This is one of a new
series by Warner Classics of last year's
BBC Prom concerts, this one obviously
being devoted to the programme of the
last night. How one views this type
of programme depends very much on individual
preference. Here, an attempt has been
made to resurrect the "old-style" Prom
concerts with shorter items from different
soloists, rather than a longer concerto.
Thus the introduction of the Saint-Saëns
and Fauré items for violin, and
the even shorter operatic arias. The
atmosphere of the last night, as I am
sure most are aware, is noisy, hot and
excitable. This comes over in the items
here recorded, particularly the latter
half of the programme, and has its effect
on the orchestral playing, which at
times is untidy. The Wasps buzz excitedly,
but at times a bit too much so; here
at 5'00" the playing is at its most
undisciplined, almost as if the orchestra
have had too little time at rehearsal.
Josefowitz plays nicely in the Saint-Saëns,
but the recording has unfortunately
placed her too backward for comfort
and ease of listening. Fauré's
Pavane is given in its choral version,
an ad lib arrangement by the
composer himself, and then Josefowitz
is better balanced in the Méditation
from Massenet's Thaïs, and
gives a well-played performance. The
Polovtsian Dances start well,
with the ladies' voices of the BBC Chorus
in fine fettle, but this is marred a
3'00" by a far too rasping brass entry,
and from 7'30" the music sounds rushed.
Angela Gheorghiu's
arias I am sure will appeal to her admirers,
but from here onwards for me the concert
descends into the jingoism and pfazz
which seems to be the trademark
of this particular event. Elgar's Pomp
and Circumstance March is on its way
even before applause from the previous
aria has ended, and of course is accompanied
by numerous cracks-of-whip sound and
"instruments" played by the audience.
OK, if you are there and go for that
type of thing - it is probably great
fun, but to a dispassionate listener,
one can only imagine the composer's
feelings when told to arrange the music
to the words of A. C. Benson. Then the
Sea Songs; this is no longer the Fantasia
on sea shanties and songs as we knew
it, but an extended version to take
in live audiences at "Proms in the Park"
events in Swansea, Glasgow and Belfast.
Thus, sections from Sir Henry Wood's
other fantasias on Welsh and Scottish
melodies are included, together with
Grainger's arrangement of the Tune from
County Derry to represent Ireland. The
whole has been arranged by John Wilson,
the choral versions being provided by
Stephen Jackson. Alas, I found the whole
thing saddening, despite a nice touch
of humour in the violin solo that starts
off the hornpipe; the original version
is much better (and mercifully much
shorter). Finally, Jerusalem brings
the evening to a well-earned close.
To sum up, this is
fine if you want the hype and fireworks;
I can happily live without them.
John Portwood