The 2012 Proms season

[Nick Armstrong]

Like the look of this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/whats-on/...ugust-16/14214

And this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/whats-on/...ugust-29/14308

Very much...

[doversoul1]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms

[ed] Rather lot of these…
Classical for starters
If you are new to classical music, take advantage of this hand-picked list of concerts featuring the best-known and most-loved music from the classical repertoire

http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/whats-on/2012/categories/classical-for-starters

[rubbernecker]

Why can't they list the performers as well as the repertoire on the weekly view? So infuriating...

[Barbirollians]

Take out Perahia and Znaider it strikes me as a rather underwhelming set of instrumental soloists this year and no Ida Haendel . Those two VPO concerts look mighty tempting though.

[Suffolkcoastal]

First response, looks a typical underwhelming mish-mash. Only two concerts stand out for me the RVW Symphonies 4-6 and the Howells Hymnus Paradisi with Elgar 1. Nice to see Ireland's These Things Shall Be, but there's nothing else in his anniversary year (why no Piano Concerto???) and no Daniel Jones, who R3 have snubbed so far this year in his centenary. I'm no big fan of Delius (some of his works are OK though) so not too interested in that. The Beethoven symphonies 'yawns', plenty of bog standard repetoire, nothing of interest for a lover of American music like me (except the Bernstein Mass) and the usual ignoring of composers such as Hindemith & Honegger. So maybe 3 concerts worth listening to and some of a 4th, apart from that I'll give the rest a miss I think, plenty of CDs to keep me company.

[mercia]

none of the operas on TV

[maestro267]

I'm impressed with the number of large-scale choral works and operas this year. In the space of 7 days, the Royal Albert Hall stage will play host to Bernstein's 'Mass', Elgar's 'The Apostles', Berlioz' 'Grande messe de morts' and Schöenberg's 'Gurrelieder'

[Nick Armstrong]

First response, looks a typical underwhelming mish-mash. Only two concerts stand out for me the RVW Symphonies 4-6 and the Howells Hymnus Paradisi with Elgar 1. Nice to see Ireland's These Things Shall Be, but there's nothing else in his anniversary year (why no Piano Concerto???) and no Daniel Jones, who R3 have snubbed so far this year in his centenary. I'm no big fan of Delius (some of his works are OK though) so not too interested in that. The Beethoven symphonies 'yawns', plenty of bog standard repetoire, nothing of interest for a lover of American music like me (except the Bernstein Mass) and the usual ignoring of composers such as Hindemith & Honegger. So maybe 3 concerts worth listening to and some of a 4th, apart from that I'll give the rest a miss I think, plenty of CDs to keep me company.

Wise words, suffy! (i.e. I agree with most of them )

Except I think the balance / variety is pretty appropriate between the esoteric and the mainstream (your 'bog standard') since it's right to attempt 'something for everyone'... and indeed it's arguable that this is a much better way of attracting new punters (you there yet, Budgie Jane? ) - better than dumbing Breakfast down out of sight, at any rate.

[Nick Armstrong]

none of the operas on TV

More time for Danish murders and wool-clad detective ladies !

[Simon B]

Do we know if someone (was it Andrew Slater - many thanks again to whoever it was anyway) is going to produce a concise set of listings as a PDF again this year? The website is better than last year (not difficult) but still rather hard to digest. Those text-only PDFs were a great help.

My overall impression is pretty positive. It is, I would agree a mish-mash. However, I just view it these days as a large supply of concerts from which I am bound to be able to select a fair few with appeal. They've certainly (perhaps predictably) gone for a hefty dose of blockbusters this year. Berlioz Mass, Gurrelieder, Belshazzar's Feast, Bernstein Mass (I might give it another go just in case my tolerance for kitsch has increased), the Hallé Apostles (which I'm going to in Manchester anyway), Alpine Symphony with the VPO/Haitink no less, Shostakovich 7 etc

Could be worse!

[rubbernecker]

As well as an entire concert dedicated to Cage, I note with interest the London Sinfonietta are to perform 4' 33" (which we are helpfully told lasts 4:33) in a late night Prom. I am very much looking forward to the broadcast on R3 and I sincerely hope it won't be spoiled, as is so often the case with Proms audiences, by any coughing.

[mercia]

what do people mean by "mish-mash" ?

is that the same as variety ?

[MrGongGong]

At first glance it seems to have escaped the bloody jubolympic nonsense

[Chris Newman]

I am pleased that RW has bitten the bullet and programmed some of the best of British music and also late 20th Century composers.

Good English First Night though Accountant might query the cost of so many big name conductors. But we have the lovely Sarah Connolly.

I love My Fair Lady but it is heavy on the legs.

Pelleas et Melisande (ORR, Gardiner) Glad that RW has rediscovered Debussy this season and superb cast

Alice Coote at the Cadogan

Handel: Judas Maccabeas. At last

Barenboim Beethoven Cycle with the WEDO. Good to hear some Boulez as well.

Les Troyens from ROH on Sunday 22nd> YabbaDabbaDoooo!!

Tippett's A Child of Our Time (Let's have an opera next year) 2nd August

Runnicles and the BBCSSO - Bruckner 8 and Siegfried Idyll; 3rd August

Messaien: Turangalila 4th August

Bernstein Mass: 7th August

Bychkov conducting the BBCSO in Schubert 8 and Ein Heldenleben; 8th August

John Storgårds: Sibelius and Delius 9th August

Elgar: The Kingdom: It really ought to be the Last Night.

Schoenberg: Glorious GURRELIEDER

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS NIGHT!!! 16th August

CAGE Night 17th

Alice Coote in Mahler and Manfred in one night 18th


G&S The Yeomen of the Guard BBC CO (Glover); 19th August

Peter Grimes (ENO); 24th August

Glyndebourne Figaro; 28th August

BPO on 30th& 31st August

VPO Bruckner 9 (Haitink); 6th Sept

VPO Alpine Symphony (Haitink); 7th Sept

In fact Calleja's selection means I might watch the Last Night on the box.

[Nick Armstrong]

the lovely Sarah Connolly.

Give me the lovely Miah Persson any day of the week (or preferably weekend)