The 2012 Proms season

[bluestateprommer]

Great post from bluestateprommer, though seems to suggest he/she's not coming over this year?

Emphasis added by me, obviously :) . For pilamenon, in all likelihood, I won't be traversing Big Pond East for The Proms this year; thanks for inquiring. 2 summers in a row was probably quite enough for me, the last 2 summers in question. Also, hopefully security will hold up well for everything there this big year, Olympics, Proms, the lot. In addition, my new job won't allow the relatively long-ish time off that I'd need to get over and really make a holiday of it.

For SC (#121), agreed with you about Rudolf Escher, as he merits wider exposure. However, I'm not sure how much play he gets in The Netherlands now, never mind anywhere else. I think something like Musique pour l'esprit en deuil would definitely go well at the RAH, very Mahlerian in its intensity. That would be the work with which to break the ice and introduce Escher to Proms audiences, IMHO.

For ucste (#123), for something like Wallace & Gromit, I don't think that W&G would be done every year. But you always have to have family-orientated Proms, and as I wrote earlier, I'm surprised that it took so long to have a W&G Prom. They deserve it. Regarding Hollywood and Broadway-styled Proms, I suspect that as long as John Wilson can keep his mojo going, he and his band will have a place there. One day, perhaps, they'll become "old hat", as do most of us eventually, but until that day comes, I'm sure they'll milk it for all they can.

I'm sure we are going to get a "Fantasy Proms" thread soon from those who are always unhappy .................

For MGG, actually, as someone who's OK with this season's schedule overall, I actually have an idea for a "Fantasy Proms" thread churning in the back of my head ;) . I'm still mentally mapping out the ground rules as to how it will be done (and trust me, the rules and guidelines are going to be exceedingly complicated, I can see), with forum members' participation, of course. If and when I get to starting it, that will obviously have to wait. Stay tuned....

[chrisjstanley]

Oh WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cameron Carpenter for a glorious Bach weekend in September.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo4Y-W1ur1c&feature=related

bws
Chris S

[Rosie55]

It is a real shame that no major Hoddinott has been heard at the Proms since 2004 when David Childs premiered the composer's very well received Euphonium Concerto : The Sunne Rising - The King will Ride. Why doesn't RW programme Hoddinott's 60th birthday Proms commission 'Star Children' which is available on CD and is a fantastic piece - exhilarating orchestration and moments of real atmosphere from one the the UK's most resourceful orchestral composers of the past 50 years

Yes I'd forgotten to mention Coleridge-Taylor yesterday, how was Hiawatha missed? Plus the beautiful Violin Concerto and the once popular Petite Suite de Concert. Though R3 likes anniversaries RW is very selective with them, if your an 'in' composer you'll get plenty of exposure, bit if not, you may get a token if your lucky, or be ignored. As I mentioned Daniel Jones has suffered too this year in his centenary year. You'd have though that the BBC NOW would have included something by him in their proms, I wonder if the conductor or RW put a block on it. I dont think RW is much of a fan of certain Welsh composers as both Jones and Hoddinott have virtually disappeared off the radar under his regime and Mathias has been largely reduced to short accessible works.

[Suffolkcoastal]

It is a real shame that no major Hoddinott has been heard at the Proms since 2004 when David Childs premiered the composer's very well received Euphonium Concerto : The Sunne Rising - The King will Ride. Why doesn't RW programme Hoddinott's 60th birthday Proms commission 'Star Children' which is available on CD and is a fantastic piece - exhilarating orchestration and moments of real atmosphere from one the the UK's most resourceful orchestral composers of the past 50 years

I agree entirely about Hoddinott, a composer I've come to admire greatly in recent years. 2004 was the last time any of the Welsh Trio had any works played at the Proms. I would love for RW to explain in detail why he seems to have problems with certain composers and why they have been sidelined under his regime. As I mentioned earlier, the proms is the ideal stage to introduce the unfamiliar with the familiar, sadly this opportunity has been taken less and less in recent years.

