Where else could you hear in one concert a newly commissioned
work by the young award winning composer Mark Simpson, Delius’ Songs of
Farewell, Bruch’s First Violin Concerto and works by Suk and Dvorak, not to
mention all the last night favourites such as Henry Wood’s Fantasia on British
Sea Songs and Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No.1.
Mark Simpson’s new work ‘Sparks’ was a striking piece that
packs a lot into its short length. I would like to hear more from this obviously
talented composer.
Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Jiri Belohlavek
conducted a short patriotic piece by Czech composer Joseph Suk ‘Towards a New
Life’ in a rare opportunity to hear this work. He later conducted Dvorak’s Carnival
Overture in a beautifully idiomatic performance. I don’t think there can be anyone
better in this repertoire.
Belohlavek seemed equally at home in Delius’ late choral
work Songs of Farewell, a setting of Walt Whitman played with rapt concentration.
What a pity the audience decided to clap at the end of each part somewhat
breaking the spell.
Joseph Calleja proved to be a fine tenor in arias by Verdi,
Massenet and Puccini showing a richness of tone and a beautifully controlled
upper range.
In Bruch’s ever popular Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor Nicola
Benedetti brought out the varying timbres of the violin in playing of richness
and depth. She displayed playing of fabulous technical security and a sparkling
finale concluded this fine performance.
It is a tribute to the Promenaders how quiet and attentive
they always are during the works before the festive part of the evening.
Before the usual last night fare there was John Williams’
Olympic Fanfare and Theme written for the 1984 Olympics, Nicola Benedetti playing Shostakovich’s slight
but beautiful Romance from ‘The Gadfly’ and the novelty of an arrangement of
Leoncavallo’s Mattinata for solo violin, tenor and orchestra which brought back
both Nicola Benedetti and Joseph Calleja to perform together.
Jiri Belohlavek again proved himself a natural last night
conductor having immense fun bringing the whole audience to sing Richard Rodgers’
You’ll Never Walk Alone and really engaging with the audience.
Joseph Calleja ran on to the platform dressed in tracksuit
and trainers to reveal a T shirt bearing the Maltese Cross before singing Rule Britannia.
Towards the end Britain’s Gold and Silver Medal winning athletes made a
surprise appearance reminding us of Team GB’s achievements this year.
With the number of flags from other nations being waved
surely no one can any longer look on this as a jingoistic British only event. This
was a worthy end to a great season of concerts.
See other Prom reviews:
See other Prom reviews:
A Memorable Concert from Bernard Haitink and the Vienna
Philharmonic at the BBC Proms
BBC Prom - Max’s Ninth, fine Delius from Tasmin Little and
an Impressive Shostakovich Tenth from Vasily Petrenko
Subtle Saint-Saëns from Benjamin Grosvenor at the Proms
A Battlefield at the Proms
Handel’s Water Music and Fireworks Music as they should be
played
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