Prom 50: BBC SSO/ Dausgaard ***
Royal Albert Hall, 19th August 2018
You would imagine that Leonard Bernstein would have been a regular at the BBC Proms. He was a natural communicator and educator, delighting in bringing classical music to new audiences. Yet Bernstein – born one hundred years ago this week – only conducted at this festival twice. The Mozart—Mahler programme of his first Prom, with the Vienna Philharmonic in September 1987, was repeated last night, Thomas Dausgaard leading the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Wisely, Dausgaard didn’t try to replicate Bernstein’s interpretations – when it comes to Mahler, Lenny left big shoes to fill – but his Fifth was satisfyingly robust.
Annelien Van Wauwe
© BBC | Chris Christodoulou
Read the full review on Bachtrack.