[Colonel Danby]

I had to get my details of the Proms this year (which includes soloists and conducters) from the unofficial Radio Three site (thanks French Frank) as the usual BBC place was even more useless than ever. When I tried to access the day to day concert listing, I was told that there was an error in my typing and should try again.

Classics for beginners indeed.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Having been through this year's list in fine detail, I must say I'm much happier than I was this time last year.
Credit where credit's due.

[Vile Consort]

Oh WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cameron Carpenter for a glorious Bach weekend in September.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo4Y-W1ur1c&feature=related

bws
Chris S

His interpretations of JSB are legendary - but for all the wrong reasons.

[amateur51]

Having been through this year's list in fine detail, I must say I'm much happier than I was this time last year.
Credit where credit's due.

Nowt wrong with a bit of reflection, EA!

[amateur51]

His interpretations of JSB are legendary - but for all the wrong reasons.

Just give yourself up to admiration of his spangly tops

I only know of Cameron Carpenter in 'showoff' mode which I enjoy enormously.

Does he ever do 'straight'?

[Vile Consort]

Just give yourself up to admiration of his spangly tops

I only know of Cameron Carpenter in 'showoff' mode which I enjoy enormously.

Does he ever do 'straight'?

I don't mind him showing off, I just wish he wouldn't play the organ whilst doing it.

[bluestateprommer]

Just for amusement, took a look at the RAH's website regarding sales so far for the 2012 Proms. 28 (!) concerts are listed as sold out. So as of this writing, these Proms are ausverkauft/uitverkocht:

Prom 1: The First Night
Prom 2: My Fair Lady
PCM 1: Alice Coote & Julius Drake
Prom 6: BBC SO/JB/Kirill Gerstein
Prom 9: Beethoven/Boulez/WEDO 1
PSM 1: JSB, The Art of the Fugue
Prom 10: Beethoven/Boulez/WEDO 2
Prom 12: Beethoven/Boulez/WEDO 3
Prom 13: Beethoven/Boulez/WEDO 4
Prom 18: Beethoven 9, WEDO/Barenboim
Prom 20: Wallace & Gromit
Prom 23: RVW/Delius/Walton, BBC NOW/Otaka
Prom 26: JSB, Mass in b
PCM 4: Debussy/Ravel
Prom 39: Berlioz, Requiem, BBC NOW/Fischer
PCM 5: Nicola Benedetti & friends
Prom 43: RPO/Dutoit/Grosvenor
Prom 45: Sao Paulo SO/Alsop
Prom 59: The Broadway Sound
Prom 60: The Marriage of Figaro
Prom 63: BPO/Rattle 1
Prom 64: BPO/Rattle 2
PCM 8: Debussy, Pierre-Laurent Aimard
Prom 70: Desert Island Discs 70th Anniversary
Prom 71: Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra/Robertson/Tetzlaff
Prom 73: VPO/Haitink 1
Prom 75: VPO/Haitink 2
Prom 76: The Last Night

Feel free to find patterns - if any :) .

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Proms 45 & 71? These do surprise me. I recall a prom some 12 years ago with Ashkenazy and the Czech PO, playing to a RAH with 1/3 of the seats unoccupied.

[Resurrection Man]

Proms 45 & 71? These do surprise me. I recall a prom some 12 years ago with Ashkenazy and the Czech PO, playing to a RAH with 1/3 of the seats unoccupied.

Maybe they all think that Dudamel is the conductor of Sao Paulo ?

[Petrushka]

Proms 45 & 71? These do surprise me. I recall a prom some 12 years ago with Ashkenazy and the Czech PO, playing to a RAH with 1/3 of the seats unoccupied.

I scratched both 45 & 71 from my list before they went on it. Proms audiences can move in mysterious ways sometimes and most seasons throw up such oddities. What claim to musical fame justifies a visit of the SP SO to the 'world's greatest classical music festival'?

[EnemyoftheStoat]

Maybe they all think that Dudamel is the conductor of Sao Paulo ?

Well, London has a sizeable populations of Brazilians. Should be an interesting audience...