Proms 2024

[Serial_Apologist]

unless the extract is very short, and used for academic purposes, or something similar

I really can't imagine anything now being broadcast on Radio 3 will ever be used "for academic purposes".

[smittims]

Well, I don't know. In an age when riding BMX bikes is an Olympic event and students can get degrees from watching Australia soaps and sitcoms , anything is possible.

[Pulcinella]

I really can't imagine anything now being broadcast on Radio 3 will ever be used "for academic purposes".

I'm sure that the music itself will still be studied one way or another, but I also suspect that, should universities be able to continue their Media Studies courses, there will be fairly rich pickings for research into the sad decline of Radio 3.

[french frank]

Some of those hoping to attend the cancelled concerts have also paid for wasted journeys and non-refundable bookings for hotel rooms.

But the relevant point on a Proms thread is shelling out £500 for one pop concert. Paying that amount for seats at the ROH shows how elitist opera is. Is it still a fiver to prom?

[Master Jacques]

I really can't imagine anything now being broadcast on Radio 3 will ever be used "for academic purposes".

Ha! Though for much of the day it is only academically a music channel.

[LMcD]

But the relevant point on a Proms thread is shelling out £500 for one pop concert. Paying that amount for seats at the ROH shows how elitist opera is. Is it still a fiver to prom?

I believe the price has been held at £8

[Simon B]

Re the CBSO and the context of references above to John Williams (being a living composer with commercial value to his output orders of magnitude greater than most other orchestral music):

There was a CBSO concert of his music form Star Wars in Birmingham last night*. The programme contained:

"We are very happy for you to take photographs and short video clips at our concerts..."

The general policy is now:

"Phones and tablets may be used during CBSO performances to read digital programme notes and to take photographs and short video clips. We ask that you are mindful of disturbing artists and other audience members..."

What this doesn't contain is exhortations to upload these and tag the CBSO on X which I have a (possibly faulty) recollection were made at one stage.

Not being an expert in this rather murky area of law, I make no comment about the legal implications. Presumably they have lawyers who do.

What I can say is that there is a massive internal contradiction in "being mindful of disturbing... other audience members". The intense urge to permanently reconfigure the phone of anyone using it in any way during the music into a million tiny fragments with a large hammer and considerable violence is both unavoidable and destructively disturbing...

Don't get me started on what Emma Stenning has been up to since she took charge of the CBSO. I'm not old enough to be a grumpy old man yet. It's certainly tempting to give it a go though.

The CBSO has big problems: A seemingly permanent dramatic loss of audience since Covid combining with a major financial black hole exacerbated by the bankruptcy of Birmingham City Council and their consequent total withdrawal of all arts funding. However, peeing off a big chunk of the remaining core audience doesn't seem like the best start to addressing any of that...

*The first sold out CBSO concert I've seen in some years. The pulling power of this skillful pastiche of Walton/Holst/Shostakovich/Korngold/etc remains undimmed.

[french frank]

Re the CBSO and the context of references above to John Williams (being a living composer with commercial value to his output orders of magnitude greater than most other orchestral music):

There was a CBSO concert of his music form Star Wars in Birmingham last night*.

Who would object to phones being used at a John Williams concert [rhetorical]? Surely a case for considering the nature of the concert?

[hmvman]

Who would object to phones being used at a John Williams concert [rhetorical]? Surely a case for considering the nature of the concert?

That would be getting on dangerous ground . Who would decide which concerts were acceptable for phone use and which not?

[Simon B]

Who would object to phones being used at a John Williams concert [rhetorical]? Surely a case for considering the nature of the concert?

On the distraction issue I tend to agree, at least to the extent of making allowances for a different audience context. Personally I still find it distracting but accept the need to just let that pass.

However, the context I was responding to was that around copyright, performing rights etc in which others had cited J Williams as an example. The reasoning being obvious: The financial value (and the teams of lawyers protecting it) of this stuff is inordinately greater than e.g. Britten.

[Dave2002]

I now have a Proms Planner set up - but what do I do next? Is there a discussion on this round here?

I've not done this for several years. In the early years of the Proms Planner getting tickets was a real pain, with hours spent on phones - possibly multiple phones with different people trying to connect.

I gather this may have now improved.

Does one now need to use a so-called smart phone to do the call - in which case is there an app which has to be downloaded in advance?
How is one's planner file linked to the final request?

With less than a day to go now, it would be useful to know.

[Dave2002]

I now have a Proms Planner set up - but what do I do next? Is there a discussion on this round here?

I've not done this for several years. In the early years of the Proms Planner getting tickets was a real pain, with hours spent on phones - possibly multiple phones with different people trying to connect.

I gather this may have now improved.

Does one now need to use a so-called smart phone to do the call - in which case is there an app which has to be downloaded in advance?
How is one's planner file linked to the final request?

With less than a day to go now, it would be useful to know.

Not sure why that post went on page one - is/was that the latest post - up to now?

Here is some more information, though it looks as though tomorrow morning might be stressful - yet again -

https://www.royalalberthall.com/plan-your-visit-essential-safety-information/bbc-proms-faqs/

[kernelbogey]

I will be booking seats for some Proms.

I am also interested to know if there are still those few seats at the back of the Arena - I wouldn't be able to stand for a whole Prom - for which, when queuing in days of yore, I recall you could ask a steward for a 'pass' for one of them.

Any information on the latter would be helpful.

[duncan]

I will be booking seats for some Proms.

I am also interested to know if there are still those few seats at the back of the Arena - I wouldn't be able to stand for a whole Prom - for which, when queuing in days of yore, I recall you could ask a steward for a 'pass' for one of them.

Any information on the latter would be helpful.

Last year the seats at the back and sides of The Arena could be booked when you bought your arena tickets online the morning of the concert (usually at 10.30am). There was no need to ask a steward, indeed if you didn't book online those seats were often occupied by someone who had.

This year's Proms FAQs on the RAH website say:

Do you offer accessible Day Proming tickets?

When you book you will be able to choose standing in the Arena or Gallery. There will also be limited (subject to availability) seating available in the Arena, Gallery and the Choir or Front Circle.

Where will my day proming seats be?

"You will be able to choose from either standing tickets in the Arena, seats in the Choir or on very few occasions seats in the Rear Rausing Circle. These seats will replace the seat reservation cards from previous years. If you feel unable to stand for the duration of the concert, please book one of these seats online. The seats in the Choir or Rear Rausing Circle are allocated at the point of booking".


The first suggests there will be seats subject to availability in the Arena (similar to your past experiences).

The second suggests there will be no opportunity to sit in the Arena and those wishing to sit for some of the concert should use the choir.

Confused? Me too!

[Dave2002]

This is "fun" - maybe not! Started at over 22000 in the queue. Now down to 21000. That's taken 13 mins according to my computer clock. Now down to 16000 after 28 minutes.

Looks like a tad more than 4.6 minutes per 1000 positions in the queue, so I should now come back in an hour 10 minutess from now - total time estimated to be 1 hour 40 mins from the 9am start.

Is that going to be expensive for anyone in a similar position using a mobile phone as a smartphone connected to a public network?