Prom 53: Wednesday 24th August at 7.00 p.m. (Stravinsky, Ravel, Tchaikovsky)

[Chris Newman]

WHY? WHY? Oh, why did I not go to this concert? What more can I say about my stupidity?

[Petrushka]

WHY? WHY? Oh, why did I not go to this concert? What more can I say about my stupidity?

If it's any consolation I felt like that after last week's Salonen Prom and usually say it to myself at least once every season.

[Chris Newman]

I should have known that Colin Davis (along with ABBado and Boulez) is fabulous with Stravinsky. Susan Graham...wow! And I have never associated Colin with Tchaikovsky. How wrong can you be?

[Petrushka]

I should have known that Colin Davis (along with ABBado and Boulez) is fabulous with Stravinsky. Susan Graham...wow! And I have never associated Colin with Tchaikovsky. How wrong can you be?

The Stravinsky regularly turns up in Sir Colin's programmes (I first heard it from him in 1979) and he gave a pretty good Tchaik 4 at the Proms a year or two ago (coupled with Elgar 1) with the EUYO.

[makropulos]

The Stravinsky regularly turns up in Sir Colin's programmes (I first heard it from him in 1979) and he gave a pretty good Tchaik 4 at the Proms a year or two ago (coupled with Elgar 1) with the EUYO.

How time flies - I think that concert was on 5 August 2001

[Caliban]

WHY? WHY? Oh, why did I not go to this concert? What more can I say about my stupidity?

I guess it won't bring any comfort to either Chris or Petrushka to say that I was at both the Davis and the Salonen, two of the 6 I think I shall attend this summer - and both were marvellous indeed. Sorry! Just glad that the Wednesday sound allowed you to enjoy them on R3. (The Bournemouth Rach 2 was another live joy which came up fresh as paint on the radio as well - the previous Wednesday... )

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I would say the Proms sound quality this year on radio has been abysmal...CRAP even.

My memory may be playing tricks, but but I recall that the BBC used to place an engineer (with headphones) in the arena who compared the live relay with the sound in the hall to ensure optimum fidelity.

[salymap]

I listened on my one DAB radio and got much better sound. Perhaps it would have been okay on FM according to what you all say. Anyway I listened to the end, enjoyed everything and hearing only troubled me in the
Ravel. My best Prom so far this year.

[David Underdown]

And what those listening on the radio may not have known, for the appearances of the pizzicato theme in the Scherzo, Sir Colin stopped beating, there was just the odd head movement to keep things going

[cavatina]

And what those listening on the radio may not have known, for the appearances of the pizzicato theme in the Scherzo, Sir Colin stopped beating, there was just the odd head movement to keep things going

From where I was standing on the extreme front left, I was lucky enough to be able to see he was conducting very expressively with his face and eyes. A slight tilt of the head, followed by a barely-perceptible nod here, a sharp glance there...I almost laughed out loud to see him playfully wiggle his eyebrows with the beat at the first violins.

What a magical performance--so full of subtlety, fine feeling, fire, and life. I'm so glad I was there.