Our second Prom of the season is Shostakovich's devastatingly powerful Symphony No 10. Premiered after Stalin’s death in 1953, it’s a work whose fierce rage, violence and grief tell a terrifying story of life in the dictator’s Russia.
To book your ticket: please click here. Alternatively, you can buy day promming ticket from 9:30am on the day, costs £8.
The Prom starts at 7pm. Meet at the steps of the Albert Memorial for picnic (weather permitting) from 5:30pm.
There will be a WhatsApp group set up for this event. Please email swcsocialATgmailDOTcom with your mobile number if you wish to be on it.
Programme
Édith Canat de Chizy Skyline (Concerto for three percussionists, timpani and orchestra) 20’
BBC co-commission: UK premiere
Interval
Shostakovich Symphony No. 10 in E minor 55’
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Cristian Mǎcelaru conductor
#2026-08-18T19:00
4 comments:
Some walkers have booked choir seats
Interval and post concert meeting place - outside Door 9
Part 2 - continues from Part 1
Here are some comments from fellow walkers:
Comments on Skyline (first piece, UK Premiere)
“I was expecting Clint Eastwood, poncho and horse to wander across the stage at some point during the premiere. It reminded me of some of the incidental music to a spaghetti western”
“To me, Skyline was a combination of the random sounds we encounter in our everyday lives but rarely stop to notice. Perhaps a simultaneous documentary video could help us engage with and comprehend these sounds more deeply.”
“The first piece was made interesting by the varied percussion. It is amazing how many different things there are to hit with sticks in this world …. A highlight for those of us in the choir seats was one of the performers accidentally letting go of a tube she was whirling around her head (to create “the sound of moving air” said the programme). She recovered very well, briefly thinking of going to pick it up but then deciding to carry on playing her other bits”
“I agree the piece sounded a lot like a film soundtrack, but maybe sci-fi not western (which is probably what the composer wanted us to think too, as it was supposedly all about the story of the universe). The other thing it reminded me of was a massive Led Zeppelin-style drum solo. The strings played the “cat strangling” music that is de rigeur for modern pieces in the background.”
“Cat fights, Katzengejammer and the inevitable cat poo everywhere ....”
“sci-fi. If you have Spotify listen to Planet of the Apes 1968 soundtrack The Swarchers.”
“Skyline for me, I believe, best not viewed live. Seeing the percussionist in the rather fetching shiny purple jumpsuit, having to dart about a myriad of instruments and play them with the most precision of timing, I found a bit stressful. When a colleagues' instrument went flying off into the corridors, the stress increased.”
“I marvel how anyone can compose such a piece of music to include such a range of instruments. How does the composer decide I want the sound of this drum opposed to that one?”
“Skyline had the most amazing sounds. It was an hilarious moment when a percussionist instrument flew off. What an excellent female composer.”
Shostakovich Symphony No 10 (second piece)
“Despite its fabulous famous scherzo and some big brass moments, the Shostakovich had long stretches of contemplative music - rather too long for me at times, I must admit. I guess with Stalin lately dead, he was just relieved to be still alive. The third movement was apparently him having a fling with a female student (said the programme), so not everything he wrote was political.”
“I especially enjoyed the emotional contrasts of the Shostakovich. I was also reminded of Prokofiev in places...”
“An unusually introvert piece with lots of solo instruments by this usually noisy composer except for the second movement which is an exhilarating, wild ride. I also thought I could detect resemblances of classical harmonic developments but with a Shostakovich inflection. In general the musical ideas of this symphony did not quite draw me in, his other symphonies are much more dramatic and attention grabbing.”
“Shostokovich was reflective (1st movement) and action packed in the 2nd.”
“I was reminded of this from my childhood, the wolf trying to catch the hare and failing all the time. It's a bit like Soviet Tom and Jerry”
“The Shostakovich 10th had a most moving and heartbreaking 1st movement. The 2nd was terrifying representing Stalin and the 3rd had Shostakovich surviving with love through it all.”
“The BBC Symphony orchestra performance was superb.”
Part 1
Eleven walkers gathered on the steps of the Albert Memorial for a pre-concert picnic, with nibbles and drinks to help us ease into the evening and, more importantly, get into the concert mood. At the interval, we were joined by another walker, bringing the grand total to n=12.
The concert introduced us to veteran French composer Édith Canat de Chizy and her UK premiere of Skyline. It was quite different from what we might normally expect to hear at a Prom, but a refreshing change nonetheless. We each seemed to take something different from it as you’ll see from the comments below.
Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10 was brilliantly played by the BBC Symphony Orchestra. The intensity of the second movement seemed to have the full sympathy of the air-conditioning system, although sadly not its cooling effect. The auditorium grew increasingly warm as the concert went on, adding an unexpected element of endurance to the evening.
All in all, a lovely evening out in good company.
Continues to Part 2 below
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