Brilliant Idea? - Maybe. New directions for Proms

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

If the BBC insists on having these "other Proms", I may have a solution.

The Edinburgh International Festival has a deserved reputation, as does the festival known as the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts (the knight in question being represented by a small bust in the RAH, placed under a gigantic BBC PROMS banner).

But other things happen in Edinburgh - experimental drama, music and entertainment. It's called the Edinburgh Fringe and it's a great success. My son used to take part until he got a "proper job"

The Proms could revert to a William Glock style festival, and be called the Henry Wood Proms (perhaps with a less brazen BBC banner, but that's not the major issue) and there would be a BBC Proms Fringe (in other venues). I would envisage the latter to be run by, and broadcast on BBC Radio 6 Music, as they seem to have a considered philosophy.




I'll go and put on my bullet-proof vest.

[VodkaDilc]

Excellent. I have been advocating a return of the Henry Wood name for many years. I have just found a copy of the 1986 Proms Prospectus. At the top it says:

The complete programme of the 92nd season of the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts.

At the bottom we have the venue, dates and a small BBC logo. Isn't this far more dignified? Now we get the BBC plastered everywhere, including the nonsensical announcement: "Tonight at 7.30, the BBC Proms, part of BBC Music." I'm not even sure what that means.

I like the comparison with the Edinburgh Fringe.

[french frank]

It also ties in with the Proms in the Park, which are certainly peripheral and usually have the honour of being broadcast live on Radio 2.

[Serial_Apologist]

Excellent. I have been advocating a return of the Henry Wood name for many years. I have just found a copy of the 1986 Proms Prospectus. At the top it says:

The complete programme of the 92nd season of the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts.

At the bottom we have the venue, dates and a small BBC logo. Isn't this far more dignified? Now we get the BBC plastered everywhere, including the nonsensical announcement: "Tonight at 7.30, the BBC Proms, part of BBC Music." I'm not even sure what that means.

I like the comparison with the Edinburgh Fringe.

Perhaps it could be moved to Guildford, say, and re-named "Surrey with The Fringe On Top".

[french frank]

Perhaps it could be moved to Guildford, say, and re-named "Surrey with The Fringe On Top".

And another at Haslemere, which could be called Beyond the Fringe.

[french frank]

Copied from Alpie's reply to pureimagination on the Sherlock thread:

and finally for the either mistaken or confected reason given that these concerts draw the non-familiarised public towards classical music purely by virtue of being part of The Proms.

I've just had a Telegraph article pointed out to me, but I can't read it because I've reached my limit. But it has the title 'Take that, Mozart' (I think a quote from the venerable Pete Tong), reporting that - surprise, surprise - the Ibiza Prom has had more downloads than (I'm not sure than what). Young audience, into downloading stuff from the internet, really goes for the club night Prom. But, in the end, what have they got? Anything resembling the BBC Proms, or a download of dance music? How has this helped Radio 3/classical music? I don't know - but the BBC has a hit on its hands! QEF

[jean]

Here's a link:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/bbc/11797416/Take-that-Mozart-BBC-Ibiza-Prom-is-most-downloaded.html

And the second most popular Prom is...Thomas Tallis!

[MrGongGong]

Contrabass flute and bassoon

What's not to love?

[french frank]

Here's a link:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/bbc/11797416/Take-that-Mozart-BBC-Ibiza-Prom-is-most-downloaded.html

And the second most popular Prom is...Thomas Tallis!

Yes, I had the link but the page blanks over because I've - so they say - had my 15 free visits

Well, good for Tommy. Is there a time limit for how long is covered? The Ibiza Prom has had longer than some of the others, I think.

[VodkaDilc]

Has it occured to those crowing about this that the youngsters' Prom is catering for the section of the population most likely to 'download'? If I'm interested in a Prom, I either get tickets, listen live on the radio or try to catch the afternoon repeat. In earlier days I might have watched a television version (no longer watchable), but I would certainly not 'download'.

I'd be interested to see a list of those concerts which were sold out; isn't that the way to judge popularity?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Copied from Alpie's reply to pureimagination on the Sherlock thread:

Are you quite sure Alpie said that?

[jean]

I'd be interested to see a list of those concerts which were sold out; isn't that the way to judge popularity?

It won't tell you which ones could have sold out three or four times over.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It won't tell you which ones could have sold out three or four times over.

I suppose those that had sold out by lunchtime on the first day might be a good indicator.

Anyway, I can't see the point of that Telegraph article. It's more like something you might expect in the Daily Express (unless they're taking about the weather) in its sensationalism. You put on a concert of Radio 1 music, knowing it will be popular, so there's nothing to report really; plus it was hyped up like no other prom in recent history.

[french frank]

Are you quite sure Alpie said that?

No, what are you talking about?

It was Serial_Apologist

[cloughie]

I've got a brilliant idea - stuff the gimmicks and let's get back to proper proms and a last night without the false bonhomie in the park.