Prom 76: Last Night of the Proms 2015 (12.09.15)

[Prommer]

I could without Alsop: a journeyman, with the very best will in the world.

[pastoralguy]

I could without Alsop: a journeyman, with the very best will in the world.

Sorry but have to disagree there. We in Scotland heard her do some terrific concerts with the RSNO. I always thought they missed a trick in not promoting her to Music Director when the job came up.

[Prommer]

Sorry but have to disagree there. We in Scotland heard her do some terrific concerts with the RSNO. I always thought they missed a trick in not promoting her to Music Director when the job came up.

With personal knowledge, they obviously decided to pass up the trick! She's not a bad stick waver... just not very inspiring artistically, and for an event like this, rather low in the charisma and humour stakes.

But having said that, who has recently been able to pull off the Last Night? Nearly all men, and nearly all rather flat too.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

In these days of BBC economies, why do they need TWO idXXXX../Radio 3 presenters when one could do an equally brilliant job?

[Flosshilde]

The Puccini he will sing is clearly to publicise his new Puccini album... his Nessun Dorma (though it is a hackneyed number) will be interesting on the level of: what will he do with it?

Rather extravagent to employ him to sing three arias. And he made some rather odd noises during Nessun dorma.

I am sleepless at the prospect.

Not in Seattle, I hope

[mrbouffant]

However much I love Parry's music, when you put Elgar's orchestration of Jerusalem alongside the original it really just miturates all over it.

[jonfan]

Come on people, lighten up. It's a party and a damn good one too. The quieter moments were as equally effective as the noisy ones. Roll on next July, can't wait.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

And bring back Richard Baker.

He's 90.

[Roehre]

Come on people, lighten up. It's a party and a damn good one too. The quieter moments were as equally effective as the noisy ones. Roll on next July, can't wait.

Only did the part before the interval, but that was certainly enjoyable too.
Till Eulenspiegel was my "first" Richard Strauss some 40 years ago, sweet memories

[Bert Coules]

Even on the current broad-spectrum R3 I thought that The Sound of Music sat a little uneasily on the programme, but given that they showed that lovely archive clip of Henry Wood himself saying how pleased he is that the Proms presents all manner of music, it would surely be churlish to complain.

[Pabmusic]

However much I love Parry's music, when you put Elgar's orchestration of Jerusalem alongside the original it really just miturates all over it.

You're comparing apples with oranges. Parry's 1918 orchestration in fine, small-scale and supports the tune well. Elgar's 1922 version is big-scale, for a huge orchestra and organ, and intended for a festival atmosphere (Leeds Festival). It's entirely appropriate that Elgar's is used at the Proms, but it's way OTT for many occasions.

[mrbouffant]

You're comparing apples with oranges. Parry's 1918 orchestration in fine, small-scale and supports the tune well. Elgar's 1922 version is big-scale, for a huge orchestra and organ, and intended for a festival atmosphere (Leeds Festival). It's entirely appropriate that Elgar's is used at the Proms, but it's way OTT for many occasions.

Interesting! Thanks Pab.

[peterkin]

Come on people, lighten up. It's a party and a damn good one too. The quieter moments were as equally effective as the noisy ones. Roll on next July, can't wait.

[Pabmusic]

Interesting! Thanks Pab.

I should have added that Jerusalem was originally (1916) for unison voices and organ, but Parry's orchestration was made for the Suffrage Demonstration Concert at the Queen's Hall on March 13th, 1918. This was the first time it was called Jerusalem; before that it had been "And did those feet in ancient time".

[verismissimo]

... it really just miturates all over it.

Or even micturates, Mr B?