Proms 2018

[Demetrius]

This year's season features ALMOST NOTHING OF INTEREST!

That, as always, depends on peoples' interests. The season tries to cater to a number of different audiences, as usual. It is in turn likely that many would only be interested in parts of the season. One can miss the nuggets sometimes at the first readthrough though. Are you looking for a specific type of repertoire?

[MrGongGong]

This year's season features ALMOST NOTHING OF INTEREST!

It does seem more than a little dull to me as well

[french frank]

That, as always, depends on peoples' interests. The season tries to cater to a number of different audiences, as usual.

I imagine most people approach it in terms of "What would I choose to go to?" That's the point at which you (well, I) start writing things off - no to the jazz-world-tangos-musicals-Bernstein &c; but thinking in terms of going to London for a couple of trips: Pelléas et Mélisande, the Currentzis Beethoven, both the BPO concerts, the Haydn & RVW London Symphonies, Schiff's WTC, the two Brandenburg concerts, the Jean Rondeau recital, perhaps - depending on his hair,. That's just at a quick look. I could probably add a few more possibles, though I would be inclined to rule out the ones with a lot of short pieces - like the Young Musician concert …

But then someone else would look at my choice and say "(almost) nothing of interest".

[Demetrius]

I imagine most people approach it in terms of "What would I choose to go to?" That's the point at which you (well, I) start writing things off - no to the jazz-world-tangos-musicals-Bernstein &c; but thinking in terms of going to London for a couple of trips: Pelléas et Mélisande, the Currentzis Beethoven, both the BPO concerts, the Haydn & RVW London Symphonies, Schiff's WTC, the two Brandenburg concerts, the Jean Rondeau recital, perhaps - depending on his hair,. That's just at a quick look. I could probably add a few more possibles, though I would be inclined to rule out the ones with a lot of short pieces - like the Young Musician concert …

But then someone else would look at my choice and say "(almost) nothing of interest".

I can probably be in London for the Stretch from Prom 17 to 24 and/or Cadogan Hall 6, Proms 52-53.

Within this small slice of the season, I can potentially pick up two RVW symphonies and one Parry Symphony I'm not likely to hear performed in my neck of the woods, 3 substantial works of living composers I'm not yet familiar with, more Parry, a full 25 percent of all works from Ethel Smyth performed at the Proms in the last 50 years, some non-planet Holst, the Alpine Symphony and four last Songs and Sibelius 2nd Symphony. Not a bad haul.

[Conchis]

Scanning the schedule I was reminded of Churchill's quip about 'a pudding without a theme.' Crucially, the season lacks a big, rarely (barely?) performed work to draw the crowds - Havergal Brian's Gothic Symphony fitted the bill perfectly a few years' back - but many of the usual offenders/suspects are in their place.

A concert performance of Guisseppe Sinopoli's opera based on the life of Lou Salome would have been a good pick, even though 2018 is not a significant anniversary of anyone connected with the work.

[Stanfordian]

Scanning the schedule I was reminded of Churchill's quip about 'a pudding without a theme.' Crucially, the season lacks a big, rarely (barely?) performed work to draw the crowds - Havergal Brian's Gothic Symphony fitted the bill perfectly a few years' back - but many of the usual offenders/suspects are in their place.

A concert performance of Guisseppe Sinopoli's opera based on the life of Lou Salome would have been a good pick, even though 2018 is not a significant anniversary of anyone connected with the work.

I suppose that depends on the quality of Sinopoli's opera!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I suppose that depends on the quality of Sinopoli's opera!

A quick trip to youTube might help here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOkB_Pu2c_A

[Demetrius]

Crucially, the season lacks a big, rarely (barely?) performed work to draw the crowds - Havergal Brian's Gothic Symphony fitted the bill perfectly a few years' back - but many of the usual offenders/suspects are in their place.

True. The Gothic also functioned as attention grabbing headliner, though; those were perhaps the defining characteristic of the Wright years. The Gothic represents the positive side of that. The Wagner/Britten bacchanalia - to me - the negative side, as that season became extremely lopsided. Recent seasons have been more sedate, which also has positive and negative aspects.

[Stanfordian]

True. The Gothic also functioned as attention grabbing headliner, though; those were perhaps the defining characteristic of the Wright years. The Gothic represents the positive side of that. The Wagner/Britten bacchanalia - to me - the negative side, as that season became extremely lopsided. Recent seasons have been more sedate, which also has positive and negative aspects.

Looking back I'm amazed that the BBC actually presented the 'Gothic'.

[Serial_Apologist]

Looking back I'm amazed that the BBC actually presented the 'Gothic'.

It was done before once - iirc at the 1966 Proms, conducted by Boult: and that was only the work's second performance. We had a reel-to-reel of it - only in mono, of course!

[Anastasius]

Scanning the schedule I was reminded of Churchill's quip about 'a pudding without a theme.' Crucially, the season lacks a big, rarely (barely?) performed work to draw the crowds - Havergal Brian's Gothic Symphony fitted the bill perfectly a few years' back - but many of the usual offenders/suspects are in their place.

A concert performance of Guisseppe Sinopoli's opera based on the life of Lou Salome would have been a good pick, even though 2018 is not a significant anniversary of anyone connected with the work.

You are absolutely spot on. I remember one memorable year not too long ago when over one weekend we were treated to Gurrelieder, The Apostles and Berlioz Grande Messe.

Oh and NYJO.

And nearly forgot cataching Earl Okin singing Bessie at the Southbank Revue later that night. Spectacular weekend

[vinteuil]

.

... nope. Nothing I've heard of so far tempts me to think of struggling the three miles from here to the Albert Hall this year.

.

[Demetrius]

.

... nope. Nothing I've heard of so far tempts me to think of struggling the three miles from here to the Albert Hall this year.

.

They did scrupulously avoid early music this time, didn't they? Basic principle seems to be nothing before Bach, unless it can be played in 3 minutes or less. Since they went the "give everyone something" approach otherwise, this is a huge blind spot.

[MrGongGong]

What seems to be missing to me
is something that makes the most of the unique opportunity that the RAH offers
whether it's epic symphonies with brass bands, organ and huge orchestras, pieces for three orchestras, pieces that make use of the acoustics or things that use the circular nature of the hall to acheive their effect.

[Serial_Apologist]

They did scrupulously avoid early music this time, didn't they? Basic principle seems to be nothing before Bach, unless it can be played in 3 minutes or less. Since they went the "give everyone something" approach otherwise, this is a huge blind spot.

That reminds me of something Peter Maxwell Davies said about his music professor not allowing study of any music before Bach, but also not after Delius!