Prom 75 - 9.09.17: Last Night of the Proms

[LHC]

The parks concerts are now entirely dreadful crossover events with a tiny bit of classical music if you are lucky .

A work colleague of mine took his family to the Hyde Park event a few years ago, expecting to experience something similar to the last night on TV. He was bitterly disappointed by the whole event, which was essentially a pop concert with the only classical music being the relay of Rule Britannia and Jerusalem from the RAH at the end of the evening.

[PJPJ]

I absolutely love the Kodály Te Deum. The first recording I had of it was on a Westminster LP, conducted by Henry Swoboda (with Sena Jurinac - no less - as the soprano soloist). Ferencsik on Hungaroton is very good, and in decent sound.

The Kodály conducted performance (which I like very much) is also here, reissued by Hungaroton and on a 2-disc set that seems to be available for 12 quid or so. I have had it for a few years and would definitely recommend it to Kodály enthusiasts.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kodaly-Conducts-GYURKOVICS-MARIA-soprano/dp/B004RRVHDG/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1504998720&sr=1-1&keywords=kodaly+conducts+kodaly+hungaroton

You can hear it here too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx5q...yRg_WASqFUsDkP

on offer here:

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Hungaroton/HCD32677-78

[cloughie]

I enjoyed Nina Stemme's Weill and Gershwin items more than most on here it seems - would I rather she had sung the Four Last Songs yes but that is the LNOTP as now demanded by the BBC.

I thought her performances were excellent and idiomatic for an opera singer . I would also prefer Weill sung by Ute Lemper and Gershwin by Audra McDonald but the crossover requirement now imposed on the last night forces great singers like Kaufmann,Florez and Stemme to sing this type of repertoire .

I have enjoyed watching on Sky + I have been able to filter out the proms in the Park ,La Derham and all the nonsense filler stuff .

I fear that Stemme would have murdered Four Last Songs - that voice does not do it for me.

[Barbirollians]

I fear that Stemme would have murdered Four Last Songs - that voice does not do it for me.

She certainly didn't murder them in her recording .

[BBMmk2]

I enjoyed the RAH event but glad I didn't see the outside ones!!

[Mary Chambers]

I enjoyed the RAH event but glad I didn't see the outside ones!!

The televised broadcast kept showing the Parks events when I wanted to see what was going on in the hall. It was incredibly annoying. I didn't like the round-the-nation bits in the middle of the Sea Songs (is that right?) either. Too bitty and messy.

[PhilipT]

AS seen on TV, the genuine Last Night prommers seem to be getting older. The cameras tried to pan onto a few young faces. My oldest g-daughter, OTOH, who aged 19 watched the whole thing rapt, said, "I want to be there next year!" So there is hope.

Thought Sakari Oramo was great...just the right touch with the masses. I too wish they'd give up all that Park nonsense.

We are! We are! My first Last Night on the front row of the Arena was in 1993. (Stephen Bryant was the leader then, and he doesn't look a day older. I suspect he may have a ghastly portrait in his attic.)

I'm in favour of Proms in the Park: it keeps people with no interest in other concerts out of the Hall.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The televised broadcast kept showing the Parks events when I wanted to see what was going on in the hall. It was incredibly annoying. I didn't like the round-the-nation bits in the middle of the Sea Songs (is that right?) either. Too bitty and messy.

I agree. They were doing the same thing a few years ago with some Bob Chilcott arrangements which were weak and inappropriate by his standards. If they want to perform these, perhaps they could so so elsewhere in the programme.

[Prommer]

I agree. They were doing the same thing a few years ago with some Bob Chilcott arrangements which were weak and inappropriate by his standards. If they want to perform these, perhaps they could so so elsewhere in the programme.

Hear, hear... what were they doing in the Hall meanwhile? Was there a red button option etc?

[Prommer]

Thought Sakari Oramo ok but why the rather long disquisition on the role of a conductor?

Had the BBC edited all the juicy bits out?

[Prommer]

Thought Sakari Oramo ok but why the rather long disquisition on the role of a conductor?

Had the BBC edited all the juicy bits out?

Nice ritardando/rallentando at the close of Rule, Britannia. Sargent would have approved. No bis, however...

[Prommer]

The Bliss arrangement of the Anthem is very dull. Give me Britten or Sargent any day of the week...

[Prommer]

Interesting to see the huge number of EU flags in the hall, especially towards the back, and then the frequent cuts to the Park(s), to reveal... hardly any! Even in Hyde Oark, just down the road. Rather revealing of where they had been given out!

[Prommer]

Hmmm...... Cut off Scotland and Wales before Britannia, yet still on with NI for Land of Hope & DUP. Is this what 1.5bn gets you? BBC should be ashamed.

Who makes these decisions?! Surely they should all stay until just before Jerusalem.

[Alison]

Can anyone actually recall a half decent Last Night speech in recent years? I like Mr Oramo but blimey that was boring again.