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

[ucanseetheend]

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.)

Very true. Boring concert

[edashtav]

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.

[Alison]

Truly compelling performances of Dvorak 7 are a rare thing in my book. The first movement can blaze into a tremendously satisfying climax that perhaps only a great conductor can produce.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Truly compelling performances of Dvorak 7 are a rare thing in my book. The first movement can blaze into a tremendously satisfying climax that perhaps only a great conductor can produce.

Indeed. It’s on TV right now. Great music making. The seating is interesting too.

[Nachtigall]

Very true. Boring concert

What?! There's a lot of nitpicking in this thread. I've just watched the concert on BBC4, with the sound given the full Dolby treatment through my speakers. I found nothing to complain about in either the orchestra's responsiveness or Marin Alsop's conducting and I know the Bartók and the Prokofiev well. And though the inter-work chats in the gallery have been generally execrable (especially those hosted by Clive Myrie in embarrassing over-drive) this evening's, I thought, was grounded and informative for those unfamiliar with the programme.

Benjamin Grosvenor was, of course, superb in both the Prokofiev and the Ravel encore. I forbear to comment on Tom Service's contribution (but failure to mention the Dies Irae or Liszt's Totentanz was an oversight on his part).

[jonfan]

What?! There's a lot of nitpicking in this thread. I've just watched the concert on BBC4, with the sound given the full Dolby treatment through my speakers. I found nothing to complain about in either the orchestra's responsiveness or Marin Alsop's conducting and I know the Bartók and the Prokofiev well. And though the inter-work chats in the gallery have been generally execrable (especially those hosted by Clive Myrie in embarrassing over-drive) this evening's, I thought, was grounded and informative for those unfamiliar with the programme.

Benjamin Grosvenor was, of course, superb in both the Prokofiev and the Ravel encore. I forbear to comment on Tom Service's contribution (but failure to mention the Dies Irae or Liszt's Totentanz was an oversight on his part).

agree. Jess Gillam is proving a very good presenter who speaks with authority as well as enthusiasm. Let’s have more from the Radio 3 presenting team.
The layout of the orchestra gives our orchestra food thought as the horns and basses often feel out of it at the back or side. I think it’s often the case that East European orchestras have the horns on the low right with the cellos. Makes a lot of sense.

[Bryn]

As to Ms Alsop: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001bbnn I do wish the Beeb would rebroadcast Gerard McBurney on the 5th.

[richardfinegold]

As to Ms Alsop: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001bbnn I do wish the Beeb would rebroadcast Gerard McBurney on the 5th.

I am at work now but will try to Chromecast it tonight to my Cambridge Audio streamer.
I am a huge fan of McBurney after attending many of his presentations that he did with the Chicago SO

[alywin]

I've just watched the concert on BBC4, with the sound given the full Dolby treatment through my speakers. I found nothing to complain about in either the orchestra's responsiveness or Marin Alsop's conducting and I know the Bartók and the Prokofiev well.

And speaking as one who was there, I found the clarity of the music quite unusual for the venue.

[Lordgeous]

agree. Jess Gillam is proving a very good presenter who speaks with authority as well as enthusiasm. Let’s have more from the Radio 3 presenting team.
The layout of the orchestra gives our orchestra food thought as the horns and basses often feel out of it at the back or side. I think it’s often the case that East European orchestras have the horns on the low right with the cellos. Makes a lot of sense.

Lovely and brilliant though she is I'm afraid she grates as a presenter. Come back Richard Baker!!! TV presenters seem dire at the proms this year. Myrie & co... surely there must be someone able to do the job without us having the reach for the mute button. Nic Kenyon anyone?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Lovely and brilliant though she is I'm afraid she grates as a presenter. Come back Richard Baker!!! TV presenters seem dire at the proms this year. Myrie & co... surely there must be someone able to do the job without us having the reach for the mute button. Nic Kenyon anyone?

I don't mind Jess Gillam as a Proms presenter, but her Saturday lunchtime programme really does grate - as she and her guests talk (simper) over the music. She may well be acting under orders, but that's really no justification.

[jonfan]

I don't mind Jess Gillam as a Proms presenter, but her Saturday lunchtime programme really does grate - as she and her guests talk (simper) over the music. She may well be acting under orders, but that's really no justification.

Agree, utterly useless programme and she’s wasted. I’ve quite enjoyed the tv presenters when it’s been someone from Radio 3 as they have some musical knowledge rather than only an enthusiasm as Clive Myrie exhibits.

[smittims]

I thought 'Heliosis' an ideal Prom novelty, the equivalent of the sort of thing Henry Wood expected of his composers: short, lively and colourful. But hearing it after the spoken introduction I didn't feel it depicted torrid heat to me, which raised the old question of whether music can, of itself, be pictorial or descriptive. Perhaps this is why I prefer 'abstract ' music .