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BBC Proms: Ma, BBCSO, Robertson

BBC Proms: Ma, BBCSO, Robertson

A performance of Beethoven's Ninth more tragic than triumphant

by Wednesday, 31 August 2011
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Yo-Yo Ma: the consummate performer, bringing virtuosity to absolute simplicity

Over the past six weeks of the Proms the BBC’s hard-working Symphony Orchestra has performed everything from Britten to Brahms, Verdi to Volans. Their Mahler with Ed Gardner was an operatic epic, their programme of English music for Mark Wigglesworth glowed with wit. Yet hearing their ragged and unlovely account of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony last night it was hard to remember their triumphs, hard even to remember the delicate account of Graham Fitkin’s new Cello Concerto that they delivered in the first half, so complete was their collapse.

Over the past six weeks of the Proms the BBC’s hard-working Symphony Orchestra has performed everything from Britten to Brahms, Verdi to Volans. Their Mahler with Ed Gardner was an operatic epic, their programme of English music for Mark Wigglesworth glowed with wit. Yet hearing their ragged and unlovely account of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony last night it was hard to remember their triumphs, hard even to remember the delicate account of Graham Fitkin’s new Cello Concerto that they delivered in the first half, so complete was their collapse.

Comments

Submitted by Nick Wraight (not verified) on Thu, 01/09/2011 - 09:20
Spot on Alexandra, from the front right Arena anyway! I've seen various reviews and message board comments and none have mentioned Roberston's brave, if foolhardy, attempt to inject Historically Informed practices (!) and sound into the Beethoven.

Submitted by Peter Martin (not verified) on Thu, 01/09/2011 - 15:27
And from the back centre Arena. I had the feeling that the entire brass section were performing through some sort of an invisible accoustic curtain. A friend suggested that this interpretation was contrived to make one feel empathy with the composer's hearing disability.

Submitted by Stephen (not verified) on Thu, 01/09/2011 - 20:17
I was listening on my computer and after a while I decided to check if my speakers were working properly. It was definitely the worst performance of the ninth I think I have ever heard.As for the excuses about the Hall being difficult for the ninth. Baloney. I heard a performance of this some years back (I dont remember year or orchestra) which completely tooky my breath away.I do recall that, back in the those days, the prom concerts were much shorter with only the ninth on the programme. I do not understand the coupling of the new piece with the Beethoven. There is no point in trying to do the ninth as a sort of encore. It deserves much more attention than that, and if it´s not given, the symphony is sure to bite back, as it did with a vengeance last night. Did they rehearse it at ALL?

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