Prom 3 - 20.07.14: BBC Sport Prom

[Nick Armstrong]

Many is the time I (and the first Mrs Pabs) bedded down in Crouch End … what on earth …? I was always too far gone!...

You mean, why on earth Crouch End? (e.g. were you living in Hammersmith at the time?)

[Pabmusic]

You mean, why on earth Crouch End? (e.g. were you living in Hammersmith at the time?)

Southgate. What on earth refers to … (oh! I'm too far gone!).

[Pabmusic]

Southgate. What on earth refers to … (oh! I'm too far gone!).

The curry house!!!!

[Nick Armstrong]

You bedded down in the curry house in Southgate...? Under a table?

(This is so much more interesting that that "sports prom" sounds to have been! )

[VodkaDilc]

This Prom is a right dog's breakfast I've had to turn it off. Gabby Logan et al and music doesnt work for me.

You are much braver than I am. I know this Prom was not meant for me, so I didn't bother risking my blood pressure.

[Madame Suggia]

Tried to listen but ended up kicking this prom into the long grass.

[french frank]

So, will the "First ever Sport Prom" end up being the last one ever? Or has another one already been set up for next year?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Not entirely off-topic, but in relation to sport in general, isn't a concert like this nothing more than a diversion? It is in the sports arenas where it matters and this year things haven't been going too well. Perhaps this little diversion was just a smidgeon naive.

[DoctorT]

Not entirely off-topic, but in relation to sport in general, isn't a concert like this nothing more than a diversion? It is in the sports arenas where it matters and this year things haven't been going too well. Perhaps this little diversion was just a smidgeon naive.

Not too well for whom, EA? The Germans have had a great year and a man from my part of the world has just won the Open!

[Pabmusic]

They may have missed a trick here, since there are at least two composers who were Olympic medal winners. Josef Suk won silver at the 1932 games for artistic achievement with "Towards a New Life". It would have made a good opening or closing piece for one half.

The other was Frederick Kelly, who is represented in Prom 42, but whose Serenade for flute, horn & strings could have been raided for a movement or two. Kelly won gold in the rowing Eights at the 1908 Olympics.

[Lento]

Apparently, the Ski Sunday tune is "lifted from Bach" (Jasper Rees, Telegraph), presumably from the famous D minor Toccata and Fugue, though in the major, obviously. Amazing what you learn.

[Stillhomewardbound]

Just listening to the mid-week repeat and after only twenty minutes in I am confident this will NOT be a game of two halves. Talk about debasing the currency that is the BBC Proms.

It's a new low and if someone is stupid enough to commission a replay for next year it will surely join the Blue Peter prom in an utterly depressing 'Twin Peaks of Awfulness'.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Just listening to the mid-week repeat and after only twenty minutes in I am confident this will NOT be a game of two halves. Talk about debasing the currency that is the BBC Proms.

I too heard the repeat, on the way home from the Lake District. It was nauseatingly awful, due mainly to the presentation.

[pilamenon]

I too heard the repeat, on the way home from the Lake District. It was nauseatingly awful, due mainly to the presentation.

And a truly terrible, plodding version of the great 'Soul Limbo' (Test match theme). I should think most of the 5 Live regulars were squirming at having to have anything to do with this.

[Nick Armstrong]

I caught a bit whilst in transit this afternoon, too. Who was this wretched thing for?

As mentioned elsewhere, I have recently been in charge of a 16 year old relative from abroad, an intelligent, sports-mad youth (every World Cup match was attentively watched) who learnt the piano to a certain point but gave up, and has sung in some choral concerts at school, but who had never attended a concert before. One might have thought he was a prime candidate for this Prom... but I'm pretty certain he'd have been bored and derisive in equal measure. We went instead to the Zurich Tonhalle Prom - I primed him a bit with the story of 'Till' (and played him the main horn theme) and with the 'programme' of the five movements of the 'Pastoral' (and again, played the opening). I was so pleased and proud - he sat motionless and riveted throughout, turning to me with shining eyes and a smile at four or five especially good bits, and appeared to love the whole experience.

Actually, it reminded me that some years ago, I sat with him and his elder brother (maybe they were 6 and 8 respectively) and we listened to 'Peter and the Wolf' one still, sunny afternoon in their house - he still remembers it, and we agreed that there is a similarity to the spirit (and, indeed, the melodies) of the opening of the Prokofiev and the 'Pastoral' - that "going out into the big, green meadow" feeling....

I struggle to think who needs the patronising clap-trap of the 'Sports Prom'