Breakfast TV Previews the Proms

[Guest]

This morning's BBC Breakfast previewed The Proms with Roger and Katie. We could have been forgiven for thinking it was a Light Music Festival - from last year we saw Sondheim and Judi Dench, the John Wilson Orchestra and the Last Night inc Proms in the Park. Finally got to real Classical stuff with Lang Lang, but largely to trail the fact that he was being taken from the Park to the RAH in a golf buggy to take part in both. No real mention of any serious content such as Havergal Brian or even Beethoven, Mahler, Mozart or anyone else really. Dumbing Down???????? Not even what was on the First Night!

[Mary Chambers]

I noticed the lack of serious content too - almost as if they daren't mention it. To be fair, they did have Benjamin Grosvenor on the other day, talking about his first night appearance, among other things. They kept asking him what his 'thought processes' were.

[maestro267]

It's always the case that they highlight the 'borderline classical' concerts over the 'serious art music' concerts at the Proms. The jazz, world music, musicals, etc.

Surely The World's Greatest Classical Music Festival should do their bit in promoting and highlighting Havergal Brian, Mahler, Beethoven, in addition to the 'borderline classical' concerts.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

I fear RW's legacy will be to have turned the whole thing into a feast of easy listening for those incapable of anything more demanding.

As for any intelligent and/or independent-minded comment from the BBC Breakfast sofa, forget it.

[Ferretfancy]

Although I used to work for them, I think that BBC TV has been the curse of the Proms. Presenting classical music on television has always been very difficult, because there has never been a visual grammar developed for doing it. A concert recorded now will look much the same, and use techniques that were pioneered forty years ago or more.
This leads producers and directors to select events which can be perked up by star interviews, inane chatter and ill informed comment, all in the interest of removing anything that represents a challenge.
Meanwhile the loyal concert audience are used as extras and encouraged to play up to the cameras. I sometimes feel ashamed of the organisation which pays for my pension.

[Hilaryjane]

I imagine that the BBC would say that regular breakfast TV viewers, who are likely to simply glance at the TV whilst eating their cornflakes and toast before going to work, would find that "serious" classical music would be too boring a subject to be discussed on the breakfast TV sofa. A very sad reflection on how the BBC treats classical music on TV

[Hitch]

I imagine that the BBC would say that regular breakfast TV viewers, who are likely to simply glance at the TV whilst eating their cornflakes and toast before going to work, would find that "serious" classical music would be too boring a subject to be discussed on the breakfast TV sofa. A very sad reflection on how the BBC treats classical music on TV

There is currently just one entry under "Classical Music" on iPlayer. I don't know if this dearth is due to budgetary constraints (celebrity presenters must have their seven-figure salaries, you understand) but surely it would be possible for the Beeb to show some of its immense archive? Even a re-run of "My Music" would be better than nothing.

[somename]

Should the Proms even have as much TV coverage as they do? I find classical music on TV a bit pointless since the constantly changing cameras are very distracting from the music and at concerts I often have my eyes closed anyway. I honestly do not know what I would do about the Proms on TV if I was in charge, but it would save a lot of money if they just showed the first and last night.
I did think however the live programme notes via the red button they did a few years ago were fantastic for beginners, that really engaged someone like me getting to grips with classical music. Telling people what was happening so they don't get "lost" in huge pieces was a great idea. But then they got rid of this, sadly. Perhaps because "Push the red button" seems to have died a death because most of it was gimmicky rubbish, but more likely because it was difficult to sync and having minor celebs just spout bits of programme notes presented as spontaneous post-performance opinion was a lot easier.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

...the constantly changing cameras are very distracting from the music and at concerts I often have my eyes closed anyway.

Unfortunately for the performers, that isn't really an option, although when that blasted boom camera gets in the way, you might as well have your eyes closed anyway.

[Mary Chambers]

I'm in favour of the television coverage. I go to live concerts whenever I can, love watching the orchestra and singers even if the camera work isn't always just what you'd wish. It's the nearest thing to being there.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I too general appreciate the television broadcasts. It's the the nausiating, patronising a and soporific interval chats with "special guests" (many of whom lack the skills for intelligent interviews) that drag down otherwise worthwhile concerts.

[Chunter]

Perhaps because "Push the red button" seems to have died a death

Not so - in yesterday's broadcast it was linked to something called 'Maestro cam'.

[Colonel Danby]

The fact is that the BBC is scared of appearing in any way elitist in their presentation of classical music, and go for the easy option of pandering to the lowest common denominator, and have so called "celebrities" spouting senseless rubbish rather than credited musicial specialists. The result is appalling nonsense.

[Word]

The fact is that the BBC is scared of appearing in any way elitist in their presentation of classical music, and go for the easy option of pandering to the lowest common denominator, and have so called "celebrities" spouting senseless rubbish rather than credited musicial specialists. The result is appalling nonsense.

That may have been the case in the past but it certainly wasn't with yesterday's First Night broadcast; we heard from Benjamin Grosvenor, Jiří Bělohlávek and the organist David Goode, and, in my opinion, the tone of the whole broadcast was very well judged.

[salymap]

But what have they done to the RAH? It is now in [in]glorious technicolour with blue skies and clouds overhead and purple and orange bits everywhere. I much prefer the dirty browns and red seats of the old days. Not so distracting on TV.