Gillian Moore looks good for her age. Who was the tool sitting next to her?

Well, I have to side with opilec here. I've never really been much engaged by Belohlavek (though I do agree with George that if the bar in Beethoven is going to be 'as good as Mackerras' then we're into a rather restrictive list). Last year's Bruckner (I heard only the Edinburgh performance) did little for me and I recall a Mahler 9 from him which seemed to lack any flow.

I don't agree that the BBCSO are workmanlike (although I think there were last night). With the best conductors, they are capable of something special, as in my view the recent Runnicles Tristan und Isolde (and with any luck this year's Ring instalment).

I fairness, I think the sound of freeview did both orchestra and chorus few favours (though I thought the latter was pretty fine as was Pape).

bws

I have less "versions" to compare with than most of you do, I suspect, but still I know both of these pieces and expected to really enjoy them.

And the Elgar was very ejoyable. It was fascinating to watch the themes moving around the different orchestra sections and I think the TV director did a good job of showing that. (Could have done with more orchestra views and less gurning soloist, to be honest  )

The Beetohoven was a mixed bag. I actually found my attention wandering a bit during the middle movements. When the soloists came on stage at the end of the 2nd movement (why then?) I honestly couldn't remember where we were and I fully expected them to start singing immediately  But when the chorus came in, it was stunning. It made me wish I was there in the hall to hear it.

I thought the soloists were hard to hear above the chorus when all were singing. Is that how it's supposed to sound? If that happened at a rock concert I would blame the sound engineer for getting a bad mix through the PA, so I don't know if it was the fault of the BBC sound recording or if it's just the way it's supposed to be.

Jansons rendering or not, David missed out! The R3 repeat just now did nothing to lessen my opinion of the concert.

IRF, I think the soloists came on at the end of the second movement to make the most of the contrast between the ending of the bee-oo-tiful third movement and the discord which opens the fourth. To have the hubbub of four soloists coming on in between would have spoiled the impact slightly ?

karajan used to have them sitting in front of the choir from the outset.