BBC Prom 37

BBC Philharmonic, Gianandrea Noseda

13.08.10

Noseda is a persuasive champion of Dallapiccola's orchestral works. Two CDs [with the BBC PO] on Chandos, and talk of a third.

So no surprise to find the early Partita programmed in this prom. It's a work of many colours, beginning with the dark low notes and steady rhythms of a solemn processional, which moves slowly into the sunny upland, guided by Yuri Torchinsky's limpid violin. Then a Scherzo [Burlesca] with plenty of percussion and a pastoral theme passed around the BBC Phil's impressive woodwind section. After the calm of the Recitative, an animated passage leading to the sacred lullaby, reminiscent of Mahler, beautifully and simply sung by Sarah Tynan, though I suspect a steelier tone might have carried the vocal line more effectively to the further reaches of this vast space.

The other Italian work was the familiar Force of Destiny, played with urgent freshness to open the evening. Languorous melodies from the woodwind, and the big theme magically emerging as if from nothing.

Smaller forces after the interval for Bruch's First Violin Concerto, with James Ehnes. Not a heart-on-sleeve account, but eloquent and passionate, with superb rhythmic attack in the Finale, and lightness and brilliance in the final bars, Noseda giving his trademark leaps on the podium.

A vivid reading of Schumann's Fourth Symphony ended the programme; the Scherzo marked by determination rather than dash, but with plenty of energy in reserve for the final sprint to the finish.

PROM 13

Royal Albert Hall

26.07.09

We saw Mohican boy crossing the street in front of the Royal College of Music at least 90 minutes before the Prom.

Turns out he was featured on bongo and vibraphone.

Percussion was prominent in this new collaborative work – A Rough Guide to the Proms Family Orchestra – based loosely on the concept of Britten's guide, with which it shared the programme.

No narration in either, unfortunately, though the new piece, conducted by Lincoln Abbotts, did have Ian McMillan's verse: The night is salted with stars …

It was a varied ten minutes, influenced by folk music from England and Algeria, and featuring a wide array of instruments and talents, with a few BBCPO hands in there as mentors. Probably more fun to do than to hear.

Elsewhere, though, this was no dumbed-down kids' concert. Young Generation Artist Jennifer Pike gave us a rare Holst – A Song of the Night – and there was a world premiere of Richard Rodney Bennett's orchestral version of his Lilliburlero Variations. All played very stylishly by the BBC Phil, on early duty after their wonderful Prom of the night before.