Prom 73: The Last Night, BBC SO / BBC SC / BBC Singers, Blue / Hough / Oramo

[Darkbloom]

On the subject of over-exposure, Charles Hazelwood doesn't seem nearly as ubiquitous as he used to be. At one point, it seemed as though everything that involved classical music on TV had to have a Hazelwood angle. He's still around but not nearly so much. For this relief, much thanks.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

On the subject of over-exposure, Charles Hazelwood doesn't seem nearly as ubiquitous as he used to be. At one point, it seemed as though everything that involved classical music on TV had to have a Hazelwood angle. He's still around but not nearly so much. For this relief, much thanks.

Yes, maybe, but we have Mr Service to replace him.

[Ein Heldenleben]

On the subject of over-exposure, Charles Hazelwood doesn't seem nearly as ubiquitous as he used to be. At one point, it seemed as though everything that involved classical music on TV had to have a Hazelwood angle. He's still around but not nearly so much. For this relief, much thanks.

Funnily enough I would have to beg to differ. In my view he is the very model of what public figure should be. An excellent presenter , educationalist and as conductor of the Paraorchestra making a hugely important contribution to both music and disability in an industry where any “weakness” or frailty is usually seized on as an excuse for outplacement. Good luck to him.

[jonfan]

Funnily enough I would have to beg to differ. In my view he is the very model of what public figure should be. An excellent presenter , educationalist and as conductor of the Paraorchestra making a hugely important contribution to both music and disability in an industry where any “weakness” or frailty is usually seized on as an excuse for outplacement. Good luck to him.

His intros were always stimulating but I never felt talked down to.

[Petrushka]

Funnily enough I would have to beg to differ. In my view he is the very model of what public figure should be. An excellent presenter , educationalist and as conductor of the Paraorchestra making a hugely important contribution to both music and disability in an industry where any “weakness” or frailty is usually seized on as an excuse for outplacement. Good luck to him.

Agree about CH. I never found him as ubiquitous as Anna Lapwood, who, talented musician as she undoubtedly is, pops up everywhere. Her Facebook page comes on to my own feed with details of her organ recitals here, there and everywhere. Goodness knows how much time she can devote to her choir. She'll burn herself out if she's not careful.

[oddoneout]

Interesting that an otherwise enthusiastic review picks up on the waiting times with considerably less enthusiasm.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/sep/15/last-night-of-the-proms-review-royal-albert-hall-london

[Master Jacques]

She absolutely stormed the Zarzuela- looking and sounding really comfortable .

Indeed so. Both she and Elīna Garanča have been singing this particularly juicy solo from Chapí's Las hijas del Zebedeo (which is otherwise a pretty obscure work, certainly nowhere near the composer's Top Twenty) with great success for many years, though to be honest neither of them quite match Victoria de los Angeles's warm wit or Teresa Berganza's sheer beauty in performing it.

[duncan]

The Schoenberg piano concerto is 20 mins long .

This did make me smile! A greater chance of finding life on Mars...

I've been Promming for nearly 40 years and used to be intensely frustrated how the final evening had mutated into something entirely separate from the rest of the festival. I've more or less made peace with the unique/bizarre nature of the event and have long since stopped judging it as a concert.

A family member was keen to attend and would enjoy themselves more if I accompanied them so this was my first Last Night in the hall for close to twenty years. The stops and starts were frustrating, the delay before Angel Blue's first number was so extended I was concerned that something had gone wrong. Hough's fantasia on Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious was entertaining. I still find the flag waving somewhat disturbing. My biggest disappointment of the evening was finding my vocal range has diminished to the point where I can no longer hit the high notes in Jerusalem which is the only piece I feel I can join in with.

[Prommer]

My biggest disappointment of the evening was finding my vocal range has diminished to the point where I can no longer hit the high notes in Jerusalem which is the only piece I feel I can join in with.

Oh dear me... I hope your family member enjoyed it and joined in properly!

[Prommer]

Part of the blame for the programming must fall to David Pickard, who has always struck me as a bit of a plodder.

But he is off now, so sad, do come again when you can't stay so long - next!!

[Ein Heldenleben]

This did make me smile! A greater chance of finding life on Mars...

I've been Promming for nearly 40 years and used to be intensely frustrated how the final evening had mutated into something entirely separate from the rest of the festival. I've more or less made peace with the unique/bizarre nature of the event and have long since stopped judging it as a concert.

A family member was keen to attend and would enjoy themselves more if I accompanied them so this was my first Last Night in the hall for close to twenty years. The stops and starts were frustrating, the delay before Angel Blue's first number was so extended I was concerned that something had gone wrong. Hough's fantasia on Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious was entertaining. I still find the flag waving somewhat disturbing. My biggest disappointment of the evening was finding my vocal range has diminished to the point where I can no longer hit the high notes in Jerusalem which is the only piece I feel I can join in with.

Well the Schoenberg is on tonight rather in the manner of the man who forgets to book the Ritz for the anniversary lunch and buys his wife some garage roses instead. But given the performer is Pierre Laurent Aimard at the Edinburgh Festival perhaps the Ritz has found a late table ?

on the Jerusalem singing front you could try going down an octave “and was Jerusalem etc “ then it’s a question of whether you can nail that low D . I definitely can’t ….

[french frank]

But he is off now, so sad, do come again when you can't stay so long - next!!

Isn't Sam Jackson taking over now?

[cloughie]

My biggest disappointment of the evening was finding my vocal range has diminished to the point where I can no longer hit the high notes in Jerusalem which is the only piece I feel I can join in with.

It certainly challenges my T2/B1 range - Pitched for top tenors and the WI methinks!

[Ein Heldenleben]

It certainly challenges my T2/B1 range - Pitched for top tenors and the WI methinks!

It’s only a top E Cloughie .I thought even baritones could usually manage an F.

I did notice that the final Bflat of the Humming Chorus sounded as if a few tenors were absent on parade …..fair enough. Singing that pp …no thanks.

maybe best left to opera choruses who have no difficulty ?

or was it a mic placement problem..?

[LMcD]

Isn't Sam Jackson taking over now?

'Recruitment starts in the New Year'