My first Prom

[strange_complex]

Yesterday evening, I attended my first ever Promenade concert, in company with Cie. It occurred to me, sitting in the Albert Hall as we waited for the performance to begin, that this was a slightly odd thing to be doing for the first time now that I've moved to Leeds, given that I'd never managed it the whole time I lived in Oxford. But honestly, the trains from Leeds to London are so good, that it's practically just as easy from here.

I met Cie after work, and we caught up over dinner at Wagamama's - another first for me, and a good one, although I made the mistake of assuming that when a Japanese menu described soup as 'spicy', they wouldn't really mean it, only to find that actually they did. We then proceeded to Hyde Park, where we circumambulated the Albert Memorial for a while, gaping in mingled awe and horror at its sheer rococosity, before deciding that it was a bit nippy out and repairing to a basement bar within the Albert Hall. There, we drank coffee and ate cookies, until we were joined by qatsi, who had just been enjoying a programme of Britten and Mahler in the evening's early Prom. Sadly, qatsi couldn't stay for the late performance, as he needed to get home to Reading at a Reasonable Hour, but we got a good half-hour's chatting in nonetheless, so that was nice.

Although I'd known exactly who the evening's performers were and what they would be singing when we'd booked our tickets, the details had blurred in my mind in the interim into three bare essentials - 'Robin Blaze; Bach; Cantatas'. In fact, we had three cantatas (BWV 78, 179 and 200) and a rather nice 'mini-Mass' in G major (BWV 236), performed by the Bach Collegium Japan with Masaaki Suzuki conducting. There were three other soloists, too, but I didn't bother to look up their names until the end of the evening, so I shall keep you in suspense about them too for now.

Blaze was on good form, with moments of sheer godliness here and there. I never quite felt I was getting the full benefit of his performance, though, mainly because of where we were sitting. Our seats had a great view, but were on the left-hand side of the stage, while Robin seemed to manage to be standing on the right-hand side, with someone else doing exciting things between us and him, for all his starring moments. He performed two duets with the soprano, and one solo aria closely accompanied by a violin duet - and since the violinists stood stage forward with raised music-stands for that movement, it meant that in each case he got drowned out slightly by his fellow-performers. Still, he clearly carried each one off to great aplomb, and it was great to see him anyway. He always looks so happy to be on stage, spending almost all the time when he isn't singing with this endearing little school-boyish smile on his face, that just makes you want to give him a big hug, and maybe pinch his cheeks and ruffle his hair a bit.

Interestingly, Blaze and his fellow-soloists all joined in the chorus when not performing their arias - a sensible move, given that the chorus was only about 20-strong, but not something all star singers would agree to do. He and the still-anonymous (to me) soprano could be picked out quite clearly from within their parts, though, which was nice for me, but not quite what's supposed to happen in choral singing.

As for the other soloists, the tenor was perfectly competent, and the bass a bit of a disappointment really. On consulting the programme at the end of the evening, they turned out to have been Gerd Türk and Peter Kooij (sometimes spelt Kooy) respectively - the first of whom I've vaguely heard of, and the second of whom I definitely have several recordings of. I was pretty surprised to find out who he was, as I'd have expected better from someone so well-known - but then again I don't like basses very much, so he'd have had a job to win me over.

Meanwhile, I had really loved the soprano, although I'd felt that the very pure, crystalline quality of her voice, while quite ravishing on its own, didn't blend terribly effectively with Blaze's softer, more flutey tone. And there I was surprised again, for she turned out to be Carolyn Sampson, whom I do very much admire - and particularly for her recording of some of Handel's Great Oratorio Duets with Robin Blaze, on which I think she blends beautifully with him. Just goes to show what can be achieved in a studio recording, as opposed to a stage performance heard from the side!

After the concert, we went back to Cie's flat in leafy Ealing Broadway, where we hooked up with her partner, Mark, for a bit before collapsing into bed. And then today dawned, all bright, breezy sunshine and views across people's gardens from Cie and Mark's lounge windows, coffee in hand. By lunch-time, I was safely back in Leeds - just in time to greet my Dad, who is installing curtain-rails for me downstairs as I type. Speaking of which, it's probably time I went and fixed us both some dinner.

Let me leave you with some pictures from my adventure:

Albert memorial and hall behind	Albert Hall decked out for the Proms
Albert himself, with frieze of musicians and poets below (Homer in centre), and groups representing Manufacture and Commerce on either side.	Sunlight on the gilded statues
Evening sun on the Albert Hall	Interior - opposite where we were sitting
Interior - stage from our seats	Obligatory photo of Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross (multitude of Japanese school-girls just out of shot).
Bridge at Kings Cross	Kings Cross station

Comments

[miss-next.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, Robin Blaze. Ever since he sang the Agnus Dei in the B minor Mass with the Woodmansterne, I've been a fan of his. And anyway he told Mole he had a good voice, so how could I not warm to him? :-)

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

It was that exact same Agnus Dei which really made me fall for him too, except sung in Symphony Hall with the Birmingham Bach Choir. I still have his autograph on the programme somewhere, along with Emma Kirkby's!

[owlfish]

I don't think I knew you knew CS! Small world, as ever. I met her when she did a year abroad in Massachusetts.

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Yes, I only found out she knew you over conversation at Wagamama's. I knew her and kantii when we were all D.Phil. students at Oxford.

[big-daz.livejournal.com]

I've always fancied going along to the Proms, but London is a bit of a trek for a night out, plus the trains cost a packet (unless one books well in advance, that is.

The last time I was by the Albert Memorial was about 3 years ago on a fine summer evening taking a walk as I was down in London on a training course. And who should I see but Colonel Gaddafi's son. I kid you not.

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

I got down there and back for about £30 by travelling at off-peak times and booking ahead, but yes - it's not easy to do unless you have somewhere to stay in London afterwards.

I'd never actually seen the Memorial before since it's been restored, so that was another first for me that evening.

As for Gaddafi's son - how did you know who he was?

[big-daz.livejournal.com]

Aye- all the gold leaf makes it pretty impressive.

Col G's son is an artist and next to the memorial there was a large marquee pitched for an exhibition of his. I read the blurb on the notice outside and it turned out that it was the launch party that night. Also on the sign was a picture of Gadaffi Minor.

Anyroad, bit limo pulls up, bloke gets out with accompanying bodyguards and wanders into the tent. And who should it be but none other than the man himself..

More info here, in fact:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saif_al-Islam_Qaddafi

[qatsi.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it. It must have been hard work for just 20 singers in such a large space. From your photos it looks like a good attendance for a late-night Prom.

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Yes, I did! The photos were taken quite early after we got in as well, so it was fuller than that by the time things kicked off. I would say that the standing area and the seats immediately above it were completely full, the three rings of boxes were about 80% full, and then there was a 40-50% scattering in the upper ring of seats and standing between the arches. So, for all meaningful purposes, a full house.

[swisstone.livejournal.com]

Sorry to have missed your flying visit!

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Yeah, sorry about that. It really did have to be flying, as it was literally going to the Prom and then going home, so I couldn't have seen anyone who didn't happen to be right there (like qatsi). There are an awful lot of Londoners I really ought to see properly (not least my sister!), but I'm not sure when I'll be able to fit it in.