Proms 2024

**Darkbloom** · 28-05-24, 11:40

Originally posted by Petrushka View Post

I had a similar thought regarding organised touting and I'm 100% sure this would have been going on with some of these people using banks of computers to get hold of multiple tickets. Difficult to know how this can be prevented.

I've noticed that theatres try to stop block bookings like that by asking for ID on the day if someone has bought more than five tickets, especially if they are priced quite cheaply. They need to take some sort of action because I'm sure something squirrelly is going on and lots of these tickets are ending up on StubHub or something similar.

**parkepr** · 31-05-24, 09:53

Hi all,
Quick question.... It's been about 25 years since I last "prommed" for a prom.... Do you still queue to get your tickets or is it all online now?

**Pulcinella** · 18-06-24, 15:07

Five stars in today's Times for the Garsington production of Britten's A midsummer night's dream, heading for the Proms in September.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream review — a bewitching night of Britten

https://www.thetimes.com/article/e07ae90a-09c3-4778-a237-f275cac98747?shareToken=b06fc3eac256ee61bd3c1778c449e4a9

Garsington’s show, also bound for the Proms in September, bursts into life thanks to an outstanding British cast

**Retune** · 22-06-24, 23:21

Originally posted by parkepr View Post

Hi all,
Quick question.... It's been about 25 years since I last "prommed" for a prom.... Do you still queue to get your tickets or is it all online now?

You get your tickets online (mostly on the day). You only need to queue if you want to stand in a particular place (there is the usual competition for the front of the Arena)

BBC Radio 3 - BBC Proms - What is Promming?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3598F306c3KnN6t3x6ThKpN/what-is-promming

Information about how to 'Prom' at the Royal Albert

**parkepr** · 24-06-24, 15:07

Originally posted by Retune View Post

You get your tickets online (mostly on the day). You only need to queue if you want to stand in a particular place (there is the usual competition for the front of the Arena)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/art...at-is-promming

Thanks Retune.
The only Prom I couldn't get tickets for was the Doctor Who Prom.. (all others I've got seats) My daughter and I are fans of the good Doctor... I see I need to order my promming tickets the day before (I'm guessing as it's a "special" Prom) and just turn up on the day if we're not fussed where we are in the arena, but if we want near the front (the mosh pit , my daughter says!!) then we'll need to turn up early doors and get a queue placement ticket from door 12 at 9am.

**alywin** · 02-07-24, 00:00

I may have suggested this before, but would it be possible to have a "cast change" and "programme change" thread to update any changes to performers and what is performed? I don't tend to follow all the individual prom threads, so may miss information if it's only posted in the prom-specific thread.

**frankbridge** · 18-07-24, 07:54

I too have a 92 mug from the Proms, and it adorns my shelves as I write: I wouldn'd dare actually use it for my morning coffee as it would be too much of a risk of brokerage! As for the Proms as a whole, one or two good things among a lot of dross, but I suppose all good things come to an end. 30 years ago I would sleep out for the Last of the Night of the Proms at the Albert Hall, but no longer!

**smittims** · 18-07-24, 12:48

When I first looked through the list of this year's Proms I skipped over the non-classical ones automatically, but looking again I see that several of them do involve symphony orchestras. I may be pessimistic but this makes me uneasy. Is this the future the BBC have in mind for their house orchestras, and their 'classical' broadcasts? I suppose they count these as 'classical' concerts in their (now surely outdated) claim about the Proms being the world's greatest festival.

**Serial_Apologist** · 18-07-24, 13:16

Originally posted by smittims View Post

When I first looked through the list of this year's Proms I skipped over the non-classical ones automatically, but looking again I see that several of them do involve symphony orchestras. I may be pessimistic but this makes me uneasy. Is this the future the BBC have in mind for their house orchestras, and their 'classical' broadcasts? I suppose they count these as 'classical' concerts in their (now surely outdated) claim about the Proms being the world's greatest festival.

One can only feel for the professional musicians who effectively are forced to do such gigs to earn some bread. What a kick in the teeth to all their training.

**vinteuil** · 18-07-24, 13:44

... my reaction to the Proms is the same as that of Ernest Thesiger when he found himself in France in the Great War -

"Oh, my dear! The noise! And the people!"

