Proms 2014 - advance info

[Beef Oven!]

Simultaneously ?

I might be converted by that

Ok, we accept you are never going to do Gerontius. But can't you just try The Apostles again?

[MrGongGong]

Ok, we accept you are never going to do Gerontius. But can't you just try The Apostles?

You trying to sell me drugs ?

Ok send me these and i'll give them a go

[Beef Oven!]

You trying to sell me drugs ?

Ok send me these and i'll give them a go

Iscariot doesn't get a bottle, but you're still one short, there!

[Beef Oven!]

Gerontius and The Apostles will be performed at the Barbican in April, and not as part of the Proms season.

I'd rather have these works performed than not, just my preference. I don't have cause to hold a low opinion of Andrew Davis, and look forward to being at the performances. .

I fancy the Apostles. I'm sure AD is a great musician, but the 3 or 4 times I've seen him conduct, the results were terrible, especially RVW 6 about 8 or so years ago. Maybe I've been unlucky at gigs. I have a Cockaigne, Enigma, Intro & Allegro CD of his with the BBCSO, which fabulous.

[Flosshilde]

The Edinburgh International Festival programme has just been published. Touring orchestras often visit both the Festival & the Proms, so some clues might be picked up there.

(The Mariinsky under Gergiev are doing The Trojans, which probably won't be going to the Proms as well)

[Ferretfancy]

Gerontius and The Apostles will be performed at the Barbican in April, and not as part of the Proms season.

I'd rather have these works performed than not, just my preference. I don't have cause to hold a low opinion of Andrew Davis, and look forward to being at the performances. .

Oh God! You mean they're spreading?

[bluestateprommer]

2nd (?) non-UK orchestra confirmed (more or less) to the 2014 Proms

Just one bit of advance information, for what looks to be the first Monday Prom of the 2014 season, Monday, July 21:

'MO 21.07.14
20:00 Uhr, London, Grossbritannien
Gastspiel/Tournee

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich
David Zinman, Leitung
Julia Fischer, Violine

Richard Strauss: Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche op. 28
Antonín Dvorák: Violinkonzert a-Moll op. 53
Ludwig van Beethoven: Sinfonie Nr. 6 F-Dur op. 68 "Pastorale"'

I can't really paste the direct URL, but if you start from:

http://www.tonhalle-orchester.ch/

....you can then find the concert. It's true that the Tonhalle page doesn't specifically mention the London venue. However, the webpage of the orchestra's first trumpet, Philippe Litzler, says as follows, on his itinerary:

http://www.philippelitzler.com/

"Juillet 2014
11 – Tonhalle Orchester Zürich – (Mahler) – D. Zinman
21 – Tonhalle Orchester Zürich -(Strauss, Berg [sic], Beethoven) – D. Zinman – Concert aux Proms de Londres"

This obviously forms part of David Zinman's final season as chief conductor of the Tonhalle Orchestra, before passing the baton on to Lionel Bringuier. It should also be interesting to see where Julia Fischer takes a seat after the interval, since when I've seen her as a guest soloist with orchestras, she's taken a seat in the audience for the 2nd half.

[bluestateprommer]

3rd (?) non-UK ensemble confirmed to the 2014 Proms

A search of the Universal Edition site indicates these information appetizers for this summer's Proms:

(1) Saturday, August 9, 2014, for one of the Proms Saturday Matinees:

http://www.universaledition.com/performances-and-calendar#work=2298

"Sir Harrison Birtwistle — Endless Parade
Location: Cadogan Hall, London (GB)

Scored for: for trumpet, strings and vibraphone (17'30'')
Orchestra: Lapland Chamber Orchestra
Conductor: John Storgårds
Main Soloists: Håkan Hardenberger, trp"

This looks to be the debut Prom for the Lapland Chamber Orchestra. Endless Parade hasn't featured at The Proms since 1995. This also fits with this being Sir Harrison Birtwistle's 80th birthday year, so presumably more of his music will feature (not to mention that of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies).

(2) Saturday, August 23, 2014, an evening RAH Prom:

http://www.universaledition.com/performances-and-calendar#composer=713

"6 Lieder der Märchenprinzessin
Territorial Première
Arranger: Karol Szymanowski; Sakari Oramo
Location: London (GB)
BBC Proms
Scored for: for high voice and orchestra (15')
Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Sakari Oramo
Main Soloists: Anu Komsi, S"

[Pabmusic]

It is with considerable trepidation that I can announce that it looks as though yours truly will 'appear' at the Proms on August 17th. I really can't say yet in what way, but I'm pretty sure I'll be responsible for 30 minutes of music. I shall reveal all after April 24th.

[Beef Oven!]

It is with considerable trepidation that I can announce that it looks as though yours truly will 'appear' at the Proms on August 17th. I really can't say yet in what way, but I'm pretty sure I'll be responsible for 30 minutes of music. I shall reveal all after April 24th.

Sounds mysterious and exciting! 17th pencilled in.

[Pabmusic]

Sounds mysterious and exciting! 17th pencilled in.

Watch this space.

[Irrelohe]

Can somebody who has knowledge about these things explain the need for this obsessive secrecy which prevents the Proms schedule from being officially released until less than three months before the start of the season? If I want to know what is being performed at the Southbank Centre or the Barbican or the Wigmore Hall etc one year from now I go on their website and find out. Similarly, if I am interested in this year's festivals at Salzburg, Verbier, Edinburgh or the Schubertiade etc, I have been able to find out the programme for some time. What is so extra special about the Proms? It would be nice to be able to plan summer holidays etc in advance knowing what one might be missing.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

I fail to understand this either. It plays havoc with the ability to plan for the summer,.

[teamsaint]

Ingrates.
It is the BBC Proms, they pay for it, and they will tell all when they are good and ready.
All we have to do us turn up, add a few quid to the fund, and make the crowds look good on the telly.

If they think its good enough to put on the programme, its certainly good enough for us punters. Aunty knows best.

[Petrushka]

Can somebody who has knowledge about these things explain the need for this obsessive secrecy which prevents the Proms schedule from being officially released until less than three months before the start of the season? If I want to know what is being performed at the Southbank Centre or the Barbican or the Wigmore Hall etc one year from now I go on their website and find out. Similarly, if I am interested in this year's festivals at Salzburg, Verbier, Edinburgh or the Schubertiade etc, I have been able to find out the programme for some time. What is so extra special about the Proms? It would be nice to be able to plan summer holidays etc in advance knowing what one might be missing.

I agree entirely with this. For those of us still trying to earn a crust as a wage slave it is very frustrating to have to wait long after the rest of the office have booked their summer hols as I try for the remaining crumbs. It's one reason why I go at weekends so often. It does indeed play havoc with summer holiday arrangements.

As I understand it, the Proms programme is finalised sometime in February and at one time there was a Press release at the end of that month giving out a few highlights in advance of the Proms Guide being published in early May. The obsession with secrecy is like that with Christmas presents and, like them, half the fun is in the anticipation. Even stranger is the Vienna Philharmonics 'embargo' on the programme of the New Year's Concerts on it's website when full details were in listings magazines some time before.

Ideally, I'd like to see the Proms Guide published at the beginning of February at the latest with booking opening in early March.