Prom 24: Bournemouth SO, Klieser / Karabits, 2 Aug 2023

[jonfan]

No, I can confirm that I, whilst belonging firmly in the Previn lobby, thoroughly enjoyed KK’s radical alternative, and did not reach for my Previn CDs for fear of dimming my happy memories of a fresh viewpoint.

[hmvman]

Just watched the television broadcast on iPlayer. I'm not an expert on Rachmaninov but I enjoyed the performance of the symphony - and the rest of the concert too.

I'd also add that, for a change, the tv presentation was pretty good. After the juvenilia of the first night and other broadcasts I thought Petroc Trelawney and Hannah French did a good job of introducing the works and players without hyperbole and treating the audience like children.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

Just watched the television broadcast on iPlayer. I'm not an expert on Rachmaninov but I enjoyed the performance of the symphony - and the rest of the concert too.

I'd also add that, for a change, the tv presentation was pretty good. After the juvenilia of the first night and other broadcasts I thought Petroc Trelawney and Hannah French did a good job of introducing the works and players without hyperbole and treating the audience like children.

We happened to turn on after the symphony had begun and found the performance very enjoyable. It was almost wrecked, however, by the new presentation format where instead of being allowed to stay in the hall with a voice-over while various performers take their bows, we were dragged back to the pundits' box where PT and HF told us, as per usual, how wonderful it had been and trailed Proms coming up, all the time with applause and cheers in the background. If this is now standard for Proms on TV, it's a big turn-off.

[kernelbogey]

...we were dragged back to the pundits' box where PT and HF told us, as per usual, how wonderful it had been and trailed Proms coming up, all the time with applause and cheers in the background. If this is now standard for Proms on TV, it's a big turn-off.

[edashtav]

We happened to turn on after the symphony had begun and found the performance very enjoyable. It was almost wrecked, however, by the new presentation format where instead of being allowed to stay in the hall with a voice-over while various performers take their bows, we were dragged back to the pundits' box where PT and HF told us, as per usual, how wonderful it had been and trailed Proms coming up, all the time with applause and cheers in the background. If this is now standard for Proms on TV, it's a big turn-off.

[hmvman]

If this is now standard for Proms on TV...

Sadly, I think it is. It's been worse in other concerts this year.

[kernelbogey]

Sadly, I think it is. It's been worse in other concerts this year.

I am a little torn as this 'format' is clearly aimed at widening the audience for 'classical' music; and there is some sense of a change (perhaps not 'refreshing' to all ) in the overall profile of the Proms. I suppose that the conviction of producers that more of Clive Myrie et al will help this process. Was it the first night where the merriment in the pundits' box extended to a 'joke' (referencing the Morecambe & Wise-Previn Grieg PC sketch) about all the notes being played in the right order ...? If they are trying to promote the Proms to an adult audience then surely showing how performers are venerated by the audience after the last piece, with performers taking their bows, is a significant part of the 'show'?

[Ein Heldenleben]

I am a little torn as this 'format' is clearly aimed at widening the audience for 'classical' music; and there is some sense of a change (perhaps not 'refreshing' to all ) in the overall profile of the Proms. I suppose that the conviction of producers that more of Clive Myrie et al will help this process. Was it the first night where the merriment in the pundits' box extended to a 'joke' (referencing the Morecambe & Wise-Previn Grieg PC sketch) about all the notes being played in the right order ...? If they are trying to promote the Proms to an adult audience then surely showing how performers are venerated by the audience after the last piece, with performers taking their bows, is a significant part of the 'show'?

Fact is that no matter how much you jazz up the presentation of classical music shows like this it won’t add much to the audience simply because presenters in general don’t drive the figures for this genre. It’s a completely different matter with TV chat shows where the presenter can be more important than the guests. I suspect using Radio 3 presenters is something of a cost saving ploy as they are likely to be paid considerably less per show than major BBC One talent like Clive Myrie.
I can see why they have guests on live Proms as there is a lot of time to fill between items . Even a brief film can often cost more than a couple of live guests but on the recorded Proms it’s obviously a decision to “liven “ things up with contributors.

[Pulcinella]

I am a little torn as this 'format' is clearly aimed at widening the audience for 'classical' music; and there is some sense of a change (perhaps not 'refreshing' to all ) in the overall profile of the Proms. I suppose that the conviction of producers that more of Clive Myrie et al will help this process. Was it the first night where the merriment in the pundits' box extended to a 'joke' (referencing the Morecambe & Wise-Previn Grieg PC sketch) about all the notes being played in the right order ...? If they are trying to promote the Proms to an adult audience then surely showing how performers are venerated by the audience after the last piece, with performers taking their bows, is a significant part of the 'show'?

Before long they'll be rushing on stage with them as they take the applause, asking the soloist/conductor how they're feeling.
It's bad enough when they do that to competitors at Leeds or Cardiff just as they leave the stage!

[LHC]

Before long they'll be rushing on stage with them as they take the applause, asking the soloist/conductor how they're feeling.
It's bad enough when they do that to competitors at Leeds or Cardiff just as they leave the stage!

They are almost there already. Clive Myrie grabbed Isata Kanneh Mason for an interview as she was coming off stage after her performance of Prokofiev's 3rd Piano Concerto.

[Petrushka]

They are almost there already. Clive Myrie grabbed Isata Kanneh Mason for an interview as she was coming off stage after her performance of Prokofiev's 3rd Piano Concerto.

I've a memory of BBC TV doing this a number of years ago but artists weren't happy and it got binned. They must need the performer's permission first, surely? It's still crass and insensitive though and brings to mind sticking a microphone into an athlete's face after a hard and gruelling race.

[kernelbogey]

... It's still crass and insensitive though and brings to mind sticking a microphone into an athlete's face after a hard and gruelling race.

Quite abusive, in fact.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I've a memory of BBC TV doing this a number of years ago but artists weren't happy and it got binned. They must need the performer's permission first, surely? It's still crass and insensitive though and brings to mind sticking a microphone into an athlete's face after a hard and gruelling race.

They would definitely ask permission and it’s very much in the artist’s commercial interests to agree to it - it may even be written into the broadcast contract .In the case of sports people esp, footballers they are often paid sums running into hundreds of pounds for these post match interviews. I don’t suppose musicians are but you can bet that their agents and record companies are desperate for them to do it. Its all about profile and even a small -ish BBC Four audience of 250,000 is the equivalent of 100 full concert halls.
Incidentally the promotional and marketing operation behind the Kanneh Masons is breathtaking in its slickness and effectiveness. They must be the most famous classical musical family in the world.

[smittims]

I deplore this sort of thing, but it does represent a lot of hard work on the part of 'Mr. Ten-per-cent'. I often think this of Helen Mirren's agent, whoever he/she is. Helen Mirren is an accomplished actor and I make no personal criticism of her, but I shall never watch her again because I am sick and tired of seeing her picture all over the place,

[Barbirollians]

I really enjoyed this concert - Klieser is a very fine horn player and it was a full blooded very enjoyable account of the symphony.