BBC Proms 2014: Prom 50 - Dvořák: Cello Concerto; Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 (Weilerstein / Czech PO / Bělohlávek)

24th August 2014
Royal Albert Hall, London, United Kingdom

JANACEK Overture from 'From the House of the Dead'
DVORAK Cello Concerto
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 7

Alisa Weilerstein (cello)
Czech Philharmonic
Jiří Bělohlávek (conductor)



I don't have a huge amount to say for the Dvořák "Cello Concerto" or Beethoven 7, but I think the audience was no less speechless after a rather astonishing performance by Alisa Weilerstein, who demonstrated a captivating palette of tone colours throughout the Dvořák (more reason to get her latest recording). The performance was all more special when she was supported by the very fine Czech PO. I do have some questions though - why were the eight double basses placed at the back on the left? Is it a Czech convention or is it customary because it was a cello concerto? Also, how do you pronounce Jiří Bělohlávek?

BBC Proms 2014: Prom 48 - Classical Tectonics (Biss / Iceland SO / Volkov)

22nd August 2014
Royal Albert Hall, London, United Kingdom

TOMASSON Magma
SCHUMANN Piano Concerto
LEIFS Geysir
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5

Jonathan Biss (piano)
Iceland Symphony Orchestra
Ilan Volkov (conductor)



I always find it very touching that a symphony can still get an audience, regardless of age and musical background, to erupt in applause, natural joy and excitement 200 years after its composition, and such was the case after an excellent performance of Beethoven 5 by the Iceland SO. This simple case of musical magic is particularly potent if you consider that it was conducted by the anti-war Israeli conductor of Ukrainian and German ancestry, Ilan Volkov. The program also featured two curious Icelandic works - Tómasson's "Magma" which saw a continuously evolving soundscape that at one point involved the tuba and the trombone battling it out in a toccata against a vast array of percussion and piano which recall the birdsongs of Messiaen; and Leifs' "Geysir" which featured two sets of timpanies going at each other à la Nielsen 4. The concert was crowned by an eruption of passion in the form of the Schumann PC, gracefully handled by Jonathan Biss, who played the flowery arpeggios with such effortless tenderness that gave the concerto a rare chamber-like intimacy, which was all so fabulous and precious in the vast RAH. All in all, a thoroughly stunning Prom. Volkov was so passionate about the music he knocked down his score mid-performance.

BBC Proms 2014: Prom 35 - Walton: Violin Concerto; Sibelius: Symphony No. 5 (Ehnes / BBC NOW / Søndergård)

12th August 2014
Royal Albert Hall, London, United Kingdom

MAXWELL DAVIES Caroline Mathilde – suite from Act 2
WALTON Violin Concerto
SIBELIUS The Swan of Tuonela
SIBELIUS Symphony No. 5

Mary Bevan (soprano)
Kitty Whately (mezzo-soprano)
James Ehnes (violin)
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Thomas Søndergård (conductor)



How merciless can a composer be to his soloist in a concerto? Well, it might be Heifetz but the Walton "Violin Concerto" is a fiendish masterpiece that calls upon every virtuosic technique of the soloist. This man, James Ehnes, gave a meticulous and assured performance, which caused even the sky to applaud for him in the form of heavy rain in the second movement. On the other hand, there is something gravitational about Sibelius 5, which draws one in and engulfs the listener in a quiet storm of latent joy. It reminded me of the lucky opportunity to visit Ainola a few years ago where I got to see Sibelius' residence in both rain and shine. The last movement is particularly moving. The Maxwell Davies was not as unbearable as I anticipated, but it did go on for a but in a slow march.

BBC Proms 2014: Prom 32 - Beethoven: Symphony No. 1; Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1; Walton: Henry V (Bell / ASMF / Marriner)

10th August 2014
Royal Albert Hall, London, United Kingdom

BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 1
BRUCH Violin Concerto No. 1
WALTON (arr. C. Palmer) Henry V: A Shakespeare Scenario

Joshua Bell (violin)
John Hurt (narrator)
Trinity Boys Choir
London Philharmonic Choir
Academy of St Martin in the Fields
Sir Neville Marriner (conductor)



How often can one get to see a 90-year-old conductor on stage? What an honour to see Sir Neville Marriner conducting ASMF in Walton's "Henry V", a work he premiered himself. Great harmonic writing. Top-notched performance and the RAH organ made a stunning blast at the end. The fact that an animated and inspired Joshua Bell directed a well-balanced and thrilling Beethoven 1 from the first desk without score followed by a fantastic performance of Bruch 1 in the first half is completely irrelevant. People are happy.

BBC Proms 2014: Prom 26 - Berio: Sinfonia; Shostakovich: Symphony No. 4 (EUYO / Petrenko)

5th August 2014
Royal Albert Hall, London, United Kingdom

BERIO Sinfonia
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 4

London Voices
European Union Youth Orchestra
Vasily Petrenko (conductor)



I must not forget it, I have not forgotten it, but I must have said it before, since I say it now. Where now? When now? It is a public show, where people pay to stand for 2 hours. Perhaps it is not free, not a free show, and perhaps it is not compulsory, not a compulsory show. KEEP GOING! It may well be good enough to hear the chord of "Pli selon Pli" [BANG]. Keep going, going on, call that going, call that on. They can't stop the tenor from messing up or stop the violas from going out of tune either. KEEP GOING! And after the group disintegration of Berio's "Sinfonia", the sounds of Shostakovich 4 hang in the clean air. Let us collect ourselves, for the unexpected is always upon us. Merci, Herr Petrenko.