Gergiev at the Proms

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Gergiev at the Proms concert. Valery Gergiev conducts the Münchner Philharmoniker at the BBC Proms in 2016. Features Behzod Abduraimov on Piano and Alexei Petrenko as reciter. Directed for TV by Simon Broughton. Released 2018, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

Here’s the program:

  • Ravel Bolero

  • Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 3

  • Ustvolskaya Symphony No. 3 "Jesus Messiah, Save Us!" (Alexei Petrenko recites)

  • Strauss Der Rosenkavalier Suite

  • Berlioz "Rákóczy March" ("Hungarian March")

David Gutman (June 2018 Gramophone at pages 46-47) calls this program "eccentric" but goes on to say good things about each selection, especially the Rachmaninov concerto where Abduraimov contributes "unmistakably an exceptional performance, outshining his studio recordings to date." But Gutman gives fair warning that this is a typical rough Proms experience with "tacky" lighting, coughing, and Gergiev singing along. And the official clip from Naxos included below is full of weak camera angles caused by the cavernous hall as well as typical shots we condemn on this website as symptoms of the dread disease of DVDitis.

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