Prom 75 - 7.09.13: Last Night of the Proms

[bluestateprommer]

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

Not sure if "This" refers to JD singing "Over the Rainbow", but if so, per this feature in the Torygraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/classicalmusic/10245140/Joyce-DiDonato-Stop-selling-opera-by-dumbing-it-down.html

"The inclusion of 'Over the Rainbow' was non-negotiable. It's a song with a message that she feels encapsulates the way she's lived her life, and it was the last thing that her late beloved father ever heard her sing. 'He was a choral director, a Bruckner man, who always hated Judy Garland. But on his deathbed, he told me that I'd finally made him realise what a beautiful song it was.'"

I'll admit that I didn't care for the rather soupy orchestral arrangement of 'Over the Rainbow', but there we are.

Currently, the Nige is making a self-indulgent hash of the Monti Csardas, but I guess I shouldn't have been surprised.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Not sure if "This" refers to JD singing "Over the Rainbow", but if so, per this feature in the Torygraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/classicalmusic/10245140/Joyce-DiDonato-Stop-selling-opera-by-dumbing-it-down.html

Currently, the Nige is making a self-indulgent hash of the Monti Csardas, but I guess I shouldn't have been surprised.

I have just switched off. His presence offends me.

[Bert Coules]

Not sure if "This" refers to JD singing "Over the Rainbow",

Yes it does. I thought the rest of my post would make that clear. And while I didn't care for the arrangement, it was the complete inappropriateness of a classical singer doing this sort of repertoire that I was referring to: a beautiful, simple, intimate song blown up and murdered.

On the other hand, I really enjoyed Mr Kennedy's turn.

[ahinton]

Mr Pee: have you been paying proper attention?

Of course he hasn't - well, either that or he's so sexist as to have assumed that "homo-sexualists" must be men and only men (or at least that they're the only "homo-sexialists" that count - sorry, I mean "matter", given that we're talking conducting here). Mon Dieu!...

[Ferretfancy]

It would be interesting to have a musical profile of people who go to enough Proms concerts to get tickets for the Last Night, and who want to go (for the musical programme, rather than the end of term party). But I suppose with all the lighter/non classical concerts gradually building up in number, there will be people who will be able to clock up the required number of attendances.

What happens is that regular Prommers give their ticket stubs away to friends and family, people who otherwise never go to the Albert Hall or even enjoy classical music. The donors of the ticket stubs stay at home.

[Bert Coules]

A friend just remarked that since the conductor is a woman who looks like a man, it was nicely appropriate to have a male singer who sounds like a woman. Honestly, some people.

[Tony Halstead]

I have just switched off. His presence offends me.

Seconded... me too.

[Lancashire Lass]

Funnily enough, I thought her Danny Boy had far more emotion in it than the operatic arias.

That said, does the star soloist normally appear that often? Seems a bit excessive to me. Especially considering she seems to think she's on the red carpet, not the RAH stage. Call me bitchy, but this waving at everyone, "Can this really be happening to little ol' me?" stars-in-her-eyes pose, is wearing a bit thin.

[Bert Coules]

Good grief, here she is again.

[Tony Halstead]

At least she's giving us 'good value for money' which is more than be said for the moronic 'Kennedy'

[mlb7171]

Why do the BBC Symphony always look so bored. It's a real talent and so noticeable. Not just tonight.

[Nick Armstrong]

Why do people like Ms Di Donato's voice?

Oh God, and apologies to his fans, but that George Lloyd march was so dull... (or was it the performance? 'lack' and 'lustre' are two words that sprang to mind).

This concert is horrible. (And I haven't even seen "Nige" - nor will I)

[Tony Halstead]

(And I haven't even seen "Nige" - nor will I)

You're lucky... don't regret it..
.

[Bert Coules]

Am I the only one here who likes Mr Kennedy?

[Tony Halstead]

Am I the only one here who likes Mr Kennedy?

Hopefully Yes