Prom 75 - 7.09.13: Last Night of the Proms

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Can't afford a man these days, Mary. Women are a lot cheaper

She's VERY good.

[VodkaDilc]

I really did just hear this announcement on the television. (I replayed it several times to check.) It's a more historic night than we ever imagined:

Well, Vaughan Williams started writing, as we said, The Lark Ascending in 1914, on the eve of the First World War - and he is now coming onto the stage.

As I intended, I listened to the Wagner and the Bernstein and found them most enjoyable. No more for me on this programme.

[VodkaDilc]

She's VERY good.

I agree, but if I was in that audience I'd be very irritated by those enormous screens showing her every movement.

[french frank]

I really did just hear this announcement on the television. (I replayed it several times to check.) It's a more historic night than we ever imagined:

[I]Well, Vaughan Williams started writing, as we said, The Lark Ascending in 1914, on the eve of the First World War - and he is now coming onto the stage.

Did he?

Can't afford a man these days, Mary. Women are a lot cheaper

They'd have shelled out for Charles Hazlewood, I bet.

[Mary Chambers]

I loathe the Bernstein (which I have sung), but Iestyn Davies was, as ever, sublime. I felt he wasn't really appreciated by the audience.

[Alison]

Stephen Bryant having to comb forward now.

[Old Grumpy]

The whole thing, so far, has been a class act.

Could go downhill in the second half though.

I am looking forward to Marin Alsop's speech.

OG

[Petrushka]

I really did just hear this announcement on the television. (I replayed it several times to check.) It's a more historic night than we ever imagined:

Well, Vaughan Williams started writing, as we said, The Lark Ascending in 1914, on the eve of the First World War - and he is now coming onto the stage.
.

I nearly fell out of my chair laughing at this. Absolutely priceless.

[Mr Pee]

Oh, the shock! Has anyone noticed......this concert is apparently being conducted by a WOMAN. I think we should have been warned!

It's political correctness gone mad. They'll probably let a homo-sexualist conduct next year.

[bluestateprommer]

Oh, the shock! Has anyone noticed......this concert is apparently being conducted by a WOMAN. I think we should have been warned!

Um, you were warned :

http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/music/marin-alsop-on-becoming-the-first-woman-to-conduct-the-last-night-of-the-proms-8795610.html

But back to the main proceedings; actually, from my admittedly very long-distance American POV, it's going all right. I don't claim to be the biggest fan of Alsop as a conductor, but she's keeping a solid hand on the tiller so far. Very nice work from Iestyn Davies in Chichester Psalms, and from the Nige in the VW (once past the mildly affected interview excerpt prior to the Lark), and of course from Joyce DiDonato in her "mini-recital".

Listening to Georgia Mann talk with two younger Prommers, Rebecca and Sean, in the interval feature, I'm tremendously impressed that of the two, Rebecca has attended 60 Proms at the RAH, in what is her first-ever season as a Prommer.

PS: Nice shout out from Georgia Mann also for the PMC, allowing PMC'ers to speak, and mentioning the Handel House Museum as one of the additional PMC beneficiaries this season.

[Mary Chambers]

Um, you were warned :

http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/music/marin-alsop-on-becoming-the-first-woman-to-conduct-the-last-night-of-the-proms-8795610.html

.

Not sure if you're being serious there. I wasn't. Of course we knew.

[LeMartinPecheur]

It's political correctness gone mad. They'll probably let a homo-sexualist conduct next year.

Mr Pee: have you been paying proper attention?

[Nick Armstrong]

Listening to Georgia Mann talk with two younger Prommers, Rebecca and Sean, in the interval feature, I'm tremendously impressed that of the two, Rebecca has attended 60 Proms at the RAH, in what is her first-ever season as a Prommer.

I didn't get to hear that. I switched on briefly after the singing, but the truly inane prattle by the presenters led to an instant switch-off.

[Bert Coules]

This is about as wrong as having Judy Garland in to do Brünnhilde's immolation. It's horrible and painful.

[Petrushka]

This is about as wrong as having Judy Garland in to do Brünnhilde's immolation. It's horrible and painful.

Now that sets the imagination running...