So, the Proms as we know them are off, albeit, given the amount in its archive, the BBC has enough material to easily fill each of the intended Proms-related radio and television slots. Repeats they may be, but we might enjoy listening and watching again or coming across something for the first time; and, anyway, there is the prospect, as the 2020 Proms Season enters its final fortnight (late-August/early-September), of some live music-making depending on the Government Guidelines that apply at the time. (Please see the Henry Wood-adorned news item for further details.)
However, what with Covid-19 and so much disruption to what we are used to, and the anxiety and tragedy caused, I got to thinking of musical Endgames. What would be my final piece of music to listen to? I am down to a handful of works. Two are obvious in titular terms, although both are also favourite opuses of mine, Harrison Birtwistle’s The Triumph of Time and Richard Strauss’s Death and Transfiguration. I have not forgotten the Abschied from Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde, and Desert Island Piano Concertos would include Beethoven No.4 and Brahms’s First.
That said, given the question I posed to myself regarding the ultimate listen, really my heart and soul, my whole being in fact, lies elsewhere – to Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring (in Suite form) and Ralph Vaughan Williams’s A London Symphony. Come their conclusions, as either has a magical way of fading from aural consciousness, one or other would do nicely as I depart (gently or otherwise) into Dylan Thomas’s “good night”, if hopefully not for a while. And, of course, this meagre selection leaves unmentioned so many masterworks.
May I ask though, what would you choose as your final act of listening; or, if you are a performer, to conduct, play or sing? (It doesn’t have to be ‘classical’.) I am very interested to know, and if you are willing to share, please do so, preferably as a Comment below.
Thanks and best wishes, Colin
If I were told that I had just one afternoon or evening of listening left to me, I would want to hear Mozart’s Così fan tutte or Beethoven’s A minor Quartet, the latter played by the Busch Quartet.
For me it would be the calm serenity after the storms in Sibelius Sixth Symphony. A perfect way to enter whatever awaits us.
Hmmmm. Tough question … I am greedily going to assume it’s a long final afternoon of listening and so Act 3 (or maybe all) of die Walküre; Elgar second symphony (BBCSO / Ed Gardner), And Christine Brewer / BBCSO in Strauss Four Last Songs. And if the afternoon drags on into the evening and the rest of the orchestra have gone home leaving just the strings, then Dvorak Serenade followed by Schoenberg Verklaerte Nacht (Hollywood String 4tet recording).
Given Tully Potter’s assumption that an afternoon or evening would be available then it would give time to conduct Handel’s Zadok the Priest , listen to George’ Harrison’s ‘Something’ and finally Vaughan Williams’s Tallis Fantasia
Chorus without words from Delius Hassan. A few minutes of sound from another world or from the world we are going to – or leaving.
For me this would be Debussy’s La Damoiselle Elue (Wyn Morris directing the Symphonica of London), Vaughan Williams’s Toward the Unknown Region (David Hill with forces from Winchester and Bournemouth) and a setting of ‘The Souls of the Righteous’ by Geraint Lewis. Act 3 of Tosca (Mirella Freni + Domingo) if time.
the Morris/Caballe DEMOISELLE is indeed one of the great recordings of all time; Id follow with Act one of PELLEAS with Desormiere
It would have to be Mozart, although not the wonderful Clarinet Concerto, which has haunted me throughout this life and no doubt will continue to do so afterwards! I think Figaro (Philharmonia/Giulini). Joy of life with a glowing tenderness. Perfect.
in 1978 I organised a concert in; Oxford in which you kindly played the concerto with pianist Herbert du Plessis. More recently I was at that wonderful world premiere you gave in Basingstoke…
I was joining Tully in the Beethoven (certainly Busch) and then there is Figaro and Mastersingers and the finale of Capriccio but in the end of this train of thought there is only one piece for me: the slow movement of Elgar’s A flat Symphony (Boult’s last recording with the LPO) – that final clarinet phrase creating peace, expectation and resignation all at once. As Richter said: ‘This is a Real Adagio such as Beethoven would have written’.
Hmmm. I’ve already written something for Robert Matthew-Walker’s next Musical Opinion, and I gather other contributors have joined in. I wouldn’t want to pre-empt Bob’s next issue, though there the choice was more along the lines of listening during the pandemic. It all rather depends on whether the ‘musical curtain’ material should be uplifting and joyous, soothing, or soulful. Or just great. I’m sure there is wiggle room, but I won’t cheat and mention more than one work. How to choose, though, from Tallis to Haydn, Schubert, Sibelius, Nielsen, VW…? In my piece for Bob I suggested that, should I be fortunate enough to turn up in front of the Pearly Gates, I would love to be greeted by Haydn’s joyous, rumbustious second Te Deum in C (Chandos: Richard Hickox). That being said, why should I not end my terrestrial life with John’s Second Symphony, sort of sub-titled The Wild Bunch (why has Mankind never managed to learn by experience…?). For the crossing over, either The Swan of Tuonela or The Isle of the Dead would be suitable. Then the Haydn – cheers all round! I can think of a couple of composers should my journey be one of descent, but won’t mention them.
My choice would be the Adagio from Mahler’s Tenth Symphony. When the earth says goodbye to us, it should be with this eternal music.
definitely: Stasimo 2 from PROMETEO by Luigi Nono
there is nothing left to say after this ending. Please listen to it!
Ingo Metzmacher
As a listener- Vaughan Williams 5th Symphony, Sibelius 7th Symphony : as a conductor, one of the Haydn Masses – they are so full of joy and optimism, whatever one believes, maybe Tallis ‘Spem in Alium’ at the final curtain
Verdi Requiem. Such a powerful piece, proclaiming triumph over death.