Prom 15: Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony (26.07.22)

[Ein Heldenleben]

I’ve only just realised there is no cymbal clash on the final chord of the Fourth.

Just another thing that makes it the ultimate test of the armchair cimbalist’s art. It could be argued that he slightly overdoes it - particularly in the last dozen bars .

[Simon B]

Just another thing that makes it the ultimate test of the armchair cimbalist’s art. It could be argued that he slightly overdoes it - particularly in the last dozen bars .

No bass drum or cymbals on the last chord of Tchaik 4 - but there is still triangle. There's conjecture that this is a copyist's revenge but maybe the composer's original score says otherwise? Conductors of amateur orchestras sometimes ask us to put in GC+Cym on the last chord anyway. I wonder if any pros have ever done this on record?

Chickening out and using light cymbals spoils it in my view. It is majestically OTT, perhaps in the vein of the march in #6: The composer pounding the table in a rage of "triumphal" hysteria?

The last time I saw the LSO do this piece, Neil Percy used the absolute biggest cymbals they've got - the ones you normally save for the end of Mahler 8 and never anything fast. An "interesting" choice - he must have very strong arms and fast reflexes! It was certainly... audible.

[pastoralguy]

In my concert going career I reckon I must have heard the (R)SNO play Tchaikovsky 4 over 25 times! A work they play really well, imho.

[duncan]

A good, old-fashioned, crowdpleaser. The 21-year-old soloist in the Puccini-esque Barber concerto deserved the adulation of what sounded a young-ish Proms audience, and all the better for that. The orchestra were obviously enjoying themselves in the Tchaikovsky, which is a surefire hit in any half decent performance. Tonight’s was more than half decent. The George Walker variations sounded merely gestural, & inoffensive...

Johan Dalene's rendition of the Barber concerto sounded tremendous in the hall. The orchestra looked like they were enjoying playing for De Souza. The Tchaikovsky was well received but slightly passed me by which may just be over-exposure.