Category: Journal
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BBC Proms 2019 – 14: Dunedin Consort, Vienna Philharmonic and Aurora’s Symphonie fantastique
My final listening instalment has got me closer to the experience I recall of the Proms from my ‘olden days’. A mixture of live, audio catch-up and TV broadcast has, in the final week, finally made good on the season. Dunedin Consort first. Full disclosure: school pal was on stage playing so my usual objectivity…
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BBC Proms 2019 – 13: Czech Philharmonic, Jonny Greenwood and Daniel Pioro
An evening of two halves. One better than the other.
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BBC Proms 2019 – 11: Sheku’s Elgar Cello Concerto and Dieter Amman’s Piano Concerto
The crazy perfection of Dieter Ammann’s piano concerto, Sheku’s much-heralded performance of Elgar’s Cello Concerto, and what happened when I bumped into a Proms commentator
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BBC Proms 2019 – 10: Ulster Orchestra play Clara Schumann Piano Concerto, Beethoven 1, Shostakovich 1 and Sofia Gubaidulina
Some sloppy moments in the first movement of the Beethoven; warm colours and seductive shapes in the second; spirit in the third; slightly underpowered in the fourth. First and second violins don’t work well – cues lack clarity. Firsts particularly undisciplined in places. Clara Schumann Piano Concerto. Not quite sure whether this was worthy of…
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BBC Proms 2019 – 9: Mendelssohn, Elgar, Errollyn Wallen, and Mussorgsky at the Royal Albert Hall
It’s a toss up between finding the ideal spot in the Royal Albert Hall or holding your nose and listening to the live broadcast. After my first visit to the Royal Albert Hall, I think its probably the latter.
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BBC Proms 2019 / 8: Stop banging on
Please give the listening audience the chance to reflect on what they’ve just heard and what it means to them, instead of resorting to hype, sycophancy, or post-performance reviews
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Magic Flute at Glyndebourne
A rich score, strong vocal lines and scintillating conversation at Glyndebourne at a performance of Barbe and Doucet’s production of Mozart’s Magic Flute
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BBC Proms 2019 / 7: Proms Encore, Peterloo, Huw Watkins and Mozart’s Requiem
A review of the week. Not everyone’s week, obviously. But mine, listening to the Proms live and on catch-up
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BBC Proms 2019 / 6: National Youth Orchestra, and concertos by Britten, Schumann and Sibelius
TV presenters, the need for awkwardness in art music and the power of reportage
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BBC Proms 2019 / 5: Shostakovich 5 from the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Tuesday’s performance by the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra highlights a newly adopted habit: a new way of listening.