Viennese Night at the BBC Proms: a dose of gentle escapism

By David Karlin, 01 September 2020

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Reviewed at Royal Albert Hall, London on 1 September 2020

Lehár, Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow): Overture

Straus, The Chocolate Soldier: Don’t eat them all, you greedy man

Lehár, Giuditta: Meine Lippen sie kussen so heiss

Kálmán, Gräfin Mariza (Countess Mariza): Grüss mir mein Wien

Strauss II, Die Fledermaus, Op.56: Overture

Lehár, Paganini: Prelude and violin solo

Heuberger, Der Opernball: Im chambre séparée

Lehár, Gold und Silber Walzer, Op.79

Lehár, Die lustige Witwe: Vilja-Lied

Lehár, The Land of Smiles: Dein ist mein ganzes Herz

Strauss II, Pizzicato Polka

Strauss II, Die Fledermaus, Op.56: Dieser Anstand, so manierlich (Uhren-Duett)

Sophie Bevan, Soprano

Robert Murray, Tenor

BBC Concert Orchestra

Bramwell Tovey, Conductor

The BBC Singers at full throttle at Milton Court

Nick Boston, 26th February

Powerful Herbert Howells, together with affecting Shaw and engaging MacMillan from the BBC Singers, with the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Sofi Jeannin.

****1

Aleko on the Arno: Bryn Terfel leads fine new GPO double bill

Roy Westbrook, 6th June

An unlikely pairing opens Grange Park Opera's season, the two works united by the dominant central character of each opera – Sir Bryn Terfel.

****1

BBCCO thrills in an evening of Sibelius and his Swedish neighbours

Susannah Moody, 17th March

A study of landscapes, freedom and love from the Anna-Maria Helsing and BBC Concert Orchestra, plus the world premiere of a Trinidadian concerto for orchestra.

****1

Mystics and magicians from the BBC Concert Orchestra at the BBC Proms

Leighton Jones, 28th August

Music from different genres, for the big and small screens, sit side by side in an evening of music that ignites and enchants the imagination.

****1

Over the top: revamped Tosca returns to the Theatre in the Woods

Mark Pullinger, 10th June

Stephen Medcalf gingers up Grange Park Opera’s staging with some deft directorial touches… even if Tosca is denied her final leap.

***11

Mari Samuelsen radiant in Pärt and Vasks with the BBC CO

Chris Garlick, 26th February

The Norwegian violinist performs a trio of contemporary works in an evening that concludes with Einojuhani Rautavaara's Angel of Light.

****1

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David Karlin

David is a co-founder of Bachtrack. He is a musical omnivore interested in almost all types of music, but with a particular love of Italian opera. You can contact him from this link.

Viennese Night at the BBC Proms: a much-needed dose of gentle escapism