Prom 52: Tuesday 23rd August at 7.30 p.m. (Prokofiev, Dutilleux)

[jayne lee wilson]

Hi Petrushka - hope you're feeling a little more comfortable now - got a long-term health battle going on myself, know how it feels...

Is there any way you (or Makropulos, anyone using freeview) can arrange to feed the HDs stream from R3 webpage through a hifisystem? What you tend to find with higher bitrates (320 kbps aac on HDs, as against 192 kbps mp2 R3 freeview or 256kbps mp2 BBC4/2) is greater detail and openness, a sound that makes more of less-than-satisfactory balances... worth the effort if you can do it. Best too to get the signal out of the computer into a separate dac. Doesn't need to be very costly. Sorry if I'm telling you something you already know.

Given that the Gergiev/LSO sound was indeed less open and dynamic than Salonen, you can still get something out of it through a more informative source like HDs (or FM, if only it weren't dynamically limited).

I was listening on Freeview and also noted the muddy texture. The sound tonight was nothing like as detailed and powerful as the Philharmonia/Salonen Prom last week which was superb in every respect.

[Ferretfancy]

It's quite true that the Classical can take different approaches, and I tend to prefer a more measured approach. Perhaps it was a bit "Dr Otto" for some, but it sounded very good in the hall. Kavakos was superb in the Dutilleux, and it was fascinating to watch him at close range from the Arena. It isn't a work that makes an impression straight away, I need to hear it again, but the integration of the inner parts of the orchestra with the violin is very impressive.
It was a first rate performance of the 5th, terrific brass playing if a bit over prominent from this part of the hall where the tuba was concerned. I have a difficulty with this symphony, I'm never able to make up my mind whether I like it or not, but it worked tonight. There is though, an air of careful construction, perhaps a lack of heart. To my mind the 6th is the only Prokofiev symphony that shows real depth of feeling.
Altogether though a very good Prom.

[salymap]

I only heard the 'Classical' and thought the scampering in the finale was a bit too much for the orchestra,

Enjoyable on the whole though.

[makropulos]

Hi Petrushka - hope you're feeling a little more comfortable now - got a long-term health battle going on myself, know how it feels...

Is there any way you (or Makropulos, anyone using freeview) can arrange to feed the HDs stream from R3 webpage through a hifisystem?

Yes - I'm going to do that very thing when I listen again today some time. It'll be interesting to hear if there's a significant improvement.

[DameJudy]

From the Choir both Prokofievs were thrilling. The sound was great in my seat - and in the rest of the hall, judging by the audience response. I could hear no sound effects from Gergiev.

[BudgieJane]

I could hear no sound effects from Gergiev.

I was in the front row of the Arena and I could hear it.

[DameJudy]

I was in the front row of the Arena and I could hear it.

I had the orchestra between me and him...and I enjoyed watching him.
I thought it was a great concert.

[DameJudy]

Am listening now on iPlayer on my Macbook and, of course, the sound is nothing like as clear, vibrant and thrilling as in the hall.

[BetweenTheStaves]

I was seated just below the R3 box and thoroughly enjoyed both pieces of Prokofiev and the icing on the cake was being able to watch Gergiev's conducting. Really brought both pieces to life for me. Not aware of any grunting from where I was sitting nor sound balance ...so will listen again. The first piece by Dutilleux didn't do much for me on first hearing but I'll give it another try. Was that a gamelan being played? The second piece short, sharp and sweet.

But when are they going to put seats in that round bit in the middle of the RAH so we can actually hear a properly balanced orchestra?

I put Ms Klein's commentating in the same category as Ms Derham btw.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

But when are they going to put seats in that round bit in the middle of the RAH so we can actually hear a properly balanced orchestra?

11th September, 2011