Prom 8: Dvořák & Smetana
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© Marco Borggreve
Wednesday 20 July
7.30pm – c. 10.00pm
Royal Albert Hall
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Dvorák
Cello Concerto in B minor (40 mins) -
J. S. Bach
Suite for Solo Cello No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008 (5 mins)
No. 4 Sarabande (encore) - INTERVAL
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Smetana
Má vlast (72 mins)
- Jean-Guihen Queyras cello
- BBC Symphony Orchestra
- Jiří Bělohlávek conductor
Discover the music
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About this event
A Czech evening as Jean-Guihen Queyras plays Dvořák’s Cello Concerto and Proms favourite Jiří Bělohlávek leads the BBC Symphony Orchestra in a surprising Proms first as the six symphonic poems of Má vlast are performed complete and in sequence.
Dvořák's Cello Concerto is full of melody and heartfelt sentiment, to which French cellist Jean- Guihen Queyras will bring both youthful urgency and intimacy, if his recording with tonight's conductor is anything to go by.
The work is widely regarded as the finest concerto ever written for the instrument. Nostalgia turns to nationalism in the second half, moving from a Proms staple to a Proms premiere.
This is the first time the six symphonic poems of Má vlast have been given complete and in sequence at the Proms. Together they constitute a glorious musical touchstone for 'the resurrection of the Czech nation, its future happiness and glory'.
Broadcasts
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Radio
Listen live on BBC Radio 3 and in HD Sound on the website. Repeated on BBC Radio 3 14:00 22 July 2011. Listen online for 7 days after broadcast.
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Events on Wednesday 20 July
- Proms Plus Literary: Instruments in Literature - The Cello
5.45pm – c. 6.30pm - Prom 8: Dvořák & Smetana
7.30pm – c. 10.00pm
Comment number 1.
Colin20SSSS MMMMMMMMMMMM 00002011 - 22:July
Má vlast never got beyond the insipid, could have been about a weekend in Belgium
Link to this (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
Hilary West20SSSS MMMMMMMMMMMM 00002011 - 22:July
The BBC Symphony orchestra gave a competent but restrained performance tonight whilst striking a good balance with the soloist, the cello line always being very pellucid. There was some nice lyrical playing on the cello particularly in the Adagio when it became beautifully expressive.
Ma Vlast is tone poetry at its best. If the BBC Symphony orchestra seemed sedate at first there was a feeling of impetus as we got going and there was an indulgence in a triumphant swathe of the tonal pattern. Definitely some moments of magic as we teased the tone poem open. The Moldau was nice to hear and highlights were a delicious clarinet solo, a wayward tempo to end one of the poems, ethereal strings in a high register and some very tidy forte orchestral passages. A lovely expressive solo on oboe was echoed by horn, and then clarinet and bassoon wove a wonderful tapestry of sound. Ma Vlast came to a marvellously joyous and triumphant end.
Link to this (Comment number 2)
Comment number 3.
L A Odicean20SSSS MMMMMMMMMMMM 00002011 - 23:July
Ma Vlast was beautifully played notwithstanding one or two duff notes in the brass. But the trouble is that such is the work's brilliance in parts, there come relatively long passages of less satisfying descriptive music. Mrs Odicean particularly liked the fugues. It is no wonder that the piece is not usually played in full, but it was excellent to hear it all and I will certainly listen to the replay whenever that is.
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Comment number 4.
sezziek21SSSS MMMMMMMMMMMM 00002011 - 09:July
WOW! Having spent each year looking in the proms list for Smetana and being disappointed, it was just so amazing to hear the whole of Ma Vlast played live last night for the first time! I have loved this music for over 20 years. The interpretation was interesting - slightly faster than the version I have on my MP3 player but even so, it was still special just hearing it performed live! I only wish I could have been there! Thank you ,thank you , THANK YOU! :-)
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