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• 1. At 10:46pm on 02 Aug 2009, organistlibrarian wrote:

  I much preferred Goldie's work to Ben Foskett's! Just noise to my ears!
  The Berlioz did not come over well on the radio - organ pedals dominated at one point, one had no sense of a really large choir singing and the boys only penetrated through the sound twice.
  As a Phliharmonia chorus member who has sung this work several times including at the Proms it was sad that we were not taking part. I would have preferred more legato singing and a better sense of controlled line especially from the basses. Still there were some lovely sounds from the ladies. The secret is not to sing too loudly - never louder than lovely!

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• 2. At 11:58am on 03 Aug 2009, theodorachristoff wrote:

  Such a shame that this Prom was not televised or recorded for on demand purposes for BBCi Player! The conductor was absolutely mesmerising, the 500-strong choir body was impressive and quite lovely in their rendition of the moving Te Deum by Berlioz in the second part.
  I am not a singer as the previous contributor to this discussion is but do agree that our experience in the Hall - we were there as parents of one of the performing boys - is not quite matched by the recording to which I am listening now.
  
  I need to make another point. To us the night was made emotional and very memorable, mainly by the fact that our son sang such powerful music. However, the BBC did not provide any tickets, at any price, reduced or not, for the parents/carers/chaperones of these boys, some of them only 8-9 years of age; not even according to the requirements for insured supervision within the license for working children. Everyone managed as best one could, parking and accommodation fluid, tickets of £74 and more for the immediate family, and brought home tired (however elated and proud) choristers between 11 and 12 at night. I feel that a public broadcaster using license fee money should think about the welfare of the people who promote its image.
  
  We are still proud of what the boys achieved and of the opportunity they had thanks to the BBC. This feeling would have been complete if we had any gesture of returned care and support by the Proms organisers towards their young performers.

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• 3. At 12:21pm on 03 Aug 2009, happywhensinging wrote:

  Loved the Foskett, and the Beethoven was electric (fast??!), but really we were there for the Berlioz.
  
  I don't think organistlibrarian would have been happy singing in this performance - he/she clearly has very set ideas about how it should be done, while Ms Malkki brought some interesting and fresh ideas (OK, they didn't all work, but a nice try!). I guess you had to be there. I thought the boys were magnificent - their singing and their behaviour - and I'm sorry that theodorachristoff feels badly treated. And I don't think the choir(s) needed any advice from organist librarian on how to sing.
  
  Wouldn't it have been nice to have THIS concert on the first night?

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• 4. At 3:09pm on 03 Aug 2009, clarinetman wrote:

  Terrific concert. I was there in the RAH for the Berlioz, but found the Foskett piece pleasant, it did not outstay its length. The Beethoven was wonderful, the orchestra really on their toes and Miss Mälkki pointing the rhythms wonderfully. I had forgotten what a fine symphony this is.
  
  And the Berlioz Te Deum - well, it really raised the roof! The choirs were wonderful, all five of them. The boys' voices really came through clear where I was sitting. Bravo to them and their choirmasters. Again Susanna Mälkki did a fine job; keeping this number of musicians together at all is an achievement. The quieter moments too I found quite moving. And the ending - four pairs of cymbals, four drums (besides timpani), choruses AND the RAH organ - oh, terrific stuff. (There was a small lad down in the stalls who was covering his ears during the final bars!). The most enjoyable Prom so far for me.
  
  I agree that this would have made a far better opening concert than the bitty programme used.
  
  Anyway, my thanks to all for a great night.

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• 5. At 03:02am on 09 Aug 2009, organistlibrarian wrote:

  I'm sure I would have enjoyed taking part happywhensinging although I do think Colin Davis really had the measure of the tensions in this work. I heard on the radio some raucous basses so that's why I asked for a more controlled sound!

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