Music
More than a yard of tickets to the Proms!
I enjoyed The Royal Opera's latest revival of their production of Puccini's romantic tragedy La Bohème, conducted by Semyon Bychkov. This production was first shown in 1974 and has lasted exceptionally well. It is very much an atmospheric design and a great relief to have a straightforward setting where an attic is an attic and a bar is a bar. The production has loads of detail and stage action but lets the music shine forth without distraction as Puccini unleashes his full romantic palette.
Semyon Bychkov started off briskly: that seems to be the most effective way to settle the audience, many of whom are there as much for a night out enjoying corporate hospitality as to enjoy an emotional workout. The strong emotions of Act One of La Bohème, contrasting what was 19th century Paris bohemian or laddish behaviours with high emotion, verge on sentimentality that seems a strange recreation for corporate people who must deny their own emotions to achieve their success. It's as much a contrast as a boxing dinner with the East End's hopefuls fighting for the entertainment of the black tie and suited diners.
The BBC Proms present themselves as the “world’s greatest classical music festival” and of course they are; it’s a pleasure and a privilege to be able to walk to the Albert Hall direct from my work’s office and then to walk home afterwards.
All of this depends on tickets, either a Prom ticket bought on the day or seat tickets bought in advance. These days the advance booking process is online but is far from satisfactory. It is maybe slightly less of a lottery than the previous postal booking process: at least I can choose exactly what to book and adapt my choices in the light of what is actually available at the point of booking.
A varied programme for violin and piano presented by Keswick Music Society at the Theatre by the Lake featured Tasmin Little, violin, and Martin Roscoe, piano. The evening took us on several musical journeys, firstly from 1740 (Tartini) through to 1915 (Szymanowski). Also from classical form through nationalist story-telling (Smetana) and Edwardian romanticism (Elgar) to Szymanowski 's atmospheric impressionism.
Read more: Tasmin Little and Martin Roscoe - Keswick Music Society
A concert given in St. Patrick’s, Patterdale, Cumbria, of Russian liturgical and secular music performed by four young musicians from the St Petersburg Conservatory who sung in the choir of the Konevets Monastery on the island of Konevets on Lake Ladoga. The Konevets Quartet sing unaccompanied and maintain tuning at the start of each piece by striking a tuning fork (which is inaudible to the audience).
Interesting to hear Nederlands Kamerorkest: Frank Martin’s Pavane played well as an unusual introduction to this classic programme. The acoustic of the Concertgebouw integrated the string sound with a very pleasing effect.
