Prom 69: Beethoven’s Missa solemnis (7.09.22)

[Ein Heldenleben]

I think it was Hannah French . To be honest she is quite clever as apart from anything else she has a Ph.D . I think she interrupted to explain the lengthy tuning break.

[smittims]

I wasn't annoyed by the interruption, though I think it was unnecessary. It's part of the cult of the 'presenter'. At all costs we must not have quiet; jump in and increase your profile.

I remember on the Third Programme they were content to allow us to hear the ambience in the hall; but this goes back to earlier broadcasting; anyone who's seen the full seven-hour Coronation telecast may recall a long interval of silence where we were shown a flag fluttering limply in the rain. That did more to include me in the day than a 'celebrity' telling us how excited he was.

[french frank]

the full seven-hour Coronation telecast may recall a long interval of silence where we were shown a flag fluttering limply in the rain.

Those were the days when we would watch 'the potter's wheel' because there was nothing else being broadcast

[Lordgeous]

Those were the days when we would watch 'the potter's wheel' because there was nothing else being broadcast

I loved the kittens with the ball of wool!

[french frank]

I loved the kittens with the ball of wool!

I think we're getting off topic lordge!

[Ein Heldenleben]

I wasn't annoyed by the interruption, though I think it was unnecessary. It's part of the cult of the 'presenter'. At all costs we must not have quiet; jump in and increase your profile.

I remember on the Third Programme they were content to allow us to hear the ambience in the hall; but this goes back to earlier broadcasting; anyone who's seen the full seven-hour Coronation telecast may recall a long interval of silence where we were shown a flag fluttering limply in the rain. That did more to include me in the day than a 'celebrity' telling us how excited he was.

One of the simpler editing tasks used to be cutting down the tuning breaks in the live lunchtime concerts for the weekend repeat. Only an anorak like me would check whether they still do that….

[Petrushka]

I was in the hall and the fluff at the start was very noticeable. It certainly cried out for a retake! Mention is made above of the over prominent brass balance on the radio and this was true in the hall, too, though from my seat in H stalls (ie the opposite to where the brass was situated) it did sound magnificent. Likewise, the strings did sound comparatively weak so it does go to show that not everthing is the fault of the radio engineers.

There were 44 chorus members listed in the programme book and while they made a strong impression, perhaps more were needed in the vast spaces of the RAH.

Enjoyable performance, though, despite caveats and the soloists were fine, especially Lucy Crowe who has a wonderful voice.

[Pulcinella]

Richard Morrison in The Times gives it a five-star review!

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/missa-solemnis-at-the-proms-review-a-magnificent-emotional-and-spiritual-uplift-3b9pbs7tt?shareToken=3f0da5b398fe04e41e9e3948f20f1070

[jonfan]

Very appropriate that the last words and music of this Proms season were ‘Dona Nobis Pacem’.
RIP your Majesty.

[Subtuum]

Richard Morrison in The Times gives it a five-star review!

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/m...9e3948f20f1070

You sound surprised.

[smittims]

'It certainly cried out for re-take'.

Hmm, I can't see John Eliot Gardiner turning to the audience and saying 'my fault entirely, Ladies and Gentlemen as a famous predecessor did.

[gurnemanz]

At a Thomas Quasthoff recital in the Barbican, he went off at the end and then returned to give us an encore. He then apologised saying it had not been up to standard due to the effort which walking on and off had caused him in his physical condition. He then repeated the encore.

This must have been one if his last recitals before he retired.

[LHC]

At a Thomas Quasthoff recital in the Barbican, he went off at the end and then returned to give us an encore. He then apologised saying it had not been up to standard due to the effort which walking on and off had caused him in his physical condition. He then repeated the encore.

This must have been one if his last recitals before he retired.

I saw a recital by Piotr Anderszewski at the QEH in 2013, which opened with a performance of Bach’s French Suite No. 5. At the end of the concert he returned to the stage and announced that he had not been entirely satisfied with his performance of the Suite, and if we didn’t mind, he would like to play it again in place of the planned encore. He then proceeded to play the whole Suite again.

[bluestateprommer]

I was in the hall and the fluff at the start was very noticeable. It certainly cried out for a retake! Mention is made above of the over prominent brass balance on the radio and this was true in the hall, too, though from my seat in H stalls (ie the opposite to where the brass was situated) it did sound magnificent. Likewise, the strings did sound comparatively weak so it does go to show that not everthing is the fault of the radio engineers.

There were 44 chorus members listed in the programme book and while they made a strong impression, perhaps more were needed in the vast spaces of the RAH.

Enjoyable performance, though, despite caveats and the soloists were fine, especially Lucy Crowe who has a wonderful voice.

Haven't yet heard what proved to be "The Last Night of the 2022 Proms", being 3 weeks or so behind. But for a "compare and contrast" exercise, the Berliner Festspeiele has this ORR/JEG/Monteverdi/LC/AN/GS/WT performance available for about another 18 hours or so:

https://mediathek.berlinerfestspiele.de/de/musikfest-berlin/2022/orchestre-revolutionnaire-et-romantique-monteverdi-choir

I thought that this performance was very good. Will be interesting to hear others' thoughts.

[gradus]

I saw a recital by Piotr Anderszewski at the QEH in 2013, which opened with a performance of Bach’s French Suite No. 5. At the end of the concert he returned to the stage and announced that he had not been entirely satisfied with his performance of the Suite, and if we didn’t mind, he would like to play it again in place of the planned encore. He then proceeded to play the whole Suite again.

Anderszewski and Bach, a potent combination, how I wish I'd been there.