Prom 18: Infectious dynamism from Currie, assured Bruckner and Shostakovich from the BBC SSO

Alpesh Chauhan & the BBC SSO
© Chris Christodoulou

Colin Currie (percussion)

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

Alpesh Chauhan (conductor)

7.30pm, Friday 29 July 2022

BBC Prom 18

Royal Albert Hall, London

★★★

Colin Currie
© Chris Christodoulou

Nicole Lizée (b.1973): Blurr is the Colour of My True Love’s Eyes, Percussion Concerto

Anton Bruckner (1824-1896), arr. Stanisław Skrowaczewski (1923-2017): String Quintet in F major, WAB112, Adagio

Dimitry Shostakovich (1906-1975): Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47

Colin Currie and purple cello
© Chris Christodoulou

Lizée:

'A kaleidoscope of slick effects and novel textures'.

'Chauhan steered the orchestra with precision through the complexities of rhythm and rapid tempo shifts and Currie’s infectious dynamism made for an exciting performance'.

Bruckner:

'An impressive intensity of emotion, with Chauhan weaving the string textures together with confident command'.

Shostakovich:

'Confident playing throughout, strong solo work from many, bright brass, and once again, some extremely quiet string playing'. 

'A highly assured performance that just didn’t quite reach the full height of intensity on the night'.

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.

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.