Vienna Philharmonic Plays Bruckner’s Ninth

Vienna Philharmonic Plays Bruckner’s Ninth

Royal Albert Hall

I am a day late in listening to this Prom. The live broadcast was 19:30 on Monday 8th September. However, at that time I was in Edinburgh on a work visit with a colleague, and we took some time to look at the city and get a decent evening meal. The last time I was in Edinburgh was way back in 2013 [went to see Hugh Laurie play some blues piano at the Edinburgh Playhouse]. Prior to then, I had visited twice before with my family. Once in August 2006, when we saw The Goodies: Still Alive on Stage at the Assembly Rooms as part of the Edinburgh (Fringe) Festival. And another time in 2009. Both in 2006 and 2009 we saw the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, at the castle. I mention all this because I made a point of taking my Goodies T-shirt [not worn often in public but always a conversation starter] with me yesterday, and by chance I stepped back into the foyer of the Assembly Rooms where I bought said garment, just over nineteen years ago. Otherwise - saw the houses of James Clark Maxell and Robert Louis Stevenson, and ate heartily at the Hard Rock Cafe.

I am therefore back at home listening to this Prom on BBC Sounds, early evening of Tuesday 9th September. It is the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, which are branded as 'one of the world's great orchestras'. [How did I know that was going to be the case? Must be a cultural birthright to all things Viennese]. 

And speaking of Scotland, I do wonder if this first piece, Lulu Suite by Alban Berg, has any association with the energetic Glaswegian singer of the same forename? I am sorry to say that it does not, which is a shame. In reality, there does not seem to be a lot of 'energy' to the piece at all, and all dramatic motifs are drawn from some book of cliches. I wish not to insult Alban Berg, as I am not familiar with any of his other works or background, but God it's boring.

There is some chat in the interval about the 'curse of the ninth,' which I myself pondered upon during the Beethoven's Ninth Prom, a few weeks ago [at least I think it was a few weeks ago - it's all blending into one, now].

Maybe it's just the mood I'm in, but I am left similarly unenthralled by Bruckner's ninth. As the programme concludes, one pertinent question lingers within me: have I really sacrificed Coronation Street for this?

Wigglesworth, Mozart and Bruckner

 Sunday evening and we, the Radio 3 audience, are back, from Gateshead, to our home venue: The Royal Albert Hall.

And tonight's theme, we are told, is music and memory. The first piece to be played is a world premiere of Ryan Wigglesworth's for Laura, after Bach. I'm really touched by the back story of this piece of music, which was composed in memory of Laura Samuel, who died aged just 48, having been the leader of BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. And it's a sad piece. Grand, but haunting.

Mozart begins as I hang out my pillow cases to dry. Impressive piano work as is so typical of Mozart. (Just remembered - this is a piano concerto, isn't it. No wonder!). After a round of applause the encore is another piano-centric piece by Liszt. Very nice!

During the interval, we listening on Radio 3 are offered a teaser of what is to come on Tuesday. Namely the music of Arooj Aftab. I am already familiar with her work so I am very much looking forward to that one.

Finally, I relish the moment of listening to a composer [Anton Bruckner] I have absolutely no familiarity with. Naturally, the style of the piece is novel to my ear. I pour myself a small Scotch and water, and raise a glass to the weekend past.

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