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

[mlb7171]

Tintagel was indeed good - though I remember being blown away by Vernon Handley conducting that years ago.

The Tod Handley boxed set of Bax, including Tintagel, is unbeatable. Whole box very highly praised on its release. Tintagel - "majestic" - Gramophone; "unquestionably the most beautiful performance of Tintagel I’ve ever heard" - musicweb. BBC Philharmonic and Chandos.

As for comments about Enigma being for excitement I found it rather bitty. Interested to see on TV broadcast what conductor was doing to generate the sounds heard. This Colin Davis LSO Nimrod, an encore from a Japan tour, is IMHO that against which all others should be judged - he just doesn't get in the way. https://youtu.be/Nz8p9mOLr8U

[mahlerfan]

Oh, how I wish I could have been there. Listening on BBC sounds instead. What an amazing RVW Thomas Tallis - orgasmic!

And although I can't remember the last time I attended a Tintagel performance, I know it wasn't even near this one - what brass!

Such a welcome and enjoyable flute concerto that easily, proficiently and harmonically endearingly, brought wonderful music to our ears. A perfect Proms commission.

Maybe a game of two halves though. Walton's Patrtita was incredibly well played and the orchestra mastered all the 'ducks and dives' but a little of the essential 'feel' wasn't there.

Enigma variations was somewhat variated and not as flowing through all the sections as I would like. But very enjoyable, none the less.

But it was a concert and we must contextualise all this and perhaps not compare with our favoured CD recordings......

So pleased that musicians like John Wilson, for whom three cheers are never enough, are busily active!

And what a glorious encore!

[Simon Biazeck]

Oh, how I wish I could have been there. Listening on BBC sounds instead. What an amazing RVW Thomas Tallis - orgasmic!

And although I can't remember the last time I attended a Tintagel performance, I know it wasn't even near this one - what brass!

Such a welcome and enjoyable flute concerto that easily, proficiently and harmonically endearingly, brought wonderful music to our ears. A perfect Proms commission.

Maybe a game of two halves though. Walton's Patrtita was incredibly well played and the orchestra mastered all the 'ducks and dives' but a little of the essential 'feel' wasn't there.

Enigma variations was somewhat variated and not as flowing through all the sections as I would like. But very enjoyable, none the less.

But it was a concert and we must contextualise all this and perhaps not compare with our favoured CD recordings......

So pleased that musicians like John Wilson, for whom three cheers are never enough, are busily active!

And what a glorious encore!

Hear, hear!

[Dave2002]

The Tod Handley boxed set of Bax, including Tintagel, is unbeatable. Whole box very highly praised on its release. Tintagel - "majestic" - Gramophone; "unquestionably the most beautiful performance of Tintagel I’ve ever heard" - musicweb. BBC Philharmonic and Chandos.

I have that set, but I actually heard Tod conduct it live at the Barbican. Superb!

[Nick Armstrong]

obviously the Sinfonia of London remains an excellent ensemble, on a purely technical level

Superlative list of players:

[mahlerfan]

From hearing the first half just now, obviously the Sinfonia of London remains an excellent ensemble, on a purely technical level.

On a purely technical level? Anything else?

You've obviously been spoilt.

[mahlerfan]

Superlative list of players:

Nick,

I really think the Sinfonia of London are a superb outfit as that impressive line-up indicates and your description as 'superlative' is spot on. But looking at the names (and seeing the photos of the orchestra), they seem to have a diversity problem.

Can they not adopt the approach of the English Touring Opera and drop half the musicians and replace them with BAME musicians, as per the firm guidance from The Arts Council? That would be a start.

What do people think? it is 2022, after all, and shouldn't London's Sinfonia reflect London's diverse population ....?

https://www.classicfm.com/music-news...tra-diversity/

[ucanseetheend]

Are you serious or is this sarcasm ? The best players what John Wilson wants. Youre sounding like the BBC commentator on England womans team now.

[Lordgeous]

Groan. Agreed. Suprised he hasn't been taken to task for his programme of purely ENGLISH music!

[LHC]

We should just be thankful that the egregious Lebrecht, who has recently decided that the Covent Garden Young Artists scheme should only recruit British singers, and complained that Freddie de Tomaso wasn't replaced by a British Tenor on the opening night, hasn't written another brainless article because some members of the orchestra have foreign-sounding names.

[Ein Heldenleben]

We should just be thankful that the egregious Lebrecht, who has recently decided that the Covent Garden Young Artists scheme should only recruit British singers, and complained that Freddie de Tomaso wasn't replaced by a British Tenor on the opening night, hasn't written another brainless article because some members of the orchestra have foreign-sounding names.

Wasn’t there a time when British singers adopted Italian names because they weren’t taken seriously otherwise ?

[gradus]

Wasn’t there a time when British singers adopted Italian names because they weren’t taken seriously otherwise ?

Ben Fynn aka Bennett Feinman or Finerman = Benvenuto Finelli

[Barbirollians]

Nick,

I really think the Sinfonia of London are a superb outfit as that impressive line-up indicates and your description as 'superlative' is spot on. But looking at the names (and seeing the photos of the orchestra), they seem to have a diversity problem.

Can they not adopt the approach of the English Touring Opera and drop half the musicians and replace them with BAME musicians, as per the firm guidance from The Arts Council? That would be a start.

What do people think? it is 2022, after all, and shouldn't London's Sinfonia reflect London's diverse population ....?

https://www.classicfm.com/music-news...tra-diversity/

If this orchestra is overwhelmingly white as has been suggested is that not a proper matter for comment ? I have no idea whether it is correct as a statement of fact but diversity is important - we certainly think so on here as far as the VPO is concerned .

[ucanseetheend]

we certainly think so on here as far as the VPO is concerned .

who is "WE", the pronoun to cover everyone ,so funny.

[Barbirollians]

who is "WE", the pronoun to cover everyone ,so funny.

We - as a term summarising the apparent collective view of the majority of this forum - if you are someone who considers no women players in the VPO is a perfectly good thing or it is a matter of little consequence then from my recollection of discussions on this forum you are in a tiny minority.