BBC Proms 22. Strauss & Berlioz.

Richard Strauss – Death and Transfiguration

Richard Strauss paints a powerful musical painting which describes his belief in the transfiguration of man after death.   

This a dreamlike opus opens with lilting strings, as a man lays in his bed close to death contemplating a rebirth in the afterlife. The orchestra set the scene wonderfully escalating the tension where the violins urgently portray the turmoil between living and denying the icy grip of the grim reaper. The moment of death is accompanied by a slow drumbeat, like a faltering heart, which slowly diminishes and stops. Now the light and beauty of release into a renaissance comes with the swaying rhythm of the orchestra building to into a triumphant crescendo. Peace at last after death as the stings play ever more quietly gently then gliding to rest. Anja Bihlmaier the conductor infuses her own dynamism into the piece giving the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra the pin point direction to produce a fantastic evocative wonderful piece. This is pure joy in great music.     

 

Mark Simpson ZEBRA (or 2-3-74: The Divine Invasion of Philip K Dick)

 

This is the world premiere of this concerto in three movements. It includes the electric guitar, played by the magnificent Sean Shibe. The piece is about Philip K Dick, the American Science fiction writer, who began to have visions of a fantastical figure he called Zebra.

Pink Beams of Light from God in the Gutter

Although sometimes subsumed by the orchestra the Electric Guitar, in the solo with its reverberation, adds to the atmosphere of a hallucinogenic experience. Strange and not of this world full of bright pink light beams as seen by Philip K Dicks mind.

 Horse lover Fats Hymn of the Soul

Here the guitar takes centre stage conjuring slow sounds pulled and elongated into twisted notes.  The orchestra builds, accompanied by a an almost rock like riff, then suddenly drops back to the guitars lilting notes.

 Firebright

The final movement the full energy where the orchestra gives vent to the dazzling psychedelic world in Philip K Dicks mind.   Close one’s eyes and you can see the strange creature Zebra, a weird horse like being that is forever out of reach.

At the end Sean Shibe plays a dreamy piece of music highlighting his mastery of the instrument. Wonderful serene notes reverberate and wash over you like a cooling breeze in summer. 

 

Hector Berlioz – Symphonie Fantastique

In 1827 Hector Berlioz fell in love with the English Shakespearean actress, Harriet Smithson. He saw her in Paris during a production of Hamlet which also had a profound effect on him. His new allegorical symphony created so he could show in London and win Harriets heart.

1 Reveries – The first movement

The sway of violins in contemplative mood precedes a swelling of joy and passion sweet. Strings thunder increasing ripples of sound dropping now into a gentle rhythm. The underlining allegro brings forth drums and a spiraling crescendo relaxing into a slow restful decline.

2 Un Bal- second movement

A waltz swirls around us as the harps play and the violins sing. There is a moment when the artist sees his heart’s desire, she is here the orchestra says but is it an unrequited love? 

3 Scene aux champs – Third Movement

The serenity of the countryside and the sound of the Cor Anglais in duet with an Oboe high up in the auditorium. The orchestra moves into soft rhythm imagining the peace of the countryside but the hero of this piece feels he will never see his love. Queue the drum rolls of anguish.

 

4 Mache au supplice – Fourth Movement  

According to Berlioz his hero, under the influence of opium, sees his end the march towards the scaffold where he will die under the axe man’s blade . Driving timpani and urgent strings drive us towards the final nightmare in the fifth movement

 

5 Song d’une nuit du Sabbat – Fifth movement

The witches sabbath is here and bells chime as the witches assemble for celebration. A gathering ominous sound from the orchestra as they dance with the witches’ mighty drums roll and violins cry with intensity. This is the end ad we are exhausted by the journey.

 

This has been a brilliant prom of eclectic music but mostly a celebration of the great BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor – Anja Bihlmaier. It is a privilege to hear live music in London long may it continue. 

Mike Aburrow