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September 3, 2010

Gergiev's Firebird Ignites the 2010 Proms

Every now and then, there is a concert performance that galvanizes an audience. If you're there, you feel it happening -- you unconsciously lean forward in your seat, grip the arm rests, the hair on the back of your neck stands up. There was a concert three weeks ago in London that had that effect: the audience shouted and stomped their approval, the critics raved. The concert performance of the summer (so far!) at the 2010 Proms in London: Valery Gergiev conducting the London Symphony Orchestra in an epic performance of the Firebird, by Igor Stravinsky.

Today's Playlist

hour 1

  • Igor Stravinsky
    Excerpt from Petrushka
    Yuja Wang, piano
  • Igor Stravinsky
    The Firebird
    The London Symphony Orchestra, Valery Gergiev, conductor
    The BBC Proms, London, England
  • Alexander Scriabin
    Piano Preludes No. 11 in B and No. 12 in G-sharp Minor, Op. 11
    Yuja Wang, piano
    Schwetzingen Festival, Schwetzingen, Germany
  • Alessandro Piccinini
    Ciaccona in Partite Variate
    Axel Wolf and Michael Freimuth, theorbos
    Schwetzingen Festival, Schwetzingen, Germany

hour 2

  • Johannes Brahms
    Two Fantasies, Op. 116
    Richard Goode, piano
  • Samuel Barber
    Overture to The School for Scandal, Op. 5
    The Cleveland Orchestra, Pinchas Steinberg, conductor
    Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Miami
  • Chris Rogerson
    Lullaby: No Bad Dreams
    Benjamin Beilman, violin, Francis Perron, piano
    Montreal International Music Competition, Montreal, Quebec
  • Johannes Brahms
    Piano Trio in C Minor, Op. 101
    Richard Goode, piano, Benjamin Beilman, violin, Peter Myers, cello
    Marlboro Music Festival, Marlboro, Vermont
  • Johann Sebastian Bach
    Prelude and Finale from Suite No. 6
    The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Andrew Litton, conductor
    The BBC Proms, London, England

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Photo: #My Dear Spiering: I am sitting here in Munich and am rehearsing to the utmost of my strength on my Eighth Symphony. I miss you very much. The concertmaster is fair, but without any deeper understanding and has no influence on the orchestra. I hope that I shall see you here in September. I have received no news from America. As you know, due to my insisting, a good manager has been engaged, but to my displeasure he has suggested and arranged 65 concerts for the season. He maintains that without this increase in concerts he will not be able to insure a financial success. I asked for a small increase of my salary, on account of the added amount of work. My contract only calls for 45 concerts. My request however, was not granted by the committee, so I shall just have to abide by my contract. I have submitted my decision to the committee, but have heard nothing since then. I greet you heartily and thank your wife for her dear lines. I hope that I shall meet her this year. My wife also sends hearty greetings. Mahler
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