Today at the Proms - Prom 33

Continuing our daily coverage of what's on at The Proms 2018, Susan Omand has a quick look at the programme for Prom 33: Brahms' A German Requiem ...



I've never really been a fan of Brahms. Although I can appreciate his meticulous use of classical structures and his use of the conventionally Romanticist motif, it just doesn't "do it" for me, I am not captured or enrapt as much as I feel I should be. For all that it's meant to be emotional, I find it lacks passion and is all just a bit too "safe and staid" imho. However, what do I know - he's one of the world's greatest composers and I agree that, as a musical technician, he cannot be faulted. Just... meh, really.



Thea Musgrave's work, on the other hand, is exciting from the first bar. It has a real cinematic quality and you can imagine it in the soundtrack of the likes of a Hitchcock movie, such is the suspense. To hear Phoenix Rising again is a lovely way to celebrate her 90th birthday.



Here's the lady herself, from last year, talking about taking risks with music.






Here's the full programme for this evening's Prom which you can listen to live on Radio 3 or on the iPlayer

Thea Musgrave
Phoenix Rising(23 mins)

INTERVAL

Johannes Brahms
A German Requiem(68 mins)

Image - Photo © Chris Christodoulou