2nd September 2001
Mendelssohn's Spring Concerto
Continuing our four-seasons progress through Haydn's year we clashed with the BBC's decision to perform the whole work in one day this season. Normally we try to avoid showing up the performers in the Official Proms and not repeat anything in the same season but this year we had started so we would finish. (It was suggested that the performance inside the Hall may not have been as much better than that outside as should have been expected.)
At its first performance, Schumann's "Spring" Symphony was conducted by Mendelssohn. That gives a tiny and very tenuous link between the first two works. Matthew Kettle seems to be spending more time among us with a violin than viola. His performance on his second instrument was astounding. We had an incident during the concert which, in retrospect, has become amusing but did not seem quite so funny at the time. A lady (?) walked through the orchestra and finally stood in front of the chorus master - at that point playing a continuo accompaniment - and then solemnly demanded to know if we had permission from the Albert Hall and who should she complain to. Fortunately, the stewards rescued her before the audience made it clear what they thought of her action.