Martyn Brabbins celebrates his 60th in style - Prom 35

Composers of
Pictured Within: Birthday Variations for M. C. B.
with Martyn Brabbins
© BBC/Chris Christodoulou

Nadine Benjamin (soprano)
Idunnu Münch (mezzo-soprano)
William Morgan (tenor)
David Ireland (bass-baritone)

BBC Singers
ENO Chorus
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Martyn Brabbins (conductor)

Tuesday 13 August 2019, 7pm

BBC Prom 35

Royal Albert Hall, London

★★★★

Martyn Brabbins
© BBC/Chris Christodoulou

Various: Pictured Within: Birthday Variations for M. C. B. (world premiere)

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958): Serenade to Music

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny), Op. 54

Edward Elgar (1857-1934): Variations on an Original Theme ('Enigma'), Op. 36

Pictures Within:
'A fun celebration ... in which Brabbins and the BBC SSO players clearly took great delight'.

'The set could well stand as a concert companion for the Elgar in the future'.

Vaughan Williams:
'The choral forces produced a beautifully warm blend, and their pianissimo first entry was highly effective'.

Elgar:
'A taut performance of Elgar’s Enigma Variations ... with no great surprises, ... just warmly and affectionately presented as they should be'.

Martyn Brabbins
© BBC/Chris Christodoulou

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.