Proms 2012 - pre-launch speculations

[Guest]

It seems that Barenboim and his East-West Divan orchestra will present a complete Beethoven cycle in next year's Proms, ending with the Ninth symphony on the opening night of the Olympics.

See this article in the Arts Journal.

[amateur51]

It seems that Barenboim and his East-West Divan orchestra will present a complete Beethoven cycle in next year's Proms, ending with the Ninth symphony on the opening night of the Olympics.

See this article in the Arts Journal.

It's The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra

Easy to remember as WEDO

[vinteuil]

... and for those of us who remember our Goethe -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West-östlicher_Diwan

[David Underdown]

Well the report is from Lebrecht... Haven't found any other source for it, so it seems to be a bit of an odd announcement. Not mentioned in the BBC press release celebrating this year's record season (again) http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pre...09/proms.shtml

[BudgieJane]

It's The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra

Don't shoot the messenger.

Well the report is from Lebrecht... Haven't found any other source for it, so it seems to be a bit of an odd announcement. Not mentioned in the BBC press release celebrating this year's record season (again) http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pre...09/proms.shtml

He'd better be right, or he'll lose what little credibility he has left.

[Al R Gando]

Well the report is from Lebrecht... Haven't found any other source for it, so it seems to be a bit of an odd announcement. Not mentioned in the BBC press release celebrating this year's record season (again) http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pre...09/proms.shtml

It's most probably an "official leak", timed to damp-down the tinder after the IPO incident. Although it may indeed come from the man who claimed Classical Music Is Dead, I doubt that even Lebrecht would purvey such a tale if he didn't have a very good source. And he is, after all an R3 Insider who has the Controller's ear.

I hope the 2012 Proms will manage to cut loose from the national obsession with stick-throwers and egg-and-spoon-racers during next year. Cultural Olympiad? There were 'avin' a larf, eh?

[BudgieJane]

I hope the 2012 Proms will manage to cut loose from the national obsession with stick-throwers and egg-and-spoon-racers during next year. Cultural Olympiad? There were 'avin' a larf, eh?

Yes, and the worst part of it is that it is at our expense.

[DreamTheater]

Proms 2012

Does anyone know the date of the opening night of the 2012 Proms, I'm guessing July 13th or 20th?
Thanks

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I don't know what all the speculation is about next year's Proms.

Surely you realise by now that the whole season will be concerts of short pieces. The following is a rough guide:-

The Lark Ascending once a week,
Several individual movements from classical and baroque works every day.
Any work or single movement of more than 15 minutes will be abridged or played very quickly
Audience members will be allowed mobile phones to allw them to text in to say how much they liked it.
Soloists will be replaced by chat-hosts and embarrassingly gushing special guests.
Large "clap" notices will be raised at the the end of every movement. (Oh no, that's silly; they won't be playing more than one movement of anythng.)
Jonathan Ross will return to the BBC to co-host the Ptoms with Chris Evans.
The final two weeks will be different - a dawn-till-dusk Telemann-fest - his complete works.

[Al R Gando]

The story about the Barenboim West-East Beethovens now seems to be an open secret:

The Independent

[Osborn]

That is a considerable coup for Roger Wright! DB & the WEDO have performed the LvB cycle in the Far East, South America, Germany & maybe elsewhere, always to great acclaim. It's sure to be a splendid series, crackling with energy, amply rehearsed & their maestro & mentor is sure to make fearsome demands of them.

(Budgie - I'm surprised there aren't more replies; people seem to be busy moaning that new programmes that aren't yet on air are dumbed down...)

(EA - a pretty dumbed down post coming from a Host isn't it - ignoring #1 entirely?)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

(EA - a pretty dumbed down post coming from a Host isn't it - ignoring #1 entirely?)

Come, now. Being a Host doesn't mean we can't share in the odd bit of humour, or even satire.

[bluestateprommer]

So, besides Barenboim and his "orchestra against ignorance" with a Beethoven cycle (let's hope the security is really good for all of them, and indeed all around), to summarize past rumors from the earlier thread, we may also expect at next year's Proms:
1. Berlioz: Les Troyens (ROH & Pappano)
2. Ulster Orchestra with JoAnn Falletta (her first appearance as their new principal conductor)
3. BBC NOW, Thierry Fischer:
(a) Walton - Belshazzar's Feast, Elgar - The Music Makers
(b) Berlioz: Grande Messe des Morts
4. Visit by the Labeque sisters

[David Underdown]

Gurrelieder has also been tipped

[Ventilhorn]

So, besides Barenboim and his "orchestra against ignorance" with a Beethoven cycle (let's hope the security is really good for all of them, and indeed all around), to summarize past rumors from the earlier thread, we may also expect at next year's Proms:
4. Visit by the Labeque sisters

I can't wait!

VH