Televised Proms

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

confused of Tunbridge Wells says - the Carpenter piece is 'new music' isn't it ?

For Tunbridge Wells, very possibly.

[zola]

Aaaahhhh…… as in 'Will be included in a late night compilation'? By George, I think you've got it!

By the way, I checked back on the 2005 season (bec. 10 years ago) to see what was done then. Not a huge amount on on BBC Two, but as well as the First and Last Nights (as now), there were three concerts:

the West-Eastern Prom
Beethoven 9 + Gubaidulina
RVW 6 and Berlioz's Symph. Fantastique.

The big difference was in BBC Four's coverage: every night, live and complete from 18 July until the end of the month (including works by Musgrave, Dutilleux, Fraser Trainer); every night, live and complete, from 4th September (including works by Adès and Turnage). But nothing in August, I think. Still seems to have been a better deal. More concerts, more live, more complete with new works …

We didn't think at the time, amongst all the grumbles, that we would look back on the Charles Hazlewood era as a golden age !

[french frank]

confused of Tunbridge Wells says - the Carpenter piece is 'new music' isn't it ?

Y-y-y-es … so that's one piece of new music, then … The suggestion is that most of the new pieces are removed from the main concert broadcasts and put into a compilation recording.

If you do a page search here on 'Selected' you'll find that nearly every advertised orchestral classical concert has 'Selected pieces' (not the late night solo recitals/Frank Sinatra, or Story of Swing, Bernstein or Eric Whitacre).

[Zucchini]

I think the majority of people who pay the licence fees are not interested enough in the Proms to make an effort to take time and watch it on iPlayer but a lot of them are likely to watch if they can just turn the television on and see it. Isn’t this the main aim of the Proms; to reach a wider audience that would not make an effort to listen to classical music but may listen if it’s there?

They’re the BBC PROMS not the Radio 3 Proms.

Rest assured Henry Wood and old fashioned Proms seasons are dying. The BBC has no missionary or evangelical aims to convert perfectly happy people to classical music. The BBC quite rightly wants classical music to share the Proms season with a whole spectrum of contemporary musical entertainment, including dance etc.

For about 4 million quid the BBC sets out its stall as one of the world’s greatest broadcasters, innovative, imaginative generous in offering a magnificent festival of all kinds of music, featuring artists of the highest quality – “everyone will find something they like”.

In return the BBC gets colossal positive publicity at home and abroad..Basically, policy-makers and top management put 4 million quid in R3’s petty cash tin and tell them to get on with it, report back for approval before you spend money, don’t overspend and don’t do anything silly – “remember you’re in the entertainment business. It’s our image that matters; we must look a paragon of excellence. R3 plays second fiddle.”

In return for its hard work, R3 has a huge amount of valuable programming gifted to it. If some other part of the BBC administered the Proms season, the 4 million quid contingency for revenue shortfalls would go to them. To that extent it isn’t part of R3’s budget. IMO

[french frank]

Rest assured ????? Henry Wood and old fashioned Proms seasons are dying.

You sound almost pleased about it. I wonder why . The rest of what you say is a bit hard to fathom on a hot afternoon.

"We note, however, that it is not the sole responsibility of Radio 3 to deliver the great works of classical music and other musical genres to all audiences. The BBC has an overall responsibility for this and there are many services with a role to play in achieving this ambition." Sounds quite like missionary or evangelical aims to me … but you know better, I'm sure.

[Zucchini]

"We note, however, that it is not the sole responsibility of Radio 3 to deliver the great works of classical music and other musical genres to all audiences. The BBC has an overall responsibility for this and there are many services with a role to play in achieving this ambition." Sounds quite like missionary or evangelical aims to me …

The BBC Management did not say this and is neither missionary or evangelical
You've quoted one of the BBC Trust's utopian dreams from the service review before last.

But this is off topic - the thread is about the BBC Proms

[french frank]

The BBC Management did not say this and is neither missionary or evangelical
You've quoted one of the BBC Trust's utopian dreams from the service review before last.
But this is off topic - the thread is about the BBC Proms

I was replying to you. I get the feeling I'm being stalked on this forum. Explain what your criticism is and why you keep targeting me and FoR3. Or take your interest somewhere else.

[Crowcatcher]

The ultimate depravity of R3 powers-that-be is that three-and-a-half page of the Radio Times pull-out supplement are devoted to Sinatra (to me no more than a second rate pop singer!)

[Tony Halstead]

The ultimate depravity of R3 powers-that-be is that three-and-a-half page of the Radio Times pull-out supplement are devoted to Sinatra (to me no more than a second rate pop singer!)

Hmm... hardly a second rate pop singer
IMO one of the all-time 'greats'!

[french frank]

The ultimate depravity of R3 powers-that-be is that three-and-a-half page of the Radio Times pull-out supplement are devoted to Sinatra (to me no more than a second rate pop singer!)

To be fair, Radio Times is no longer a BBC title so they're free to push what they want to.

But just looking at the BBC 'Arts & Entertainments' website to see whether there's anything other than popular culture. One story about the Proms on 16 July which only mentions classical music. But that seems to be all. Round-up for 17th says 'No time' to cover the Proms this week …

[french frank]

Hmm... hardly a second rate pop singer
IMO one of the all-time 'greats'!

I don't think he's actually performing, though :-/

[Richard Tarleton]

I don't think he's actually performing, though :-/

Nor did he compose anything that is being performed. We're getting a tribute act. One step above an impersonator?

[french frank]

Nor did he compose anything that is being performed. We're getting a tribute act. One step above an impersonator?

But it is being performed by 'some of the great voices of our own time'.

[Richard Tarleton]

But it is being performed by 'some of the great voices of our own time'.

indeed!

[french frank]

indeed!

At least Jonas Kaufmann has been given the Last Night as compensation …