How accurate is the Proms Archive?

[Chris Newman]

Rigby talks about the Proms audience helping the orchestra to tune

Ah! That tradition seems to have slipped away. Of course our orchestra's expected it when the leader called for silence and just before the oboist sounded his "A" the arena would sing (a usually* perfect one) for him (or on the last night anything but). The look of surprise on foreign orchestra members' faces was a delight.

*That's interesting. I half expect to write "an usually" but it does not feel right. I would naturally write "an unusually".

[mercia]

I half expect to write "an usually" but it does not feel right. I would naturally write "an unusually".

usually starts with a Y

[Ravensbourne]

I have found a number of errors in the BBC on-line Proms Archive. However, rather than gloat about it on here, I thought it better to notify them so they could change it.

They were most courteous and made all the changes I proposed.

[David Underdown]

Singing the wrong not on the Last Night continues, as does applauding the leader when they have to give the note from a piano - that still confuses visting bands, while those who are expecting it sometimes make a meal of finding the correct note in the first place.

[salymap]

I read about a music critic who reviewed a concert that didn't take place. He couldn't get to it, so went by the advance programme There's many a slip...........

[salymap]

Edgar Mays [or Mais] was a neighbour of mine and I often travelled home on the train with him after a concert.
He had been with the BBCSO for years and was a mine of useful and funny information. The prommers all called 'Heave' when he lifted the piano lid, he never ever even smiled which made them do it all the more.
Does anyone remember him? He often had free tickets too

[Flosshilde]

I read about a music critic who reviewed a concert that didn't take place. He couldn't get to it,

Presumably neither could the performers

[Chris Newman]

Yes, Edgar was there when I first started Promenading in 1967. I think Gerard Hoffnung based some whimsical drawings on his serious demeanour in "The Orchestra". The crowd in the gallery called "Ho" in reply to the "Heave".