Prom 46 (11.09.21) - Last Night of the Proms 2021

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

19:30 Saturday 11 September 2021 ON TV
Royal Albert Hall

Gity Razaz: Mother (BBC commission: world premiere)
Malcolm Arnold: Variations for orchestra on a Theme of Ruth Gipps
Barber: Adagio
Ravel: Tombeau de Couperin – Rigaudon
Franck Angelis: Fantasie on a theme of Piazzolla - Chiquilin de Bachin
Wagner: Wesendonck Lieder – Im Treibhaus
Wagner: The Mastersingers of Nuremberg – Prize Song (‘Morgenlich leuchtend in rosigem Schein’)
Florence Price: Symphony No.1 – ‘Juba Dance’ (3rd movt)
Piazzolla: Libertango
Anibal Troilo: Sur
Peter Allen: I still call Australia home
Trad., arr. Sir Henry Wood: Fantasia on British Sea-Songs
Thomas Arne: Rule, Britannia! (arr. Sir Malcolm Sargent)
Sir Edward Elgar: Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 in D major, 'Land of Hope and Glory'
Sir Hubert Parry: Jerusalem (orch. Elgar)
Trad: National Anthem (arr. Britten)
Trad: Auld lang syne

Stuart Skelton, tenor
Ksenija Sidorova, accordion
BBC Singers
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Sakari Oramo, conductor

With his ‘thrilling vocal heroics’ and ‘magnetic stage presence’, Stuart Skelton is one of the great tenors of his generation, a regular in all the major international opera houses. The Australian singer is joined by charismatic Latvian accordionist Ksenija Sidorova for the climax of the 2021 festival – a musical celebration like no other.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I've said this before, and I may say it again. The Britten arrangement of the National Anthem is OK, but there are better versions. Not so much the Elgar (which includes the frowned-upon second verse), but the David Willcocks arrangement, as heard at Charles & Di's wedding.

Another thing. It's a pity the BBC Chorus couldn't have been included for the Last Night, albeit reduced in numbers. The weight of a larger choir would have fitted the occasion.

[Barbirollians]

I hate the Classic fm nature of the first half of the last night . I miss the concerto which it used to always include.

[cloughie]

I've said this before, and I may say it again. The Britten arrangement of the National Anthem is OK, but there are better versions. Not so much the Elgar (which includes the frowned-upon second verse), but the David Willcocks arrangement, as heard at Charles & Di's wedding.

Another thing. It's a pity the BBC Chorus couldn't have been included for the Last Night, albeit reduced in numbers. The weight of a larger choir would have fitted the occasion.

The National Anthem arrangement which for me will never be bettered is the one which Sir John started 3very concert with the Halle - was this his own arrangement?
Supplementary question - does anyone know when the Halle stopped playing the National Anthem to open concerts?

[Petrushka]

I hate the Classic fm nature of the first half of the last night . I miss the concerto which it used to always include.

What a rag-bag of a concert! Time was when the first half was a concert in itself and you could go home, or turn off the TV, in the interval well satisfied.

I'll probably watch out of a sense of duty but have to confess that I've not listened to any of the Proms on R3 this year and only a couple on TV. Even in the exceptional circumstances, it's been a season that felt flat from the start and nothing really grabbed my interest apart from the LSO/Rattle Stravinsky concert.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The National Anthem arrangement which for me will never be bettered is the one which Sir John started 3very concert with the Halle - was this his own arrangement?
Supplementary question - does anyone know when the Halle stopped playing the National Anthem to open concerts?

He conducted it whilst facing the audience.

[Simon Biazeck]

I like Britten's arrangement of the National Anthem very much (even the eccentric harmonization of the first verse!), and I am reliably informed that it is the Queen's favourite.

SBz.

[cloughie]

He conducted it whilst facing the audience.

Indeed so - or if seated on the platform behind the orchestra with his back to you!

[Ein Heldenleben]

I like Britten's arrangement of the National Anthem very much (even the eccentric harmonization of the first verse!), and I am reliably informed that it is the Queen's favourite.

SBz.

With you (and HMQ) on that - piano entry by the choir so effective . Way better than the Willcocks . If you wanted a distillation of why Britten is a genius his harmonisation is a good place to start . And the superbly built climax…

[Simon Biazeck]

With you (and HMQ) on that - piano entry by the choir so effective. Way better than the Willcocks. If you wanted a distillation of why Britten is a genius his harmonisation is a good place to start. And the superbly built climax…

Agreed!

[french frank]

and I am reliably informed

Blimey

[Simon Biazeck]

Blimey

??

[Serial_Apologist]

??

You could well be the one person in the world who is!

[french frank]

??

Just pondering who your 'reliable' source might have been!

[Simon Biazeck]

Just pondering who your 'reliable' source might have been!

Ponder on!