Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo 2011 BBC Proms

John, thanks...listening now...

Anti-Israeli fanaticism reared its ugly head at the Proms last Thursday when demonstrators in the audience booing, shouting and singing attempted to disrupt a performance by the Israel Philharmonic. Although the musicians carried-on, the BBC took the unprecedented step of terminating the live broadcast. Due to the efforts of BBC security and personal action by audience members who weren't amused, order was restored to the extent that most of the recorded performance could be edited for later re-broadcast.

That re-broadcast took place earlier this afternoon and although the opening number, the Webern Passacaglia, was apparently too badly damaged to present, excellent performances of some of my favorites, the Bruch Violin Concerto, three selections from the orchestral version of the Albeniz Iberia(my favorite solo piano music)and an exciting Rimsky-Korsakov Capriccio Espagnol, plus an encore from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet were heard. Very worthwhile beautiful music, despite the ugliness of the situation, and available on demand for seven days at the BBC iPlayer site .

Following intermission of Prom 70 American conductor David Robertson led the BBC Symphony in a fine performance of The Planets. Enjoyed hearing it in comparison to the seven Planets recordings I own, and worth anyone's time for a listen to this very colorful music. BBC iPlayer site .

Another very strong concert as the 2011 Proms draws near to the close(Saturday night is the "Last Night of the Proms")as the great Philadelphia Orchestra appeared for Prom 72. Following the opening Sibelius Finlandia, the first half featured Janine Jansen as soloist in the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto(plus a Bach encore). After the intermission, the gorgeous Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances(which Rachmaninoff wrote to be premiered by the Philadelphia)were wonderfully performed and followed by Ravel's rather sinister take on the Viennese waltz, "La Valse". iPlayer site on demand for the next six days.

Gotta Love the Rach!