Just in: BBC unfurls its Andrew Davis Prom
OrchestrasThe late Sir Andrew Davis was due to conduct Prom 53 on August 30.
His sudden death last month has led to a revised concert, conducted by Martyn Brabbins: the first half remains the same with Stravinsky’s Symphony in Three Movements and the UK premiere of Jacob’s Ladder by Steve Reich, co-commissioned by the BBC. The second half will now include Michael Tippett’s The Midsummer Marriage – Ritual Dances and the Enigma Variations by Elgar, two pieces close to Sir Andrew’s heart.
There have been some spectacular jump-ins over the years: Bernstein for Walter (1943); Jerusalem for Ellsworth (as Parsifal for Goodall, 1980s); Nézet-Séguin for Jansons RIP (Proms, 2019) and Soddy for Salonen (a wonderful Bruckner 6 at the RFH last year).
But Brabbins for Sir Andrew Davis? Is that really the best the BBC can do?
As well as being one of the UK’s finest conductors, Brabbins is undoubtedly one of the leading Tippett interpreters in the world. I can’t think of anyone better placed to conduct this memorial to Sir Andrew.
Really?
I would have ditched the Stravinsky and the awful Steve Reich and played Elgar 2, instead.
Such an occasion requires music with feeling, tears, remembrance, not cold and clinical scores that sound like they have been etched out with a dremel.
Steve Reich is not awful and neither is his music. Unless, of course you are referring to the piece in question which is yet to receive it’s UK premier. Shall we wait and listen before judging?
First of all, it’s Martyn, not Martin. Secondly, I am assuming that Sir Andrew had some input regarding the program. If that’s the case I am pleased that the first half has been retained. And finally, Brabbins is a fine conductor.
Superb choice of programme and conductor!
They should have included some Alban Berg, his favourite composer.
I don’t get the criticism of Martyn Brabbins at all. I’ve never been disappointed with any of his performances with the BBCSSO here in Glasgow. Now, Sir Andrew is no longer with us, the list of British conductors has, sadly, grown shorter. As for the changes to what would have been this year’s ‘Andrew Davis Prom’ programme, they seem ok, but, I agree with another contributor, some Alban Berg would’ve been appropriate. Sir Andrew will be missed and one hopes there will be some lasting tribute to him at the Proms and the Royal Albert Hall. Maybe a Bust, or something, as he was one of the best Last Night Conductors ever and his contribution to British music was so immense. I saw him most recently at last year’s Edinburgh Festival conducting a powerful and moving performance of Tippett’s ‘A Child of Our Time’. An unforgettable experience; as was his conducting of Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius at the 2022 Edinburgh Festival.
The Bayreuth Festival posted a tribute to Sir Andrew on its website. It contains the following:
“At the Bayreuth Festival, Sir Andrew Davis conducted Keith Warner’s Lohengrin production in 2002 and 2003. As an entertainer, he made a name for himself with his humorous moderation of the London concert series “Last nights of the Proms”. The British Symphony Orchestra honoured Davis as a “driving force in British music” for decades.”