Prom 5

Monday 15 July

The Bamburg SO, under Jonathan Nott, are highly regarded. With the addition of the Arditti Quartet (also highly regarded), the first half was the Uk premiere of a Helmut Lachenmann piece.
Here's one review: http://www.allmusic.com/composition/tanzsuite-mit-deutschlandlied-for-string-quartet-orchestra-mc0002469116 - and another: http://www.bachtrack.com/review-bbc-prom-5-2013-bamberg-symphony-lachenmann-mahler

I didn't get it. It just seemed a very long 36 minutes... Judging from various comments during the interval, I wasn't alone! I heard a comment from a R3 programme from a listener "That's not music, that's just noise". Perhaps if I hard it another 3 times, I might begin to understand it. On the other hand, life is short, and there are so many lovelier melodies to hear!


What we'd all come for, of course, was the Mahler 5! Which was conducted without a score, and a seamless segue from movement to movement; beautiful playing - and no applause, even after the famous Adagietto (Hurrah!). Gustav, Alma wasn't worth it...