The Proms 2007

[Papy Oli]

No better way than to get him on this DVD of Hans Werner Henze's best opera:

http://www.amazon.com/Henze-Triumph-Sohnesliebe-Ainsley-Salzburg/dp/B00068VQBI/ref=sr_1_1/105-4302788-5222808?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1187064042&sr=1-1

Goerne is available on a number of other CDs, but this opera shows him live and sing and act stunningly! 

Thanks Lis, I'll bear that recommendation in mind 

[Greta]

The video of the Prom with Goerne singing has been posted at Operashare, and audio of the Gotterdammerung etc.

So many Proms to pick from, where to start? 

[Justin Ignaz Franz Bieber]

Try clearing your browser cache. If that doesn't work, post here again and I'll reupload as soon as I get time.

here's what it said about prom 6:

The identifier you are using is invalid. This could be a Javascript problem with your computer, ensure you are allowing javascript to run fully for the Mediafire.com domain. If this problem persists please contact support directly.

[Mark]

here's what it said about prom 6:

Mediafire has limitations if you upload and you're not a registered member, as I wasn't when I began posting Proms. At some point, I'll make the effort to begin re-uploading. But right now, I've got a lot on my plate, so it won't be soon, I'm sorry to say.

[Greta]

Testing new Flash feature.

I uploaded a Prom video, the Piano Concerto from Prom 23:

http://www.youtube.com/v/p8KAo3vbNa8

In 5 parts, plus the interview with Salonen and Bronfman.

1st mvmt, part II

2nd mvmt

3rd mvmt

Interview

[knight66]

I came back late from work tonight and caught only the tail end of "Des Knaben Wundetrhorn" on BBC4, just in time for the beginning of the Urlicht  ....first time i heard it by a male singer (in that case, Matthias Goerne)...that was just stunning  ...will have to check out that Goerne guy !!

Silly question though...I know that Des Knaben Wunderhorn is the basis for Mahler's 2nd, but is the Urlicht usually incorporated in the Wunderhorn recordings ? ...I have the Szell/Diskau/Schwarzkopf on GROTC, but Urlicht doesn't appear on it...  Would it just be programmed for the concert ?

There are more of the Wunderhorn songs and the selection can be a bit various. Urlicht is a specefic setting for the 2nd Sym, but is occasionally tacked onto the more usual selection.

Mike

[bhodges]

Goerne is one of my current favorite singers, and he is great in Mahler.  Here is a nice review of that concert by Anne Ozorio on MusicWeb.

--Bruce

[Mark]

Just to update you folks, I have Proms 33, 43 and 44 on my PC, but haven't had time yet to prepare these for upload. Rest assured that I will in time.

[Papy Oli]

There are more of the Wunderhorn songs and the selection can be a bit various. Urlicht is a specefic setting for the 2nd Sym, but is occasionally tacked onto the more usual selection.

Mike

Goerne is one of my current favorite singers, and he is great in Mahler.  Here is a nice review of that concert by Anne Ozorio on MusicWeb.

--Bruce

thanks both for the extra info 

[bhodges]

PS, this Goerne CD called Arias is quite good, with a very eclectic program of Mozart, Korngold, R. Strauss, Schumann, Humperdinck, Wagner and Berg.



--Bruce

[sound67]

While in London, I managed to catch three of last week's PROMS, with mixed results:

The first was a John Adams program, including the premiere of his "Dr Atomic Symphony" written for the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Adams himself conducted the work (as well as his old Century Rolls, with Olli Mustonen, and Copland's Billy the Kid Suite). The new work is closer to his older minimalistic oeuvre than to his more recent pieces, which seemed to veer ever closer towards neo-romanticism. Here, and in the other pieces, Adams' conducting was not fully up to getting the best out of the works. A little more warmth would have helped to make the rather academic Symphony a little more approachable.

As usual with concerts of works that are either new or non-British (or both), the hall was half-empty.

We wanted to attend next day's Mahler 3rd with Claudio Abbado, but the RAH, including arena and gallery, were sold out and filled to capacity. Predictably, as I would say in retrospect.

