It Is 50 Years Ago Today Since ...?

[Petrushka]

...one of the most legendary Proms of all time.

Those present or listening at home are unlikely to forget it. It was, of course, that performance of Orff's Carmina Burana when Thomas Allen collapsed on stage and audience member, Patrick McCarthy, took his place.

I was listening at home and remember it as if it was yesterday. Were any Forumites in the hall?

[cloughie]

...one of the most legendary Proms of all time.

Those present or listening at home are unlikely to forget it. It was, of course, that performance of Orff's Carmina Burana when Thomas Allen collapsed on stage and audience member, Patrick McCarthy, took his place.

I was listening at home and remember it as if it was yesterday. Were any Forumites in the hall?

I remember it well (I saw it on TV) but I guess then I wore a younger man’s clothes. Whatever happened to the stand-in?

Answer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patric...thy_(conductor)

[Pulcinella]

Not there, but certainly remember it.
Was it also on TV? Live (as in REALLY live?) or am I dreaming that part?
And it didn't seem to take long (if at all) for the performance to keep going: did McCarthy not just walk on and assume the part, to everyone's (especially Previn's, I imagine) surprise?

[oliver sudden]

Wikipedia tells us:

McCarthy was in the audience when Thomas Allen (now Sir Thomas), the baritone soloist, fell ill during the performance, collapsing onto his chair and needing to be carried off by members of the orchestra. McCarthy went backstage and offered his services as a professional singer who was experienced with the piece. Given that the understudy for the part – a member of the choir – was, in fact, a doctor and therefore looking after Allen, his offer was accepted and McCarthy went onstage to complete the performance.^[2] He received a standing ovation.

[AuntDaisy]

Patrick McCarthy was a guest on Rainer Hersch's "All Classical Music Explained" part 1, Opera. At the end, the announcer (RH) was indisposed, so PM did the credits

[LMcD]

Patrick McCarthy was a guest on Rainer Hersch's "All Classical Music Explained" part 1, Opera. At the end, the announcer (RH) was indisposed, so PM did the credits

The concert was broadcast on BBC 1 at 10.35 p.m. on the 11th of August as part of that season's 'Omnibus At The Proms', introduced by Richard Baker, by which time a clip may well have already featured on news programmes.

[Petrushka]

The concert was broadcast a few days later as part of 'Omnibus At The Proms', introduced by Richard Baker.

Yes, it was broadcast on the following Sunday. Apparently, all concerned gave their agreement to the TV broadcast going ahead.

Incredible as it seems nowadays, the story generated a lot of interest including in the Sun newspaper.

[rauschwerk]

I worked with Patrick for a few years in my capacity as accompanist of Ipswich Bach Choir. He eventually had to give up conducting as his eyesight was deteriorating, which was very sad. The choir itself has recently disbanded after nearly 100 years.

[Padraig]

Was it only 50 years ago? Many thanks for the information about the occasion. I watched it happen on television too and all I remember is how I admired the fellow who sprang to the rescue. In my memory he leapt on to the stage, took instant control and brought proceedings to a thunderously successful conclusion.

I think I saw the soprano giving him some suspicious sideways looks, but changed her tune in due course.

[french frank]

Was it only 50 years ago?

I was thinking: FIfty years ago??? Impossible.

[cloughie]

Was it only 50 years ago? Many thanks for the information about the occasion. I watched it happen on television too and all I remember is how I admired the fellow who sprang to the rescue. In my memory he leapt on to the stage, took instant control and brought proceedings to a thunderously successful conclusion.

I think I saw the soprano giving him some suspicious sideways looks, but changed her tune in due course.

I think she managed to sing the right tune and particularly as AP was conducting got her notes in the right order!

[bluestateprommer]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csv27g

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3csv27g

[seabright]

I'm surprised no-one's yet uploaded the TV excerpt, somewhat edited by the BBC, of the incident described above ...

[seabright]

There's more ...

https://www.royalalberthall.com/about-the-hall/news/2014/august/how-i-saved-a-prom-patrick-mccarthys-famous-proms-rescue-of-7-august-1974/

And here is where that clip came from ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28CIDMwUXjw&t=84s

[french frank]

Thank you for posting those, Seabright. A fascinating story.