The First Night - a modest proposal

[PhilipT]

It's been a while since the Prommers dressed up for anything special other than Last Nights, Glyndebourne Proms and Viennese Nights, and I'd like to propose that we do so on the First Night. The second work is Brahms' "Academic Festival Overture" - how would it be if those of us who have taken degrees and held on to our gowns and hoods were to wear them, for that piece only?

I realise that not everyone will be able to participate - Lord Mersey, for example, studied at the Liverpool campus of the University of Life, where you don't so much get a gown as a thick skin - but the concert will be televised (on BBC2) and there should be enough of us to make it worthwhile.

Comments welcome.

[Lord Mersey]

PhilipT

I would sooner take my chances of surviving in Liverpool than in the Arena any day of the week!

Best wishes.

[kernelbogey]

Comments welcome.

Groan.

[Anna]

how would it be if those of us who have taken degrees and held on to our gowns and hoods were to wear them, for that piece only?
Comments welcome.

It would, if that Prom were indeed televised, make the Proms seem even more elitist and snobbish. In my opinion a thoroughly bad idea.

[Lord Mersey]

Calm down Calm down.

[PaulT]

A novel idea. I'm not sure what is elitist and snobbish about dressing up to match the style of a piece of music being played.

[Ravensbourne]

Be sure to join in at the end with a rousing chorus of "Gaudeamus Igitur".

[MrGongGong]

A novel idea. I'm not sure what is elitist and snobbish about dressing up to match the style of a piece of music being played.

shame they aren't playing ................The Rite of Spring
other suggestions ???

I do think the suggested attire is more than a little pompous (and its a dirge of a piece !)

[mercia]

dressing up to match the style of a piece of music being played.

so for Haydn's Symphony number 82 you could dress as .........................

[MrGongGong]

and for the Scythian Suite
some suggestions

Invocation of the sun............http://www.djmick.co.uk/images/2011/02/peta-2-1.jpg

Dance of the pagan monsters ........http://www.newsbiscuit.com/images/2002.jpg

Moon maidens.........http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLSLK3FmdG...ril%2B1949.jpg

etc

The opening of Haydn's Creation

http://ssy.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/clegg.jpg

[mercia]

Symphony 101

http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo/rights-managed/BE027234/women-dressed-in-clock-costumes/?ext=1

this is silly

[Nick Armstrong]

The second work is Brahms' "Academic Festival Overture" - how would it be if those of us who have taken degrees and held on to our gowns and hoods were to wear them, for that piece only?
...
Comments welcome.

May I equally modestly suggest that you stand with an apple on your head during Prom 2 and I'll bring my cross-bow?

[Mr Pee]

This is exactly the sort of thing that gives Prommers a bad name. I can't think if any thing more cringe inducing than seeing a lot of twits wearing their academic gowns in the arena.

[aeolium]

It'd probably become one of those "grand" Proms traditions

There's far too much dressing-up all round these days. You can't go to a cricket match without bumping into Batman, Robin and hosts of Vikings. And as for Glyndebourne....

[PhilipT]

This is exactly the sort of thing that gives Prommers a bad name. I can't think if any thing more cringe inducing than seeing a lot of twits wearing their academic gowns in the arena.

When we dressed in robes and coronets for Iolanthe in 2000 one of the BBC Singers came down to the amphi-corridor during the interval to thank us. Since you obviously know so much more about this than they do perhaps you could write to them and point out how wrong they were?