The worst was yet to come: Thursday night there was a Handel/Telemann program on historical instruments, played - or, rather, mauled, as it turned out - by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. Their playing turned out to be so wreteched - all squeaky winds, wiry strings and blaring brass - the full HIP enchilada, so to speak - that especially during the slow movements, even the melodic lines got lost in the prevailing chaos. Brass intonation was off during the entire time we cared to listen. Simply awful, and of course greeted with enthusiasm by the large audience thrilled to hear Handel played as it would have been in Handel's times. I doubt the man himself would have been much enthused.

We got a few angry looks from some other listeners who didn't like snide remarks being made while the (non)performances were going on. By the time of the intermission (after 75! minutes, 20 of which were spent with walking on and off the stage, as well as another 20 lavished on tuning) we couldn't take it anymore and left in astonishment.

Bruckner's 8th was the single item on the menu on Friday, and I doubt I'll live to hear a much better live performance of it than the one given by the Royal Concertgebouw under Bernard Haitink that night. RAH splendor at its best, given the hall's very obvious acoustic limitations, and warm and sensitive playing throughout. Hearing it live I can now better understand how some in this forum are singing the praises of Bruckner's orchestration. But while there are many lovely and indeed thrilling passages in this symphony - what a long, long piece (in the Novak edition) it is! The slow movement especially could do with some judicious trimming. Again, the hall was full.

Sadly, we only had 5 days in London, so we couldn't stay for this week's more consistently roster of performers and works.

Thomas

[Lethevich]

Bruckner's 8th[/b] was the single item on the menu on Friday, and I doubt I'll live to hear a much better live performance of it than the one given by the Royal Concertgebouw under Bernard Haitink that night. RAH splendor at its best, given the hall's very obvious acoustic limitations, and warm and sensitive playing throughout. Hearing it live I can now better understand how some in this forum are singing the praises of Bruckner's orchestration. But while there are many lovely and indeed thrilling passages in this symphony - what a long, long piece (in the Novak edition) it is! The slow movement especially could do with some judicious trimming. Again, the hall was full.

Very glad to hear it I also have problems with the slow movements at times, but the rest more than makes up for it. The pieces have a unique inner logic - everything feels right, despite being so wildly individual, and it's just a question of patience to be able to get into the sound world.

[Renfield]

Bruckner's 8th was the single item on the menu on Friday, and I doubt I'll live to hear a much better live performance of it than the one given by the Royal Concertgebouw under Bernard Haitink that night. RAH splendor at its best, given the hall's very obvious acoustic limitations, and warm and sensitive playing throughout. Hearing it live I can now better understand how some in this forum are singing the praises of Bruckner's orchestration. But while there are many lovely and indeed thrilling passages in this symphony - what a long, long piece (in the Novak edition) it is! The slow movement especially could do with some judicious trimming. Again, the hall was full.

To be entirely honest, I listened to this performance over the radio and, though perhaps it was the accoustics and/or broadcast to blame, I was far from impressed. Yes, it was well-played, but just... unexceptional.

Perhaps it caught me in a bad mood, though; or perhaps it was the broadcast, as I said above.

[knight66]

As usual with concerts of works that are either new or non-British (or both), the hall was half-empty.
[

Wednesday night, I can't get a ticket, it is a sell out. The music is all non-British...how odd!

Mike

[sound67]

Wednesday night, I can't get a ticket, it is a sell out. The music is all non-British...how odd!

Mike

But it's not new. Note the "either".

[knight66]

I think it is you who needs to read what you wrote...but really, it was not an accurate remark whatever way you cut it.

Mike

[sound67]

I think it is you who needs to read what you wrote...but really, it was not an accurate remark whatever way you cut it.

Mike

I was referring to Tuesday's concert, consisting entirely of American works (new = empty). The hall was half empty.

On Wednesday, the program (single item, Mahler's Third), was entirely traditional (traditional = full). It was a sell-out.

You're a boring pedant, btw.

[knight66]

Whereas you...well, let's just not go there.

Mike

[Hector]

I was referring to Tuesday's concert, consisting entirely of American works (new = empty). The hall was half empty.

On Wednesday, the program (single item, Mahler's Third), was entirely traditional (traditional = full). It was a sell-out.

You're a boring pedant, btw.

No, you are wrong.

The hall was full not only because it was Mahler's rarely performed 3rd Symphony but because it was the crack Lucerne Festival under Abbado.

[uffeviking]

And unfortunately Abbado conducting this outstanding assembly of top musicians in Mahler's 3rd is not included in the box set Lucerne Festival. The First 5 Years..