Prom 29 (4.8.12): National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Saturday 4 August at 7.30 p.m.
Royal Albert Hall

Varèse: Tuning Up (5 mins)
Nico MuhlyL Gait (20 mins) - BBC Commission London Premiere
Messiaen: Turangalîla Symphony (77 mins)
Anna Meredith: HandsFree (12 mins)

Cynthia Millar ondes martenot
Joanna MacGregor piano
National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain
Vasily Petrenko conductor

One of the highlights of this year's celebration of youth at the BBC Proms is this evening's appearance by the talented National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain as they scale the heights in Messiaen's Turangalîla Symphony, an ecstatic song of love.

The huge orchestral forces and soaring solos for the ondes martenot in Messiaen's Tristan-inspired symphony will surely fill the Royal Albert Hall with glorious sounds. Messiaen's twentieth century classic is framed by a BBC commission from one of America's rising talents and Anna Meredith's acclaimed tour de force of clapping, stamping, singing and body percussion, first performed earlier this year by NYO members and commissioned for the PRS for Music Foundation's New Music 20x12 programme as part of the Cultural Olympiad.

[kernelbogey]

This evening's Prom.

I have a tape somewhere of a NYOGB performance of Turangalila some years back that I listened to many times - an absolutely gripping, passionate performance. (I love a bit of Ondes Martinot of an evening.)

[Brassbandmaestro]

This is certainly going to be a challenge for this young orchestra. Biut, whatever music they perform, they rise to the challenge!

[Petrushka]

This evening's Prom.

I have a tape somewhere of a NYOGB performance of Turangalila some years back that I listened to many times - an absolutely gripping, passionate performance. (I love a bit of Ondes Martinot of an evening.)

Possibly with Sir Andrew Davis? I was present at that one and it was superb.

An odd decision to have something after Turangalila - everyone will be in a state of exhaustion by then after what is a very long and taxing programme.

[cloughie]

I love a bit of Ondes Martinot of an evening.

Certainly knocks spots off a burst on the banjo!

[amateur51]

This evening's Prom.

I have a tape somewhere of a NYOGB performance of Turangalila some years back that I listened to many times - an absolutely gripping, passionate performance. (I love a bit of Ondes Martinot of an evening.)

Is this the one kernel?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=170VZGFoTKg

[kernelbogey]

Thanks, Ams - I think it was Andrew Davis conducting (though I'm shocked to find it was eleven years ago...). I now remember that my tape includes the immortal voice of Peter Barker, talking about the 'statue theme' (on brass) and so on. The Youtube clip comes off the tele, with the voice, unless I'm mistaken, of Stephanie Hughes. Where is she now? In fact is Peter Barker still with us...?

[Petrushka]

Thanks, Ams - I think it was Andrew Davis conducting (though I'm shocked to find it was eleven years ago...). I now remember that my tape includes the immortal voice of Peter Barker, talking about the 'statue theme' (on brass) and so on. The Youtube clip comes off the tele, with the voice, unless I'm mistaken, of Stephanie Hughes. Where is she now? In fact is Peter Barker still with us...?

Surely Peter Barker had left R3 by the year 2001?

Edit: A quick glance at the Prom Archive reveals that your tape must have been July 30 1993, Kernel. NYOGB/Mark Wigglesworth. I was present at that one as well. http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/archive/s.../july-30/10829

Proms trivia collectors might recall that that was the night a deluge of rain water came down through the RAH roof scattering those below in the stalls during a thunderstorm. I was on the other side of the hall.

[Simon B]

Tonight's Prom was the first of the 5 I've attended so far this season where the orchestra and its sound seemed adequately big. Whether that says more about the venue or my perceptions is unresolved! The BBCSSO almost got there last night - bar the need for -much- greater impact from the timps. Always the case for the BBCSSO, which I've consequently never really got on with. Anyway, I digress.

Judged by the standards of a professional band, Turangalila would have been "Nearly, but no cigar". For a youth orchestra - no mean achievement. Petrenko's interpretation is a promising work-in-progress, the longeurs of the piece weren't dealt with wholly successfuly. Having said that, concessions to practicality in the shape of tempi that gave the talented NYO players a fighting chance with the highly technically demanding score may have been a factor. Still, a good night.

[antongould]

Thoroughly enjoyed the Turangalila - indeed no mean achievement for a very good youth orchestra.