The 2016 Proms Season: what are your thoughts?

[MrGongGong]

Sir Harrison Birtwistle The message

After the rapturously received Smiths tribute in 1995
Harry turns his attention to Grandmaster Flash for this years mashup?

[teamsaint]

1. Art
2. Popularity

those would be 4 and 3?

[Bryn]

After the rapturously received Smiths tribute in 1995
Harry turns his attention to Grandmaster Flash for this years mashup?

A fine panegyric, indeed.

[Pulcinella]

A fine panegyric, indeed.

[Alison]

I take the return to the Round House as a positive.

Will be interested to hear Bayan Northcott's Concerto for Orchestra.

He is certainly a more interesting writer on music than Malcolm Hayes so I am expecting that to come out in the compositions!

[CallMePaul]

Agree there are some really good concerts (Haitink, Barenboim, Rattle, Fischer etc) but oh the amount of slop: presudo jazz and pop. David Bowie (Prom 19), Quincey Jones (Prom 49) and Jamie Cullum FFS (Prom 36) all look awful and totally out of place. But worst is the Strictly Prom (8): why?

Really, despite the good parts there's so much stuff that shouldn't be there.

Within the context of a classical music festival, a more appropriate tribute to David Bowie would surely have been either or both of the symphonies by Philip Glass based on Bowie's Heroes and Low albums (2 of Bowie's best IMO). And can someone please enlighten me as to who is Quincy Jones?

[Beef Oven!]

those would be 4 and 3?

I agree that I got them the wrong way around, but given that the Proms is not an exemplar for the generation of super-normal profits, they would be 2 & 1, IMV.

[french frank]

but oh the amount of slop: presudo jazz and pop. David Bowie (Prom 19), Quincey Jones (Prom 49) and Jamie Cullum FFS (Prom 36) all look awful and totally out of place. But worst is the Strictly Prom (8): why?

And "George and Ira Gershwin Rediscovered": they were never undiscovered!

Really, despite the good parts there's so much stuff that shouldn't be there.

What else shouldn't be there? There are 75 'Proms', plus PCMs. I think there have been two John Wilson concerts in the past, only one this year; a bit of jazz - doesn't look the greatest ever; I shall neither watch nor listen to the Strictly Prom - but shall wait to hear whether the emphasis is on the music rather than the dancing/personalities.

Bowie? I'm told he was great, but regardless of the music, I don't really think concerts dedicated to just one contemporary popular musician (alive or dead) are particularly 'appropriate', and would prefer a Late Night Prom to be a mix of contemporary works - where the popular artists might be included. But that's theoretical: as I wouldn't watch/listen to either, I'm not that bothered. I think there's less to 'complain about' on this particular score than there has been in the past.

[zola]

And can someone please enlighten me as to who is Quincy Jones?

A hugely significant figure in Afro-American culture.

[Beef Oven!]

Within the context of a classical music festival, a more appropriate tribute to David Bowie would surely have been either or both of the symphonies by Philip Glass based on Bowie's Heroes and Low albums (2 of Bowie's best IMO). And can someone please enlighten me as to who is Quincy Jones?

Philip Glass's 'Bowie' symphonies are IMV, best forgotten.

Find out all about Quincy Jones and the amazing AKG headphones named after him here.

[MrGongGong]

Within the context of a classical music festival, a more appropriate tribute to David Bowie would surely have been either or both of the symphonies by Philip Glass based on Bowie's Heroes and Low albums (2 of Bowie's best IMO). And can someone please enlighten me as to who is Quincy Jones?

Is your internet broken?

[Anastasius]

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 know which one I'd prefer to go to. I know a lot of people rave over Haitink's conducting of Mahler but I find him stodgy in the extreme. Having said that if the Weekend Pass extends to include the Friday then that particular weekend is rather good IMO.

I now what some are saying about factoring in the cost of travel etc. For me, the diesel cost is around £70 return and so that's why I will go for Weekend Passes. I'm fortunate in tat I can also combine it with a visit to the mother.

Not sure about the external concert locations...Peckham, for instance. How does one actually get to Peckham ? especially if one does not like using the tube and assuming said Peckham is actually on the tube network.

[Prommer]

But worst is the Strictly Prom (8): why?

Er, Katie Derham?

[teamsaint]

I know which one I'd prefer to go to. I know a lot of people rave over Haitink's conducting of Mahler but I find him stodgy in the extreme. Having said that if the Weekend Pass extends to include the Friday then that particular weekend is rather good IMO.

I now what some are saying about factoring in the cost of travel etc. For me, the diesel cost is around £70 return and so that's why I will go for Weekend Passes. I'm fortunate in tat I can also combine it with a visit to the mother.

Not sure about the external concert locations...Peckham, for instance. How does one actually get to Peckham ? especially if one does not like using the tube and assuming said Peckham is actually on the tube network.

Robin Reliant?

[MrGongGong]

Not sure about the external concert locations...Peckham, for instance. How does one actually get to Peckham ? especially if one does not like using the tube and assuming said Peckham is actually on the tube network.

Train from London Bridge
OR on the BUS (there are lots)
The car park has for several years been used for this, a great idea, not sure what the "Bufton's" will make of the ambience though