First on the bill in this Sunday evening Prom is Brahms’ violin concerto with featured artist Christian Tetzlaff. This is his first Proms performance of the technically demanding work by Brahms, all of whose concertos can be heard during this Proms season.
Das klagende Lied (Song of Lamentation) is one of Mahler’s earliest scores: An opulent, late romantic cantata for soloists, chorus and orchestra based on fairy tales. Edward Gardner, English National Opera’s music director, leads the BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Singers and soloists in the original version which only resurfaced as recently as 1969.
Tonight’s soloists are well represented in the Opus Arte catalogue: Soprano Melanie Diener appears as Leonore in Opus Arte’s release of Fidelio from Zurich, Stuart Skelton in Albeniz’ Merlin and Christopher Purves is Falstaff taken from Glyndebourne. For lovers of German late romantic music, why not try Richard Strauss’ Elektra and Salome, or pushing the musical boundary to Berg’s modern masterpieces Wozzeck and Lulu.
Beethoven – Fidelio – Zurich
OA 1023 D (DVD) / OA BD7040 D (Blu-ray)
Albeniz – Merlin – Teatro Real
OA 0888 D (DVD)
Verdi – Falstaff – Glyndebourne
OA 1021 D (DVD) / OA BD7053 D (Blu-ray)
Strauss – Salome – Royal Opera House
starring Maria Ewing OA R3108 (DVD)
starring Nadja Michael OA 0996 D (DVD) / OA BD7069 D (Blu-ray)
Strauss – Elektra – Baden Baden
OA 1046 D (DVD) / OA BD7082 D (Blu-ray)
Berg – Wozzeck – Liceu
OA 0985 D (DVD)
Berg – Lulu – Royal Opera House
OA 1034 D (DVD) / OA BD7070 D (Blu-ray)
Sunday 7 August - 7.00pm – c. 9.25pm
Brahms - Violin Concerto in D major
Mahler - Das klagende Lied (original version)
Christian Tetzlaff violin
Melanie Diener soprano
Ekaterina Gubanova mezzo-soprano
Stuart Skelton tenor
Christopher Purves baritone
BBC Singers
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Edward Gardner conductor