Prom 75 - 7.09.13: Last Night of the Proms

[ardcarp]

Well, whatever anyone thinks of NK, he is in the great tradition of British eccentrics, and as such attracts a lot of people, especially young people, to 'classical' music. Two of my g-kids watched The Lark Ascending in utter awe (NK does it very well, IMO) and were in fits about his antics in round two.

Good for him.

And MS di Donato has a fantastic 'instrument' and technique. Yes, you can keep the soupy arrangement of 'Danny Boy', but what a voice.

I agree the George Lloyd military march was dull.... and unnecessary in the programme.

[Maclintick]

[QUOTE=Caliban;329399]Why do people like Ms Di Donato's voice?


Er...possibly because she's undoubtedly the finest Rossini soprano of this generation, as those who heard her & Mr. Florez in "La donna Del Lago" at Covent Garden last June will testify. Hearing the last aria of the opera completely out of context makes makes zero sense, of course, but since when did anyone expect rationality to prevail during the "Last Nite" shenanigans ?

Marin improved throughout the evening, after a dour and portentous Meistersinger Overture, which only served to remind us that she doesn't do opera. At all, in fact. Come on Marin ! This is Wagner's only comedy - if you don't count Rheingold, which always seems to me to be crying out for some imaginative director to maximise its huge potential for levity.

Despite my in-built aversion to his annoying persona, I found myself rather moved by Nigel's performance of the now over-exposed "Lark Ascending", & even enjoyed the Csardas.....Oh dear....

[Beef Oven!]

Am I the only one here who likes Mr Kennedy?

No, I like him too. He's a very versatile musician. And if people focused on what he does, rather than comparing what he does to some preconceived bench-mark, his art would be better appreciated.

[Nick Armstrong]

she's undoubtedly the finest Rossini soprano of this generation

Makes me run a mile, I'm afraid. My loss, I'm sure; and I find it so hard to work out why so many people seem to like it! Was the finest one of the previous generation Ms Bartoli (someone said the other day she's past her best) by any chance?

[Nick Armstrong]

And if people focused on what he does....

It'd be easier to do if he didn't seem determined to draw people's focus away from that to his sort of 'grungy-haven't-showered-in-a-month-don't-give-a-sh*t' image. The accent's totally bogus apparently - he was quite a posh little boy, it seems.

[Stunsworth]

Am I the only one here who likes Mr Kennedy?

No.

Some people here seem to be obsessed with things that don't really matter.

[Beef Oven!]

It'd be easier to do if he didn't seem determined to draw people's focus away from that to his sort of 'grungy-haven't-showered-in-a-month-don't-give-a-sh*t' image. The accent's totally bogus apparently - he was quite a posh little boy, it seems.

You're distracted too easily.

Ok, he's a mockney and a working class wannabe, but we can't all be cool

[Serial_Apologist]

It'd be easier to do if he didn't seem determined to draw people's focus away from that to his sort of 'grungy-haven't-showered-in-a-month-don't-give-a-sh*t' image. The accent's totally bogus apparently - he was quite a posh little boy, it seems.

They gave me electrocution lessons so that I could sing all the anthem solos in school chapel in received pronunciation. I can imagine something similar befalling Nigel Kennedy at posh music school.

[Nick Armstrong]

They gave me electrocution lessons

God almighty, strict school!

[Stunsworth]

It'd be easier to do if he didn't seem determined to draw people's focus away from that to his sort of 'grungy-haven't-showered-in-a-month-don't-give-a-sh*t' image. The accent's totally bogus apparently - he was quite a posh little boy, it seems.

How do you know he hasn't showered? I thought smell o vision TV hadn't arrived yet.

How many people who go to Oxbridge with a working class accent and leave speaking posher? Do they get the same amount of bile that Kennedy does? If not, why not?

[Nick Armstrong]

How do you know he hasn't showered?

I was talking about his 'image', as suggested by my use of the word 'image'

[Beef Oven!]

I was talking about his 'image', as suggested by my use of the word 'image'

How do you know he hasn't showered his image?

[Nick Armstrong]

How do you know he hasn't showered his image?

G'night, Beefy

[Petrushka]

Marin improved throughout the evening, after a dour and portentous Meistersinger Overture, which only served to remind us that she doesn't do opera. At all, in fact. Come on Marin ! This is Wagner's only comedy - if you don't count Rheingold, which always seems to me to be crying out for some imaginative director to maximise its huge potential for levity.

Probably one for another thread but there are parts of Rheingold (and Siegfried too) that have a lot of humour in them and I've always been surprised that this aspect hasn't attracted more commentary. There are some laugh out loud moments in text and music in both dramas.

[pilamenon]

No.

Some people here seem to be obsessed with things that don't really matter.

Exactly. What matters is that his playing is very, very good, and he's an engaging performer who draws in the crowds.

Does it matter if he's wearing a Villa shirt?