sat 07/12/2024

BBC Proms: Midori, CBSO, Nelsons | reviews, news & interviews

BBC Proms: Midori, CBSO, Nelsons

BBC Proms: Midori, CBSO, Nelsons

A classic film score forms the heart of a classic Prom

Andris Nelsons: a conductor whose legend proves equal to the great Alexander Nevsky

Jealousy of people who live in Birmingham is not (I venture to hazard) so widespread a phenomenon as to merit a name all its own. After last night’s Prom from the CBSO and music director Andris Nelsons however, a term may well have to be coined for all of us Londoners whose green-eared envy seems unlikely to abate any time soon. We’ve heard the recordings and the rumours of greatness trickling down from the West Midlands, but the opportunity to see this partnership in action further south is rare. Conquering the Royal Albert Hall with an evening of generous, emotive music-making, the CBSO have issued quite the challenge to their London rivals.

Jealousy of people who live in Birmingham is not (I venture to hazard) so widespread a phenomenon as to merit a name all its own. After last night’s Prom from the CBSO and music director Andris Nelsons however, a term may well have to be coined for all of us Londoners whose green-eared envy seems unlikely to abate any time soon. We’ve heard the recordings and the rumours of greatness trickling down from the West Midlands, but the opportunity to see this partnership in action further south is rare. Conquering the Royal Albert Hall with an evening of generous, emotive music-making, the CBSO have issued quite the challenge to their London rivals.

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Comments

Alexandra, you make it sound as though Brum is as far as Timbuktu, when in reality it's not much further in time than, say, Blackheath. So though for Metropolitan critics... Certainly the CBSO is in top form these days - and availabe for audition most frequently at Symphony Hall there.

Surely it's victory over the Teutonic knights - the whole reason the film was made at the time of the German threat in '37/8 - not the Swedes?

Chud you are quite right of course - Teutonic knights it is.

It seems you have followed the trend of not mentioning the 130 strong chorus like your Telegraph and Guardian comrades. Shame!

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