Farewell and Welcome at BBC Proms
July 2003
For Andrew Manze, July 22nd's BBC Proms marked a sginificant
point in his carreer. In a unique coproduction between two of Britain's
leading baroque orchestras, Manze directed The Academy of Ancient Music,
where he had been Associate Director since 1995, and The English Concert,
which has just appointed him as their new Artistic Director.
Manze directed Corelli's Concerti grossi Op VI and Haendels Silete Venti
and conducted both orchestras, their choirs and soloists in a remarkable
Dixit Dominus. The BBC Proms concert was broadcasted live on various international
Radio stations and on BBC Television.
The performance in the Royal Albert Hall was greeted by a more than 5000
crowd.
Here are some quotes from the British Press:
MANZE INSPIRES MASSES TO BRILLIANT BAROQUE
Musicians are used to working micacles, but it's not every night that
their music-making ignites as it did in this BBC Prom. The reason was
simple: Andrew Manze. Manze is a baroque violinist who is as brilliant
and spontaneous as he is is scholarly. [...] Sheer numbers made their
sound fulsome and offered scope for wide dynamic extremes. [In Handel's
Dixit Dominus] Manze directed from the podium, but his influence remained
telling as his forces indulged in the glories of a young man's exuberant,
colourful, and, deeply moving art.
LONDON EVENING STANDARD
It really was as though we were experiencing the shock of the new as Corelli's
first audiences might have heard it. [...] After the interval, we had
Manze as choral conductor, now at the podium, and directing the AAM Chorus
and the Choir of The English Concert in Handel's Dixit Dominus. This was
a marvellous synthesis of voice as instrument, and instrument as voice,
with some solos from Fox, this time with Julia Gooding, Sarah Connolly,
Mark Le Brocq and Matthew Hargreaves.
THE TIMES
Manze.. maintained razor-sharp articulation in performances of two concerti grossi by Corelli, with music of stunning inventiveness, while there was intimacy and gentleness in, for instance, the Christmas Concerto's blissfully hushed closing Pastoral.
THE INDEPENDENT
[...] It was the items for orchestra alone that made the strongest impression, a tribute to Manze's infectious energy as leader. The full ensemble gave two Concerti Grossi by Corelli - orchestras of 100 were not uncommon in 18th-century Rome. The opening movement of his Op 6 No 4 was electrifying; as for the Christmas Concerto, I can't remember hearing the slow music played with such tenderness, or the pastoral sounding so simply, touchingly distant.
GUARDIAN