Vienna Philharmonic Plays Mozart and Tchaikovsky

Vienna Philharmonic Plays Mozart and Tchaikovsky
Royal Albert Hall

It is my second Prom of the day, thanks to being a day late with 'Vienna Philharmonic Plays Bruckner’s Ninth'. And there's even more bad news, because tonight there is also going to be another one of those 'late night' Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. This means that - like Sunday just gone - I am once again facing a day with no less than three Proms to listen to and consider.

My notes on Berg and  Bruckner from yesterday evening's Prom were not complimentary, but I am wondering if I may have had a different opinion on these pieces had I heard them on the first week of the Proms, as opposed to the last. Without a doubt, I am in need of resuscitation in music form. Mozart and Tchaikovsky are surely going to deliver on this?

Mozart's Symphony No. 38, has been nicknamed the 'Prague' symphony. Apparently the city adored his Marriage of Figaro, awarding it more success at the time than Vienna did. To date I have not visited Prague, save for this June just gone, when I was caught in traffic on the outskirts of the city, on the way to Pilsen with a couple of friends. This was where I was to first encounter the delight of the Pilsner Urquell brewery and its fresh tank beer. [Hoping to intersect the Czech capital sometime next year, or in the near future.]

It is not until about thirty minutes into the music that I (finally) get the instrumental flavours I am in such desperate need of. It's Mozart who, as I have already remarked, to me does tend to convey some tasteful pomp. It offers something of a jump start for me, which will now hopefully see me through to Saturday [the Last Night of the Proms].

Right now I am not capable of a running commentary on a nearly hour-long symphony like Tchaikovsky's number six, except to say that I recognise the style as his. It offers all the elegance of fine dining, and I am not left wanting a bag of chips on the way home.

Photo by me [Edinburgh city].

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?

Viennese Waltzes

It’s a ‘stroll around Vienna’ with the BBC concert orchestra this morning. I start off listening in my car, but a bit of Saturday shopping puts a stop to this and so I listen back on BBC Sounds in the afternoon.

The first piece is very famous tune, I just didn’t know that it was Strauss. It’s got pomp and pretentiousness. Just what I like to hear. The playbill follows in the same vein; it’s all music that would be utilised to full effect in a ballroom scene of a period drama.

After Strauss it’s “Ich sing mein Lied im Regen und Schne” - I identity the words as sung within the song , and its helps me out with the pronunciation of ‘Schne’ //Shh- knee//

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The interval is great, with a fountain of information about the origins of this style of music. 

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2nd half keeps the grand momentum with Land of Smiles.

During Amy Beach’s Bal Masque I’m imagining just that. 

Frühlingsstimmen aka Spring Voices is a tour de force, showcasing Erin Morley’s soprano chops.

The finale is Strauss’s By the Beautiful Blue Danube. Another famous piece I’ve heard all through my life, just didn’t realise it was Strauss. My mind here, I’m afraid, will forever be taken to that episode of Mr Bean where he performs his own dental work in Richard Wilson’s dentists chair.