Interact & Reviews / Reviews

Peter Lewis
Overall I agree with the above comments, Brahms has always been one of my top favourite composers and I always find the 3rd Symphony quite sublime, especially when given such a performance as we had here. I wish however the commentators would refrain from referring to the BPO as the best orchestra in the world - one the best for sure but there are others just as fine (Dresden, Amsterdam etc) they just don't seem to have the same 'glamour' that seems to be attached to this great band.

A real Prom of two halves: wonderful Brahms, as good as Mackerras's, but with a superior orchestra; yet a tiresome Shostakovich performance making this composer sound as second-rate as Boulez and Stravinsky might have us believe, but which a more sympathetic band would have belied.

Bruno Basalisco
This was definitely an evening to remember. Conversely to a previous reviewer, I came to this Prom drawn by Brahms and ended up struck by Shostakovich. Judging by how early capacity queues were lined up outside the RAH (on gallery, arena and season holders), this was going to be one for the aficionados. And it was.

The clarity of the execution was outstanding - even through the most difficult bits of Shostakovich. At the end, the applause was immediate, unanimous and persistent: indeed, not a political applause as after (and during!) Barenboim's first prom, but a 100% Prommers' delight.

Unlike any other Proms of this calibre I have had a chance to see this season, the orchestra did not perform an encore and withdrew with a well-rehersed handshakes and goodbye move initiated by the first violin. As there must not have been any piece prepared for encore, I reckon that was quite professional behaviour - which I appreciated.

Steve Evans
A fine orchestra, playing with masterly precision and not a note wrong (well, possibly only one!) That will be my lasting memory of this Prom, as well as finding that I thoroughly enjoyed the Brahms Symphony (against my expectation). So now I'll re-explore other Brahms pieces. I had only gone for the Shostakovich. One of the joys of the Proms is being acquainted with work you either haven't heard before, or (as in this case) had thought you wouldn't like much.

John Speller
Spectacular. This orchestra sounds like no other! For Simon Rattle to conduct two such complicated works without a score and with such control is mind boggling!!! The audience was in raptures. Why is it there is still no mention of this wonderful performance in any of the daily newspapers which I have read?

Paul Bradley
Thank you Sir Simon and the Berliner Philharmoniker for a fantastic Shostakovich 10th. It was a privilege to be there. Surely the orchestral performance of the season - so far! Come on Chicago - let's see what you can do!

Ian Hamilton
An outstanding concert in every respect. Utterly magnificent interpretation and flawless playing. I cannot imagine a finer performance of these two great works.

Peter Harris
An astounding and exciting Prom. The Berlin Phil were on top form both in the lyrical Brahms and the more pungent Shostakovich. Woodwinds and horns performed particularly well - clarinets and bassoons enjoying their many duets and the principal horn giving solo performances of quite outstanding beauty. The strings were on top form all evening, from the long, sonorous, lines of the Brahms through to the spiky and exhilirating passages in the Shostakovich. Simon Rattle did an excellent job - overall one of the most exciting performances I have attended.