**LHC** · 18-07-24, 13:50

Originally posted by Serial_Apologist View Post

One can only feel for the professional musicians who effectively are forced to do such gigs to earn some bread. What a kick in the teeth to all their training.

I think that this would only be a 'kick in the teeth' for the musicians if this was all they were required to do, but I believe most of these concerts will be with the BBC Concert Orchestra, which has always had a remit to perform a wider repertoire, including playing light and contemporary music and soundtracks.

The BBC Symphony Orchestra spend most of the year performing classical repertoire, so the odd pop concert at the Proms shouldn't really be too much of an issue for them.

Although the LSO won't be playing any pop concerts at the Proms, they manage to combine their usual classical concerts with many other diverse events. Most recently, they brought an old Simpsons joke to life by supporting the Hip Hop group Cypress Hill at the RAH, and they have recorded the soundtracks for over 300 films since the 1930s, so it would appear they really don't mind playing the odd non-classical gig, especially if it pays well.

I personally don't like the increasing number of pop concerts at the Proms, and I hate the way the BBC always prioritise these in their TV broadcasts and in their promotional material for the Proms (Katie Derham is always reported to be 'excited' to see Sam Smith or some other pop star performing at the Proms). The usual justification that these are used as a way of introducing new audiences to the Proms also strikes me as completely dishonest, and I don't think that the Proms, as a festival of classical music should be giving so much air time to non-classical music. But while I think these concerts are a 'kick in the teeth' for the profile of classical music at the BBC, I think it is unlikely to be that much of an issue for the orchestral players themselves.

**Paulie55** · 20-07-24, 08:27

Letter in this week's edition of Radio Times congratulating The Beeb for programming more pop, rock and jazz concerts, in favour of "long boring symphonies" by Bruckner, Mahler and Schubert.
The writer looks forward to more popular events and less "classical" stuff. Seems the programmers are succeeding in dumbing down or am I just being a snob? Comments please.

Originally posted by Ein Heldenleben View Post

Well he did record a piano tango album. Is Disco musically inferior to tango?
I don’t think so - if anything it’s more harmonically inventive though it’s a very broad church.

As Simon B points out some intriguing blockbusters and excellent touring orchestras.
I’m not looking forward to the rock proms with orchestral arrangements . Those arrangements hardly ever work. Only a genius like George Martin really knew how to use strings in pop and rock - sparingly and for a particular effect. It dumbs down both classical and rock.
Now Petroc is playing a Nick Drake track as (yet another ) proms plug, I give up. Real bedsit and Nescafé stuff…
Why is the BBC wasting licence fee payers money on readily available
undemanding mass marketed pop on a channel that’s for classical music?

Why is the multi millionaire Sam Smith being given one penny of the tiny in relative terms Radio 3 budget ? I’d honestly rather they gave it to a group of school kids learning the piano.

**oddoneout** · 20-07-24, 08:35

Originally posted by Paulie55 View Post

Letter in this week's edition of Radio Times congratulating The Beeb for programming more pop, rock and jazz concerts, in favour of "long boring symphonies" by Bruckner, Mahler and Schubert.
The writer looks forward to more popular events and less "classical" stuff. Seems the programmers are succeeding in dumbing down or am I just being a snob? Comments please.

Some here.

Radio Times letter… - The Radio 3 Forum

https://www.for3.org/forums/forum/classical-forum/talking-about-music/1312505-radio-times-letter%E2%80%A6

Here’s a letter in the new Radio Times… ’Im really pleased to see that there are plenty of BBC Proms celebrating disco, jazz, folk and pop music. It is high time that the Proms moved away from evening after evening of long, tedious symphonies by composers such as Mahler, Bruckner and Brahms. Hopefully, the “intellectual”

**LMcD** · 26-07-24, 09:18

I've only watched/listened to one Prom so far (SME and the Halle), but the combination of the BBCSSO - which I've long rated as the best of the Corporation's orchestras - and Elgar's 2nd Symphony means that I need look no further for an alternative to the Olympics Opening Ceremony.

**Philidor** · 27-07-24, 09:17

I’ve purchased fewer tickets than ever this year - only going to 2 proms - in protest at the relentless dumbing down. Why on earth do we need a “disco” prom and one dedicated to an obscure English folk/rock songwriter? I despair about the widening chasm between what could be and this dismal trend.