Two weeks ago my car inched its way through the rain-soaked streets of a run down corner of Ipswich, to pick up a particularly special set of eBay winnings – a surround sound DVD system, won for £60.
One week tomorrow, a spectacular CD and DVD by the vocal group I Fagiolini will be released. It is the first recording of a complex, vast, and yet somehow intimate piece for forty – and then finally sixty – separate voices. A huge choir. The piece is a mass entitled Ecco sì beato giorno (that blessed day), it was composed 445 years ago, but only very recently rediscovered – there is a Spectator article on the discovery here. I heard its first modern performance at the Proms a couple of years ago, and on the strength of that performance, I am filled with anticipation.
The piece was recorded in the round – with the listener completely surrounded by a circle of singers. That is why this lost jewel of a composition is worth buying a surround sound system for. In eight days from now, I will be able to be surrounded by this magnificent sound, hearing it travel the room around me. The only way, in my opinion, to listen to what should be a ground-breaking recording.
As an introduction to the piece, here is a video from the academic who rediscovered the score:
I beg to differ – middle class, yes, but stuffy? No.
This video is a good piece of online outreach from the Proms digital team, and conveys some of the joy of performance on any scale. The video comes courtesy of Jon Jacob of Thoroughly Good fame, and there’s a behind the scenes blog post here.
There’s been some debate this week about why Radio 3 is picking up listeners, with a lot of focus on people turning to classical music in times of recession and stress. I can believe that, but I also suspect that Radio 3 is being rewarded for maintaining a consistently high supply of quality content produced by people with real knowledge, commitment, and dedication to their subject.
As I write I’m listening to the Monteverdi choir singing four Bach motets, thanks to the ever-wonderful Radio 3. Fantastic.
My promming is getting off to a slow start this year – work and holidays have kept me away from God’s own Royal Albert Hall (incidentally, did you know Tallis is at the foot of the Albert memorial? Neither did I.)
Here are my pick of the Proms – the concerts I’ll be trying to get to, and commend to you… spend £5 on a gallery ticket, and give it a whirl. Bring a cushion. I have had to leave out the lunchtime chamber music Proms, as no prospect of attending one this year, more’s the pity (though if I can squeeze one in it will be PCM 19)…
2 August – Prom 24: Includes Beethoven’s 4th symphony, and some top choirs – with the added bonus that I don’t know the Berlioz Te Deum at all. I might be tempted back the following night for Prom 25 too…
…probably not, however, as I do want to get along to Prom 29 on 6 August, for some top Rossini
12 August – Prom 36: I adore The Sixteen, Handel’s Coronation Anthems make me want to curl up in a ball and make happy gurgling noises, so this may be my top Prom of 2009 – particularly as it (perhaps a little predictably) ends with Zadok – but then the Proms so often take you by surprise, so you never know…
15 August – Prom 40: Who can resist the BBC SO trotting through Beethoven’s 9th? The Albert Hall’s long acoustic makes the final movement feel really huge.
21 August – Prom 48: I’m a sucker for a bit of Wagner. So, even if (whisper it) I’m not overly wild about the Symphonie fantastique… well, it’s also Wagner, and it’s the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, who can make sentimental people cry at 50 paces. This is the one our office is going to. Fidelio is also very tempting.
The OAE will be the stars on 25 August for Prom 53. I love the OAE, and the Handel choices in the programme. Second-favourite concert.
Fianally, Prom 74 – it’s the Vienna Phil and Strauss. You’d be mad not to.
Something of a choral bent to my choices this year, but then that’s where my musical interests lie at the moment. Who knows, next year it might justbe Glastonbury. (Don’t count on it.)
