else!

[mahlerfan]

Aha!
I've found this in the liner notes of the Cleveland/Szell recording:

I wonder if SA has misremembered?

I'll update this post if I discover anything else!

Thanks!

Yes, I must say I think the difference between 'comparison' and plagiarism is rather important - I enjoy both works and never detected anything underhand...