Prom 36: Marin Alsop conducts the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra (13.08.22)

[gedsmk]

Funny ‘cos every one always seems to go on about what a superb conductor she is….

Well, I thought she handled the Rach 3rd for the winning Cliburn soloist superbly.

[bluestateprommer]

The new Hannah Eisendle piece, Heliosis, got off to a brisk start, which is a welcome contrast with so many new works that start stately and slow. It's good clean fun, and would make for a good concert opener in general. Ian Skelly mentioned that Hannah E. was in the hall to take a bow, which is nice that she could be present.

[edashtav]

The new Hannah Eisendle piece, Heliosis, got off to a brisk start, which is a welcome contrast with so many new works that start stately and slow. It's good clean fun, and would make for a good concert opener in general. Ian Skelly mentioned that Hannah E. was in the hall to take a bow, which is nice that she could be present.

Hannah Eisendle: Heliosis (UK première)

When I was three months old I suffered severe sunstroke because nobody had realised that I was paraplegic as a result of undiagnosed polio. I can’t say what I felt but my earliest memory is of being pushed in a perambulator through an avenue of high trees and being fascinated by the alternating umbra and glittering sunlight.

This piece is dynamic, rhythmic but primitive. Marin was at her most unbuttoned and the work was so appropriate for this sun-drenched year.

[bluestateprommer]

Keeping in mind that Dvorak 7 isn't my favorite of the Dvorak symphonies, Alsop gave a pretty good reading of it just now, IMHO, quite straightforward, except for a bit of stretching in the finale towards the end. For the most part, again IMHO, she let the score speak for itself, in the Jiri Belohlavek tradition, if I may be permitted the comparison.

Interesting choice of the first encore, in terms of cheekiness of title and spirit :) . Likewise, given that this is an orchestra from Vienna, the second encore also was most appropriate ;) . A concert with a quite meaty program plus 3 encores (all archived in the Forum Calendar, natürlich), so definitely value.

[Alison]

Good summary BSP.

[edashtav]

Keeping in mind that Dvorak 7 isn't my favorite of the Dvorak symphonies, Alsop gave a pretty good reading of it just now, IMHO, quite straightforward, except for a bit of stretching in the finale towards the end. For the most part, again IMHO, she let the score speak for itself, in the Jiri Belohlavek tradition, if I may be permitted the comparison.

Interesting choice of the first encore, in terms of cheekiness of title and spirit :) . Likewise, given that this is an orchestra from Vienna, the second encore also was most appropriate ;) . A concert with a quite meaty program plus 3 encores (all archived in the Forum Calendar, natürlich), so definitely value.

I agree that the symphony came over well - Marin Alsop is expert in Brahms and as this symphony was, in part, a response to his 3rd, it olayed to her strengths.

Earlier, I complained that it had a low quotient of Dvorak’s naughty, or wayward, bits. I had forgotten that its slow movement was, originally, rather longer with many a ramble across the Czech countryside. I understand that Jonathan Del Mar has created a perfoming edition of it. How good it would be if the Proms were to mount its first performance of the original full score.

[kernelbogey]

My dad says that in the seventies there used to be intervals that had nothing to do with music.

The interval talks, as I recall them generically on R3 (not just during the Proms) were in the fine tradition of 'the Third' - serious thought condensed into 18 or so minutes: greatly missed.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

My dad says that in the seventies there used to be intervals that had nothing to do with music.

Think I’d rather like that now.

Your dad is quite correct. An interval is more than a rest for the players and a toilet break for the audience etc. The ears need a rest from music too.

[kernelbogey]

The ears need a rest from music too.

[Petrushka]

My dad says that in the seventies there used to be intervals that had nothing to do with music.

Think I’d rather like that now.

The interval talks were often a delight. Sometimes serious, sometimes whimsical, sometimes eccentric, they were an effective 20 minutes of relaxation between two halves of great music. It has to be said that some of them were better than the concerts they divided! I recall occasions at the Proms interval when I would head for the area in the hall where Radio 3 was broadcasting solely in order to catch the interval talk. The number of people gathered around testified to the fact that I wasn't alone.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Me (pretentiously) to friend . “Having been to a lot of opera I reckon 2 hours of music is the maximum I can listen to without a break”
Friend “that’s funny - having been to lots of plays 2 hours is the maximum I can go without a very large drink.”

[Maclintick]

The interval talks, as I recall them generically on R3 (not just during the Proms) were in the fine tradition of 'the Third' - serious thought condensed into 18 or so minutes: greatly missed.

Agreed, such interval talks or features are increasingly rare, but there was one example this week in which the historian John Gallagher charted the growth of leisure activities during the inter-war years. Good stuff -- the last thing you need between the two halves of music is more music, IMHO.

[Master Jacques]

Earlier, I complained that it had a low quotient of Dvorak’s naughty, or wayward, bits. I had forgotten that its slow movement was, originally, rather longer with many a ramble across the Czech countryside. I understand that Jonathan Del Mar has created a performing edition of it. How good it would be if the Proms were to mount its first performance of the original full score.

My understanding is, that the 40 bars Dvorak excised (a couple of weeks after the world premiere in London, before publication) don't amount to much. The Bährenreiter edition (JdM) prints them as an appendix, rather than adding them back in to the main drag - but like you, I should love to hear the extra material some time.

[Frances_iom]

... -- the last thing you need between the two halves of music is more music, IMHO.

If instant turn-offs can be graded those intervals combining TS + GM are even more instant and disliked by me.

[Ein Heldenleben]

If instant turn-offs can be graded those intervals combining TS + GM are even more instant and disliked by me.

Last nights was tooth-grinding. The level of self congratulation , aren’t we cleverness was so off putting. The thing is you can make so many connections between any two pieces of music that finding 6 pieces to link from whatever it was to Dvorak 7 poses no sort of intellectual challenge at all (other than to show off the amount of music you are able to listen to courtesy of your employer.)