BBC Proms: Booth, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Knussen

Annual musical mystery tour works better in principle than in practice

by David NiceSaturday, 30 July 2011

Oliver Knussen: a mystery tour served up to the self-selecting fewChris Christodoulou

All aboard the chrome locomotive for composer-conductor Oliver Knussen’s annual magical mystery tour. You may notice rather few fellow passengers in the Albert Hall; that’s a given with this event (though the Proms could have thrown in and advertised one of Olly’s Top 10 OTT Favourites – I’ve heard him proclaim them - to drum up more trade). You may also find rather too many stops for change of crew. But so long as you sit forward to catch the results of his famously acute hearing, second only to Boulez’s, you’ll get something out of a long, unsexy ride.

Royal Academy of Music SO, Knussen, RAM review – vibrant, varied Stravinsky

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