Booking 2020

[oddoneout]

All Glyndebourne performances cancelled until July 14th.

When I heard that on the R3 Breakfast headlines the though did cross my mind that they were aligning themselves with the PM's 'get it sorted in 12 weeks' scenario. However, being more charitable, I assume it's keeping their options open - that there might be sufficient improvement in time for rehearsals, and movement of performers.

[LeMartinPecheur]

Having searched for info re this year's Proms, I came across this, https://www.ticketstosee.com/tickets...proms-tickets/ . I wonder what the chances of getting a refund might be if/when the Proms et cancelled?

By law refunds should be made under the Law Reform (Frustrated Contracts) Act 1943 (enacted because so many large commercial contracts were 'frustrated' by WW2).

A contract is frustrated if its execution becomes impossible through no fault of either party, and the general remedy is to put the parties as far as possible back to their pre-contract starting positions. There is a high bar on 'impossible' though: mere inconvenience or unwillingness won't be enough.

If a still-possible contract gets cancelled, it's then simple breach of contract so refunds payable anyway.

[kernelbogey]

Wonder if Auntie might get creative, and stream concerts (without audience) from studios (which could be anywhere). Presumably there'd be an international market for these, and visiting orchestras could in fact be filmed in their own countries. A bit extreme, maybe, but something could be salvaged...?

[Pulcinella]

Wonder if Auntie might get creative, and stream concerts (without audience) from studios (which could be anywhere). Presumably there'd be an international market for these, and visiting orchestras could in fact be filmed in their own countries. A bit extreme, maybe, but something could be salvaged...?

The National Centre for Early Music, here in York, where we were due to hold our concert on 28 March, is streaming two live concerts tomorrow:

http://www.ncem.co.uk/

I'll post this on the Good News thread too, I think.

[seabright]

The Telegraph headlines this morning state that "millions of people could already be infected" and that "social-distancing measures may need to stay in place for most of the year." These are spelt out as "keeping 2 metres away from other people" at all times. The notion that any orchestra from now on being able to perform in the usual manner, with the players sitting side by side, must surely be a thing of the past until this virus is eradicated, as is the possibility of 5,000 people sitting side by side in the RAH. We do indeed live in dreadful and unprecedented times. When was the last time an entire Proms season was was cancelled?

[LMcD]

The Telegraph headlines this morning state that "millions of people could already be infected" and that "social-distancing measures may need to stay in place for most of the year." These are spelt out as "keeping 2 metres away from other people" at all times. The notion that any orchestra from now on being able to perform in the usual manner, with the players sitting side by side, must surely be a thing of the past until this virus is eradicated, as is the possibility of 5,000 people sitting side by side in the RAH. We do indeed live in dreadful and unprecedented times. When was the last time an entire Proms season was was cancelled?

I don't think an entire season has ever been cancelled. The concerts continued in various venues throughout WW2.

[Petrushka]

The Amsterdam Mahler Festival 2020 has been cancelled. The Salzburg Festival, this year celebrating its centenary, is also in jeopardy with a phased plan of action https://www.salzburgerfestspiele.at/en/faq-coronavirus The Bayreuth Festival has suspended ticket sales.

It's not looking good for the Proms.

[seabright]

The Amsterdam Mahler Festival 2020 has been cancelled. The Salzburg Festival, this year celebrating its centenary, is also in jeopardy with a phased plan of action https://www.salzburgerfestspiele.at/en/faq-coronavirus The Bayreuth Festival has suspended ticket dales.

It's not looking good for the Proms.

The Tokyo Olympics 2020 have been postponed until next year and so has Euro 2020. I should think that any number of the artists booked for this year's Proms, especially those who would have had to fly in from abroad, assuming their respective airlines would still be in operation, have seen how the situation worsens by the hour in London and have already cancelled their bookings. It's impossible to predict how long this pandemic is going to last but judging by the daily headlines it's likely to be with us for many months to come.

However, one thing the Proms organisers can do to fill the TV and Radio 3 slots is to wade through the archives and see what great Proms from the past could do with reviving. If the black-and-white TV film of the 1964 Proms Premiere of Britten's War Requiem can pop in its entirety on YouTube, who knows what else from those early Glock years are languishing in the archives? For example, the first half of Stokowski's first Prom in 1963 was tele-recorded and transmitted two evenings later, so that would be a prime candidate for a revival on the telly this year. Or how about the Previn performance of "Carmina Burana," in which poor Thomas Allen fainted into the cello section due to the heat, and an audience member wandered onto the platform and sang his part for him? There must be loads of similar fascinating tele-recorded Proms in the vaults and if this year's season is indeed cancelled after all, they'd make great substitute viewing! Any suggestions?!

[Petrushka]

The Tokyo Olympics 2020 have been postponed until next year and so has Euro 2020. I should think that any number of the artists booked for this year's Proms, especially those who would have had to fly in from abroad, assuming their respective airlines would still be in operation, have seen how the situation worsens by the hour in London and have already cancelled their bookings. It's impossible to predict how long this pandemic is going to last but judging by the daily headlines it's likely to be with us for many months to come.

However, one thing the Proms organisers can do to fill the TV and Radio 3 slots is to wade through the archives and see what great Proms from the past could do with reviving. If the black-and-white TV film of the 1964 Proms Premiere of Britten's War Requiem can pop in its entirety on YouTube, who knows what else from those early Glock years are languishing in the archives? For example, the first half of Stokowski's first Prom in 1963 was tele-recorded and transmitted two evenings later, so that would be a prime candidate for a revival on the telly this year. Or how about the Previn performance of "Carmina Burana," in which poor Thomas Allen fainted into the cello section due to the heat, and an audience member wandered onto the platform and sang his part for him? There must be loads of similar fascinating tele-recorded Proms in the vaults and if this year's season is indeed cancelled after all, they'd make great substitute viewing! Any suggestions?!

That's one idea that I had too. Another one, particularly for Radio 3, was to repeat an entire previous season. Those schedules are going to need filling!

[jonfan]

The season will have been planned meticulously so an obvious solution to me would be to play the programmes from CDs or previous proms, this retaining an aural shape to the 8 weeks of what was intended. The casualties would be the many premieres unfortunately.

[johnn10]

I like the idea of repeating an entire previous season. Particularly if each evening the concert was broadcast in its entirety with the applause for entry of leader and conductor etc and the applause not faded out at the end. There would be scope under this arrangement to have new topical interval talks. They could even consider choosing a year in which the days of the week align with the same date as they do in 2020 for added authenticity.

[Stunsworth]

To be honest I’d prefer a set of archived concerts to a repeat of an entire season. However I’d be happy with either option.

[Anastasius]

To be honest I’d prefer a set of archived concerts to a repeat of an entire season. However I’d be happy with either option.

Perhaps Essential Classics could ask the listeners ?

[ucanseetheend]

2020

Perhaps Essential Classics could ask the listeners ?

A complete season, voted if possible in a poll. I prefer a season from at least 15 years. Before all these broadway show proms and other non standard classical repertoire came in.

[Bryn]

The first to have been broadcast in stereo would be fun. Now, which one was that? Probably wiped year ago, though.