The actual Proms programme 12 July - 7 September

[Resurrection Man]

A pretty dire season unless you are obsessed with Wagner . If they are getting Nige in for the last night at least get him to play a concerto for crying out loud

I agree. If a better conductor had been chosen to do the Ring then I might have been tempted even though I prefer watching opera fully-staged and enjoyed the Ring at the ROH. But PloddenBoim is not my cup of tea.

Like many others one also has to factor in the cost of travel and the emotional cost of an overnight stay with the mother. I was tempted by the Nott Mahler 5 and either of the two Gergiev concerts and also the Mahler 2. In an ideal world at least a couple of them might have been back-to-back (who remembers that glorious choral-fest over the August weekend last year?!) but sadly not this time.

So reckon it's just going to be my namesake....Mahler 2.

[Mr Pee]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-concerts.html

People who never go to the RAH, listen to or watch the broadcasts telling us what's wrong with the Proms.

Are you sure Sir Roy Strong never does any of the above?

I thought the article made some fair points.

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

I read bits and pieces yesterday, and bought the Proms Guide this morning. If you're a Wagner nut, you'll feel very well served - seven (yes, seven) operas/ music dramas, plus Overtures to Meistersinger and Rienzi and the Wesendonck Lieder. Verdi gets thrown a bone with a concert of sacred music, half a concert with Joseph Calleja and a prom featuring Kristine Opolais singing the Willow Song and Ave Maria from Otello. It's a pathetic effort, made worse by the fact that his bicentenary is poorly marked elsewhere in London (the ROH Vêpres apart).

As predicted, Billy Budd is the Glyndebourne prom, but slightly surprised that there's just the one Britten opera. However, it will come hot on the heels of Gloriana at the ROH, Death in Venice at ENO and Peter Grimes at Snape and Aldeburgh, with a trio of productions from Opera North to follow in the autumn.

Delighted to see Tippett's The Midsummer Marriage feature - one prom I'll try and get to for sure.

Of the non-operatic fare, The Rite of Spring from Les Siecles leaps out at me, as does the LSO/ Gergiev doing Borodin 2. I'm disappointed the promised RVW cycle from Andrew Manze seems to have stalled. In fact, after last season's treasures, disappointment is my overriding mood on first perusal.

One matter frustrates me: the official Guide is published so late. When opera companies, orchestras and concert halls have nearly all declared their wares for next season, the BBC publishes details a mere three months ahead of time. It does make getting to some concerts impossible in terms of booking time off work/ travel arrangements/ clashes with other concerts elsewhere.

[Charlie]

One of the glories of the Proms, in my view, Il Grande Inquisitor, is that you just turn up and experience something! So the later the better! If you want to organise your diary a year in advance, respect!

[Thropplenoggin]

So reckon it's just going to be my namesake....Mahler 2.

One of the priciest proms, too. Is it Jansons commanding those prices, or the orchestra?

[Bryn]

One of the priciest proms, too. Is it Jansons commanding those prices, or the orchestra?

I would not call £5 expensive.

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

One of the glories of the Proms, in my view, Il Grande Inquisitor, is that you just turn up and experience something! So the later the better! If you want to organise your diary a year in advance, respect!

Unlike our fair Caliban, I don't live just around the corner from the RAH. Any London trip has to be carefully planned, either to coincide with a day off work or far enough in advance to book time off work. It's so late now, that any Proms I did want to attend on a working day wouldn't be possible, due to others having already taken that day/ week off.

My diary is booked as far as 17th June 2014 (Manon Lescaut at the ROH).

[VodkaDilc]

I've just had an hour browsing through the Prospectus (are they scared of that word these days?) and have nothing on my "definitely must go to" list! Where are the concerts to compare with the Bernstein Mass, Apostles and Leningrad Symphony from last year? A few concerts I'll probably book, but.................!

I'm also no fan of opera concert performances. I love The Ring and Billy Budd, but they have been staged recently. Do we need duplication in the Proms?

[Charlie]

No!

[Nick Armstrong]

I'm disappointed the promised RVW cycle from Andrew Manze seems to have stalled.

Oh yes!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

No comments so far on Verdi's poor treatment.

Apart from #3, #64 & #66?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I am in favour of unbalanced programmes, ferneyhoughgeliebte. The First Night of the Proms has the following programme ...

Ah! I agree: I thought you meant "a balanced Season of Proms" rather than individual events within that season. My answer to your previous post was with that in mind.

('Tho actually, the only "unbalance" in Prom One is the Anderson "fanfare" to kick off the season - otherwise you have "Sea", "Paganini Vars", "Paganini Vars", "Sea" - balanced and symmetrical! )

[Veronika]

It does look good Veronica ....................for all those who enjoy being woken up around 11pm by the trumpet blasts of Lobet Gott. Not good for those out of towners whose zimmers need to be parked safely by 9.30 however. Perhaps they are trying to attract a younger Bach crowd?

bws
Chris S

Bother, I hadn't noticed the time. (Coming home from a late night Prom last year I found out that our council did indead mean it when they said they'd switch the street lights off late at night...)

[Flosshilde]

So reckon it's just going to be my namesake....Mahler 2.

Don't wear them out - they're in Edinburgh on the 12th.

[Charlie]

I am in favour of an unbalanced Season of Proms, too, ferneyhoughgeliebte. To achieve balance is pointless; to engage with the audience is everything.