The 2016 Proms Season: what are your thoughts?

[Ravensbourne]

Ulster Orchestra

Good that the Ulster Orchestra have been given a prom, thoroughly deserved.

They were given a prom in 2014. It was pouring with rain non-stop. Most of the audience stayed at home. I wish I had.

[Nick Armstrong]

This http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/r938q9/p...etails=setlist is better for concision IMO as it mostly boils it down to just text.

Funnily enough, I find the original one somewhat clearer, on my screens. There's a layout problem I think on the 'printable' one, on my kit at least.

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Just going through the 'there's only one concert I really want to go to' phase at the moment....

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I suppose part of the lack of diversity can be put at the feet of the conductors as much as the Proms. It would be refreshing if a few of them would be advocates for things a little less mainstream occasionally

Well, indeed - but it would certainly help if the Beeb would widen the range of ensembles invited to perform at the Proms, too. If the same old same old conductors and ensembles are invited, the same old sort of repertoire will inevitably be reproduced year after year. (And two of the most exciting works from living composers have been brought to the Proms in the past five years from visiting, German orchestras - the only time Rebecca Saunders' Music has been heard at the Proms was thanks not to the BBC deciding it was about time her work was featured, but because German Musicians believe in her work.)

The organisers have to accept each year that they are going to upset a few people who wanted a Bax cycle, or a Rubbra retrospective. I see this grumbling as part of the new season, just as the grumbling at the end is traditional too.

I must have missed the comments here "grumbling" about "a Bax cycle, or a Rubbra retrospective", Db - is this part of the annual misrepresentation of the grumblers?

[Colonel Danby]

I shall queue for Mahler 3 conducted by Uncle Bernie at the Proms from an early hour this summer. However I also have tickets for the same work conducted by Chailly in his farewell concert in the Gewandhaus Leipitz in May, my favourite Mahler work...

[Barbirollians]

Well, indeed - but it would certainly help if the Beeb would widen the range of ensembles invited to perform at the Proms, too. If the same old same old conductors and ensembles are invited, the same old sort of repertoire will inevitably be reproduced year after year. (And two of the most exciting works from living composers have been brought to the Proms in the past five years from visiting, German orchestras - the only time Rebecca Saunders' Music has been heard at the Proms was thanks not to the BBC deciding it was about time her work was featured, but because German Musicians believe in her work.)


I must have missed the comments here "grumbling" about "a Bax cycle, or a Rubbra retrospective", Db - is this part of the annual misrepresentation of the grumblers?

It seems lots of first performances and commissions this year and loads of Mozart for once -highlight Argerich playing the Liszt 1 - anyone who owns her Lugano performance will know it is a hair stand on end account .

[Bryn]

I shall queue for Mahler 3 conducted by Uncle Bernie at the Proms from an early hour this summer. However I also have tickets for the same work conducted by Chailly in his farewell concert in the Gewandhaus Leipitz in May, my favourite Mahler work...

I may well return to my youthful practice and sleep out on the relevant door steps for the Prom performance. Must dig out my self-inflating bed roll.

[Beef Oven!]

It's a shame that composers (a funny lot, I know) have written almost no new music in the last 75 years, not the BBC's fault, that.

On the up side at least there's a fair amount of Bruckner for a change and some Mahler, as usual.

Chaikovsky is at last represented a bit better with some symphonies and the concertos (looking forward to all that).

It all looks very unadventurous, even if I am looking forward to Tippett's Child, again.

[Beef Oven!]

Bluebeard
Mahler 3 with uncle Bernie
Music written in the 21 century, but not written for the 21 century
Prices up
Prokofiev 3
A fair few bloody good orchestras

It's a bit of a mixed bag, but I've only looked very quickly, my view may well alter over the coming days.

[Pulcinella]

Not that many will believe me but I was listening to the Galina Ustvolskaya piece only yesterday- an Alphabet Associtions discovery - she should shake P4 up a bit ....

Only had time for a swift glance but it looks as if the ER Northerners bus trip might be off for another year ....

YouTube or as the lucky owner of this CD, a snip at £500?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Symphonies-2-3-4-5/dp/B00004Y6X0/ref=sr_1_9?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1460576655&sr=1-9&keywords=ustvolskaya

[Andrew Slater]

I never ask - it's always voluntary. But I hope you noticed that I've said a special thank you for all the upgrading work you've been doing.

Yes, I saw the post at lunchtime I'm not exactly slaving away ....


As a sample I've put up the first three proms in a corner of my new website (which is otherwise still under construction). If anyone thinks it's worth going on, I'll continue, but it will be slowly. Note: the navigation's not working properly with the 'Jump to Prom' button - the top gets hidden behind the buttons.

[french frank]

As a sample I've put up the first three proms in a corner of my new website (which is otherwise still under construction). If anyone thinks it's worth going on, I'll continue, but it will be slowly. Note: the navigation's not working properly with the 'Jump to Prom' button - the top gets hidden behind the buttons.

It looks very good!

[Pulcinella]

Given the cello emphasis, I would have liked a repeat performance of Graham Fitkin's concerto, premiered in 2011 by Yo Yo Ma.

[EdgeleyRob]

Just as tiresome as the endless accusation that all people like me want is a tailor-made proms season of unknown composers! Absolutely not the case, just a handful of works imaginatively and thoughtfully programmed with better known works/composers in two months worth of concerts, really is it that difficult??? It is managed after all with new Proms commissions without much problem. Besides I wouldn't exactly call the likes of Honegger, Hindemith, Martinu, Copland, Milhaud, Barber, Carter etc obscure.

Just a couple more neglected Brits and Russians would be nice,they could surely still manage this in amongst all of the safe stuff.

[Prommer]

Uncle Bernie in Mahler 3 will be interesting... but I fear a dampus squibus. However, I shall be delighted if proved wrong!

Now Thielemann in Mahler 3: THAT I would like to hear! Give it about 20 years...

[teamsaint]

I'm

My reaction is much like ferney's, though different concerts appeal.
Lots to enjoy from the sofa, but nothing that really justifies the expense (once travel and food are costed in) for me, given that the concerts are broadcast.
One grouse is the occasional poor value for money (yes, I know it's quality not quantity that should be considered).

Prom 7 (Wednesday 20 July) has only 72 minutes of music listed, though a running time of 7:30--c9:20 given.

Faure Shylock (19')
Stravinsky Pulcinella --- suite (23')
Poulenc Stabat Mater (30')

Given that two soloists (soprano and tenor) are needed for the Poluenc, could they not have hired a third and given us Pulcinella complete?

Absolutely agree on the point about the running time of some concerts.
The weekend of July 29th does look a great prospect.

I'm going to be away.