The Albert Hall is more than a unique concert venue. It is a much loved national institution. Music played within it's hallowed portals cannot be duplicated in any other concert hall anywhere in the country. The Albert Hall 'sound' is as much a part of the fabric as the famous Organ and the bust of Sir Henry Wood, the gentleman responsible for the Promenade Concerts as they are known.

It was hot! very hot! stiflingly hot! on Tuesday. The heat bounced off the capital's buildings and up from the pavement as I walked from Trafalgar Square into Charing Cross Road, lined with it's second-hand book emporiums, crossing the road and making my way through the crowds thronging the pavement of Oxford Street with it's kaliedoscopic mix of chic and tat. Up the hill past Green Park, away from the heat and noise, to the slightly cooler air that blew through that splendid edifice, Marble Arch. My pace quickened as I walked along Knightsbridge because I knew that just a few paces would bring into view, the Albert Hall, not to mention that monument to victorian bad taste, the gloriously over-the-top pure kitsch, Albert Memorial!

The Albert Hall does not have air conditioning! and it was hot! stiflingly hot! and the concert was almost sold out! and the hall holds a lot of bodies! Thousands of 'em! To hell with decorum! Ladies shed their coats and scarves and fanned themselves with empty water bottles after consuming the contents in a single draught. Men discarded jackets and ties, unbuttoned shirts and loosened trouser belts, as I too, slightly dishevelled, took my seat, having crunched over a carpet of shoes that had been removed from their owners er'hm............feet! The Promenaders swept into the arena like a horde of angry wasps cos they had been kept waiting outside for what they considered to be a quite unreasonable length of time, while the rest of us were ushered to our places by the bright red jacketed harassed profusely sweating staff (over-large males and females should not wear red jackets, they looked like mail boxes on legs!) But we were all eventually seated except the promenaders who stand through the entire performance, or fall down from heat exhaustion but as they are packed so tightly, nobody notices until the interval, when the First Aiders make a discreet appearance, to minister to the stricken.

The din of chatter subsided as the 75 piece orchestra (I counted 'em) made their way to their seats, (they had obviously done this before, as they walked with unerring accuracy, to the chairs that had been alloted to them), and began to 'tune up'. we dutifully applauded their arrival though they had'nt played anything yet! and waited for Mr. Bernstein to come forth. It seemed like months had passed before the familiar figure with the shock of white hair, and profile not unlike Alfred Hitchcock's, arrived on stage, weaving his way through the orchestra to the podium, to genuinely warm and generous applause. A few words about the birth of film music being largely due to european composers like Steiner and Korngold, an about turn to face the players, he raised his baton, and the concert had started.

HOLLYWOOD AND THE STARS: A medley of themes held together by a piece of untitled music, the whole serving as an overture to the rest of the programme.
BEN-HUR: Main Title-The Mother's Love-The Chariot Race March.
The orchestra struggled with the main title which was played too slowly, and lacked the immediacy and authority the piece needs. The chariot race was better but again, lacked spirit!
THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD: Main Title.
They began to get into their stride with this, and performed this music with more assurance and pace!
GONE WITH THE WIND: Main Title.
Played without the opening percussion battery and fanfare, the impact was lost and played lethargically, was very disappointing!
A PRESIDENT'S COUNTRY: Medley
The orchestra's showing of no interest in this music, communicated itself to the audience, and we applauded 'politely'.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS: Main Title-Exodus-End Title.
This was terrific! attacked with relish and pace! It's distinguished composer conducting without the 'book' exhibiting great energy, moving around the podium, setting down and raising up the various sections of the orchestra, brought out of them, a sparking performance!

INTERVAL.

Just a shame I couldn't make it. Still, tonight am going to talk thing with Angelo Badalamenti, which should be interesting. To get me in the mood:

quote:

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Originally posted by Timmer:
Excellent review Jonathan, I was very dissapointed that the BBC didn't show this in their Proms program and yet they broadcasted Messian's Tarrangalia Symphony, a peice that I'm quite familiar with and really quite like, but it's real hard on the ear and I can't imagine many people tuning into this...and a lot of people flipping channels after a few notes

Would love to have heard Exodus, surely one of THE greatest film themes ever written!

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