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Post by MartinT on Aug 31, 2020 8:49:44 GMT
Yep, there should have been some barnstormers to start the Proms with a bang.
Bit of Stravinsky would have done it.
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Post by julesd68 on Aug 31, 2020 10:12:01 GMT
Like we all needed reminding about all the socio-economic issues concerning us at the moment!!
The Proms should be a celebration of music, not a wake.
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Post by jandl100 on Aug 31, 2020 10:17:59 GMT
Maybe start off with Copland's Quiet City, then explode with something effervescent and upbeat.
What a bunch of fuckwits.
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Post by Slinger on Aug 31, 2020 14:49:59 GMT
I'm rather pleased I missed it from the sounds of things. I'd have watched purely for the Eric Whitacre piece, but it sounds like the rest of the program would have been a high price to pay.
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Post by julesd68 on Aug 31, 2020 17:50:31 GMT
It's Viennese Night tonight - that seems rather strange programming too, almost going too far in the other direction. Getting it 'right' is a tough nut to crack in the circumstances.
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Post by julesd68 on Aug 31, 2020 20:17:23 GMT
It took me around 10 mins trying to track down the live broadcast tonight on iPlayer using various routes - just ridiculous they can't make it easier!
Initially I found it utterly bizarre and depressing watching an empty Albert Hall. Perhaps radio a better idea. After a while I managed to concentrate on the most sumptuous music which did manage to lift my spirits somewhat, especially the Overture to Die Fledermaus which was a great romp. The Pizzicato Polka was beautifully observed and delicate.
In the rather entrancing and charming vocal selections both of the singers really couldn't have given any more in full-blooded performances; top marks for committment.
In the circumstances a very satisfactory result.
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Post by julesd68 on Sept 1, 2020 17:04:51 GMT
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Post by julesd68 on Sept 3, 2020 21:38:14 GMT
Alina Ibragimova was not able to make tonight's Prom due to the death of her father. Would have been quite something to hear her share a stage with Nicky B.
It was decided that three soloists would be chosen from the OAE to partner Ms B which was a very decent thing to do.
The highlight of the evening for me was the effervescent Kati Debretzeni, one of the OAE leaders, absolutely smashing it out of the park in one of the Vivaldi doubles. She really is in the very top tier of Baroque violinists.
Discovery of the evening was the quality of Newcastle's Charles Avison and his Concerto Grosso no 5, the first movement of which was rather spellbinding indeed.
Also great credit to Katharina Spreckelsen - her tone and technique in the Vivaldi Oboe Double was entirely sumptuous and moving.
The OAE were outstanding as ever throughout, not much more need be said and I particularly enjoyed Handel's Concerto Grosso.
Certainly worth catching this when released on iPlayer if you missed it.
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Post by julesd68 on Sept 4, 2020 0:10:45 GMT
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Post by julesd68 on Sept 7, 2020 17:08:37 GMT
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Post by MartinT on Sept 7, 2020 17:28:02 GMT
Thanks. Lovely performance and our Nicola looks a bit different. Younger? |
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Post by julesd68 on Sept 7, 2020 18:02:14 GMT
LOL - I thought she was looking older, as she should be, because she is!
Anyway, she is always beautiful.
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Post by julesd68 on Sept 9, 2020 20:24:41 GMT
Well we will get another chance to enjoy Nicola B as she has stepped in to replace
Lisa Batiashvili at short notice for the Last Night.
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Post by julesd68 on Sept 11, 2020 22:31:49 GMT
Don't miss Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason's utterly compelling performance of the Rachmaninov Cello Sonata that was broadcast tonight. One of the things I love about this work is that the piano part is not a mere accompaniment, it calls for a virtuoso too, so you really get to appreciate both of their spectacular talents. My only real disappointment of the evening was the cello tone that at times sounded unusually thin and brittle, especially in the first half when Sheku was playing very aggressively. Either the empty Albert Hall was doing him no favours or the BBC audio set-up wasn't quite up to it tonight. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000mfbv/bbc-proms-2020-sheku-and-isata-kannehmason |
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Post by julesd68 on Sept 12, 2020 10:47:03 GMT
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Post by Slinger on Sept 12, 2020 20:09:50 GMT
I can't wait until this new version of "Jerusalem," is rolled out to the W.I.  |
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Post by julesd68 on Sept 12, 2020 21:18:25 GMT
Well I have to say that in spite of the apocalyptic warnings of recent weeks in the media, the BBC did a *very* decent job with the Last Night. A great atmosphere of joy and optimism was created which is quite an achievement in the circumstances. A very well-balanced programme of familiar and new was suitably uplifting, with a few sombre nods to our troubled times - the premiere of Andrea Tarrodi's 'Solus' which charts the virus, nagging at you like a Hitchcock movie soundtrack; and a moving Proms premiere for Sibelius's Impromptu for Strings that was most cleverly selected by fellow Finn and conductor, the impressive Dalia Stasevska. Sublime tone, musicality and delicate nuance from Nicola B for her Lark Ascending which certainly scaled some heights in spite of its familiarity for us all. Glorious orchestral backing. Sometimes we need reassuring works like this. Discovery of the evening for me was the utterly fabulous South African soprano Golda Schultz - an amazingly versatile and talented lady with a personality to match. How she technically manages to sing both Strauss and Sondheim like that I don't know. There was another premiere for Errollyn Wallen's re-working of Jerusalem. The music sounded curiously mid 20th century but maybe that was a musical nod to the Windrush Generation and Miss Schultz certainly gave it full value. Would be worth another listen as there was a lot in it. The Fantasia on British Sea-Songs was heaps of fun with the Royal Albert lit up like a Christmas tree inside and out - the punters watching outside certainly enjoyed it. After some rather fetching musical VT inserts shot in Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland we then moved onto the 'ceremonial' and got a very fine rendition of 'Rule Britannia' and an exuberant 'Land of Hope' arranged by Anne Dudley, all with a socially distanced choir. The choir made a magnificent and full-blooded sound in spite of their disadvantage. Why the conductor was wearing a kimono at this point of the proceedings is anyone's guess though! There was still time for a suitably potent arrangement of You'll Never Walk Alone, Golda Schultz outstanding again, and a totally compelling (traditional) Jerusalem with the RAH organ sounding immense. Finally, the remarkably poignant Britten arrangement of the National Anthem. Well done BBC.  |
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