Prom 58: Sunday 28th August 2011 (Mendelssohn - Elijah)

[David Underdown]

Brilliant performance. No complaints about balance from me (but then I was right on the rail by the first violins), not what I'd describe as an emaciated sound at all

[Mary Chambers]

And isn't it great to have Keenlyside, Connolly and Joshua too? I don't know Robert Murray, but he seems to have a good voice too if he can get away with not forcing it.

Not to mention the excellent treble, Jonty Ward. 'There is nothing' is one of the (few) magical bits for me.

I saw Robert Murray as Albert Herring a few years ago, and there was also a memorable occasion when he sang Britten's 'Our Hunting Fathers', a far from easy piece, at very short notice, taking over from a singer who'd had to cancel. He had learnt it only the day before and gave a wonderful performance. I thought his singing last night was beautifully phrased, though by the end he was starting to sound a bit strained, as did Keenlyside.

[waldhorn]

not what I'd describe as an emaciated sound at all

As heard on the radio, the choir overwhelmed what sounded like a chamber orchestra ( a weedy or poorly-balanced one).I was amazed to discover - courtesy of a friend who was playing - that the orchestra was huge, nearly 100!
Another 'triumph' (not) for the BBC sound engineers.

[Bryn]

There appeared to be rather a lot of glitches, both via DAB and the HD Sound stream via the link kindly provided by OldTechie. Checking the on demand iPlayer, that too seems to have its share, though they don't seem quite as obtrusive. It will be interesting to hear what tomorrow afternoon's repeat sounds like.

As to the orchestra and orchestral/choral balances via the transmission methods I heard various sections, they seemed fair enough to me, given what I would have expected from such performers.

[jillfc]

From the back of the arena, I thought it sounded splendid: a really fresh choral sound, and a well-balanced orchestra. The contra-bass ophicleide was a real bonus.

I heard a different 'authentic' approach to it at Cadogan Hall a few years ago: the rather more modest forces of the (augmented) King's Consort with David Wilson Johnson as Elijah. (They had a rather more modest ophicleide, too.) That also worked well. Yes, of course it's a patchy piece, but a committed performance can make it really convincing.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Turned out to be a cracking Prom in the Hall - the work is a little odd and you need to forget you ever heard Gilbert and Sullivan.

Sorry if I appear a bit dim here, but what's the relationship with G & S?

[Mary Chambers]

Sorry if I appear a bit dim here, but what's the relationship with G & S?

I know what amac4195 means by that, I think. I smiled when I read it.

[amac4165]

I know what amac4195 means by that, I think. I smiled when I read it.

Glad to see I do not plough the furrow alone on this one - !

I have always been partial to a not too French, French Bean !

[Al R Gando]

all with chance to see the world's only performing contrabass Ophicleide !

A chance denied to those who listened on R3, sadly. Could not at least a photograph have been provided for those listening at home? I should have liked to have seen that ophicleide, and its player - and indeed, the prodigious number of players and singers involved in the performance. Especially since the radio sound gave but little hint of the orchestra's contribution at all.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

A chance denied to those who listened on R3, sadly. Could not at least a photograph have been provided for those listening at home? I should have liked to have seen that ophicleide, and its player - and indeed, the prodigious number of players and singers involved in the performance. Especially since the radio sound gave but little hint of the orchestra's contribution at all.

Sadly, any illustration connected with the Proms is normally a picture of a presenter. :doh: What use is that?