TV Proms

[amateur51]

I'm totally confused - the Lachenmann UK premiere isn't on Radio 3 until next Monday http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b036v5h1 Who wrote that - a new music aficionado?

A soon-to-be ex-employee I hope. I think that's a fine example of BBC's dumbing down attitude to serious music, if one is needed, french frank

[mercia]

they said from the start that only the Mahler would make it to TV (BBC4 - 18 July) so I don't see anything startling about that

if one is writing a paragraph on the 18th July page of RT, then 15th July would be last Monday [if that settles that confusion]

[jayne lee wilson]

I see from next week's Radio Times that the season of Proms on BBC4 is getting off to a good start by omitting half of the programme. As the Radio Times puts it:



So only Mahler's 5th Symphony will be broadcast.

It seems that the BBC's cultural enclave is not immune to dumbing down.

That is utterly dreadful - PRE-JUDICE in its purest form (though after the radio event and before the TV one - hmmm...)

[french frank]

if one is writing a paragraph on the 18th July page of RT, then 15th July would be last Monday [if that settles that confusion]

I realise that: but wouldn't one need to be something of an aficionado to have already heard the piece before its UK premiere or did he get his knowledgeable description from watching YouTube? Ah, yes, good bit of background research there by Mr Mulkern, RT's Man At The Proms ("Radio Times & Doctor Who guide scribe. Likes beaches, books, cinema, comedy, Jack Daniel's, time travel, my dog"). And music?

Leaving that aside, what is the BBC doing leaving a piece like that off a television broadcast on BBC Four (18 July)? Is that going the same way as BBC Two... DOWN?

[mercia]

what is the rest of the BBC4 18 July schedule ? - got to leave room for sport and 'comedy' after all
why isn't every prom televised (do we think) ?

[french frank]

what is the rest of the BBC4 18 July schedule ? - got to leave room for sport and 'comedy' after all
why isn't every prom televised (do we think) ?

News before the Prom. 9pm (after the edited Prom) programme about the Clyde shipyards 10.00 Howzat! Kerry Packer's War 11.25 Hidden Killers of the Victorian Home (about new gadgets).

I see Katie Derham has now been promoted to BBC Four Proms presentation. I suppose this is because there won't be any full concerts on BBC Two. I don't think these programmes are what you would call 'popular entertainment' but I also don't think much of them for the BBC's top arts channel. Not uninteresting, but no more than MoR factual. No wonder it gets less money than CBBC. Depressing.

[jayne lee wilson]

The BBC promotion of the Proms in RT is reachin l-o-l levels... Katie in an offtheshoulder red dress with RAH behind, surrounded by REAL MUSICIANS and... a Dalek. Katie exiting a taxi in a neat little floral number looking anxiously on as Sir Henry's bust is carried off to the hall by two strong-armed young men. Oh, it's really GAY.

Then the RT Proms guide has Tine Thing Helseth looking tres chic (and a bit... - better not say it, Ams...) in navy blazer/white trousers on the front, and then ruins it inside with the headline "Women are taking over the Proms this year - but why has it taken so long?" As a woman and a feminist I read that and felt.....er, no - patronised . Later we hear that Helseth "doesn't worry too much about fighting for women's rights in the brass world"... and that she counts among her inspirations "BARENBOIM, Renee Fleming, Beyonce, and the Spice Girls. IF SHE CAN ENJOY THEM ALL, WHY CAN'T EVERYONE ELSE?" There's no emoticon to match that priceless comment, but is it aimed at us or at Beyonce fans, d'you think?

Tine's back later to say she cherishes an idyllic musical vision of "boys and girls from different cultures and different religions and all kinds of genders and everything - is there a word for that in English?" Dunno Teen, is there a word for it in Norwegian, or Chinese? Still it sounds very Dionysian, there might even be a place in the Great World of Classical Music for me!

Byline to this masterpiece of breathless anticipation is Adam Sweeting. Whose (rather good) NME or Q reviews I used to read in the 1980s/90s. I mean, just saying....

[amateur51]

The BBC promotion of the Proms in RT is reachin l-o-l levels... Katie in an offtheshoulder red dress with RAH behind,

What's an RAH behind?!?

[Nick Armstrong]

What's an RAH behind?!?

[french frank]

Not clear what the connection is now between RT and the BBC: they no longer have bbc email addresses so I imagine the split is now total. The proceedings hover now (in my view) between the 'popular' à la Newman and the 'populist' à la Wright.

[Hornspieler]

What's an RAH behind?!?

Take a look at "Countdown" on Channel 4 TV"

HS

[EnemyoftheStoat]

Not clear what the connection is now between RT and the BBC: they no longer have bbc email addresses so I imagine the split is now total. The proceedings hover now (in my view) between the 'popular' à la Newman and the 'populist' à la Wright.

Not having picked up a copy for a very long time, this week I have twice picked one up and very quickly put it down again. RT does still seem to have a connection with the BBC, in that gimmicks and presenters now seem to be more important for both than the actual "product" - at least as seen by this FoR3.

I wouldn't be surprised though if it had been franchised out a la Music Magazine, whose whole demeanour has an air of "other channels/orchestras/choruses are available" about it.

[french frank]

I wouldn't be surprised though if it had been franchised out a la Music Magazine, whose whole demeanour has an air of "other channels/orchestras/choruses are available" about it.

Sold off, like most of the BBC magazines. RT to Immediate Media Company.

Where the BBC has some kind of continuing (non-financial) interest relating to programmes, it likes to keep in with the staff to ensure good coverage (private information). Immediate also owns the BBC Music Magazine.

[Bryn]

Hmm, did anyone catch the fanfare regarding the BBC FOUR Proms being available in HD on Freeview Channel 303 (Red Button HD)?

I certainly didn't, but having forgotten to set the recorder for tonight's offering, I sought to set the timer for tomorrow night's and that for Sunday. Guess what, I was given the choice of standard definition on BBC FOUR or HD on the Red Button HD (Freeview Channel 303). Of course, I opted for Red Button HD. However, I might just try for BBC FOUR as well, just to be sure.

[Nick Armstrong]

Hmm, did anyone catch the fanfare regarding the BBC FOUR Proms being available in HD on Freeview Channel 303 (Red Button HD)?

I certainly didn't, but having forgotten to set the recorder for tonight's offering, I sought to set the timer for tomorrow night's and that for Sunday. Guess what, I was given the choice of standard definition on BBC FOUR or HD on the Red Button HD (Freeview Channel 303). Of course, I opted for Red Button HD. However, I might just try for BBC FOUR as well, just to be sure.

NO! First I've heard of it ! Thanks for flagging this Bryn. Why the hell don't the BBC publicise these things!

Possibly because they don't even know themselves http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/internet/...ton-20-27-July

Perhaps it was a last-minute thing. Wonder if the Pappano - Lisiecki prom was available too.

I'd far rather have had tonight's Santa Cecilia offering in HD, than sweaty Val tomorrow night

But thanks again for posting this



PS the Adès/BBCSO Prom is listed for HD treatment on the Channel 303 red button at 7.30 pm on Sunday too