Prom 62: Thursday, 1st September at 7.30 p.m. (Israel PO/Mehta)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and its conductor-for-life Zubin Mehta bring a colourful programme to the Proms. They begin with an early score by Webern and are then joined by Gil Shaham for Bruch's ever-popular 1st Violin Concerto. They end their concert in Spain, seen through both native and Russian eyes.

The Israel Philharmonic is 75 years old this year and Bombay-born Zubin Mehta has been the orchestra's Music Director for the last 40 of those years. Their Prom programme reflects his wide musical interests, from the music of 20th-century Vienna (where he was educated) to colourful music that he has always conducted so well.

The concert's second half certainly falls into this category, with pieces by Albeniz describing scenes from his native Spain. They were originally written for piano and have now been given glittering orchestral colours. The sparkle continues with Rimsky-Korsakov's 'Spanish Caprice', based on Spanish folksong and with the orchestra evoking the sounds of guitars and rustic revelry.

Webern: Passacaglia, Op. 1
Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor
Albeniz: Iberia - Fête-Dieu à Séville; El Puerto; Triana
Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio espagnol

Gil Shaham (violin)
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
Zubin Mehta (conductor)

[PhilipT]

For those who may have missed the recent announcement from the RAH:

Doors will open earlier than usual for this Prom, at 6:00pm, to allow time for bag searches. The Proms Plus event will not be any earlier, so Prommers who attend that event will risk losing their places in the queue. Flags "or other associated items" will be prohibited.

[french frank]

This thread will be reopened for a discussion of the concert. No discussion of the non-musical aspects of the concert will be allowed on the Proms messageboard.

[french frank]

This thread is now reopened - but please remember it is for the discussion of the music and performance.

[Serial_Apologist]

Thanks FF - I hadn't realised there had been "problems"

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I'm particularly fond of the Bruch 1st Violin Concerto as it is has a theme prophetic of the "summit" motif of a particular tone poem

[Ventilhorn]

I'm particularly fond of the Bruch 1st Violin Concerto as it is has a theme prophetic of the "summit" motif of a particular tone poem

... and I would put Gil Shaham at the very top of today's violinists when it comes to the classical repertoire.

VH

[amateur51]

... and I would put Gil Shaham at the very top of today's violinists when it comes to the classical repertoire.

VH

Not bad in Stravinsky either

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErxgHH2eeFQ

Didn't he do a pretty nifty Berg violin concerto last Proms season too?

[Caliban]

Not bad in Stravinsky either

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErxgHH2eeFQ

Didn't he do a pretty nifty Berg violin concerto last Proms season too?

Really engaging player.

Terrific in the Barber'n'Korngold http://www.amazon.co.uk/Barber-Korng.../dp/B000001GLX (didn't need to get it down from the shelf again... up it popped in COTW as I cycled home (I remembered that it's another performance is too sugary - Shaham/Previn is spot on in both )

[Anna]

It may seem an odd reason, but I'm looking foward to the Prom because I picked up a copy of Albeniz's Iberia the other week in a charity shop having never (knowingly) heard it before and I really love it. Also looking forward to the Webern.