Prom 4

French dance music to 1913

Les Siècles, with François-Xavier Roth The first half was sooo enjoyable! Time was beaten using a stout pole, & I thought of poor Lully's unfortunate death. Luckily, Roth didn't make a similar move - and medicine has vastly improved since Lully's day! Two composers to investigate, then: Lully and Rameau. Marvellous percussion!!

Here's a link to the Grauniad review: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/jul/15/prom-4-les-siecles-review

I think they were a little too sniffy about the evening. Although it wasn't, on paper, an especially balanced programme, it worked very well aurally. The Massenet was interesting, if only for revealing the attachment that so many French composers have for Spain & its rhythms. As for the original Stravinsky, I thought it shocking in its savagery - no wonder there was a riot!