Proms 2022

[Darkbloom]

Like a few people on here, I'm starting to feel a bit burned out by the Proms. It doesn't seem to matter in the way it used to, at least for me. For those of us who liked to Prom in the arena, that experience has slowly been eroded, so that you can't even buy walk-up tickets any more (online, plus booking fee now), even though you still have to get there early if you want to get a ticket for your place in the queue. It really doesn't need to last for two months and the whole thing would definitely benefit from some judicious pruning so that we don't get as many filler Proms in half-empty halls. The schedule looks uninspired to say the least this year.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Like a few people on here, I'm starting to feel a bit burned out by the Proms. It doesn't seem to matter in the way it used to, at least for me. For those of us who liked to Prom in the arena, that experience has slowly been eroded, so that you can't even buy walk-up tickets any more (online, plus booking fee now), even though you still have to get there early if you want to get a ticket for your place in the queue. It really doesn't need to last for two months and the whole thing would definitely benefit from some judicious pruning so that we don't get as many filler Proms in half-empty halls. The schedule looks uninspired to say the least this year.

“burned out.” Is definitely the phrase . I would not fancy being in the arena for the next few days. My two tips - bring your own water don’t pay RAH prices . The walk from Lancaster Gate tube is cooler than that from South Ken or Green Park tube. But maybe the tube is best avoided all together- I’ve got a feeling the buses are air con now but it’s been two years since I’ve been on one..

[LHC]

“burned out.” Is definitely the phrase . I would not fancy being in the arena for the next few days. My two tips - bring your own water don’t pay RAH prices . The walk from Lancaster Gate tube is cooler than that from South Ken or Green Park tube. But maybe the tube is best avoided all together- I’ve got a feeling the buses are air con now but it’s been two years since I’ve been on one..

While the walk from Lancaster Gate to the RAH may be cooler, Lancaster Gate is on the Central Line, which is generally recognised to be the worst tube line for excessive temperatures, so is best avoided in the summer.

During the heatwave in 2018, the Central Line was the hottest line in London, with average temperatures at least 7 degrees higher than the Circle and District lines, which serve South Ken.



The Circle and District line trains also have air con now, as does the new Elizabeth Line

[Ein Heldenleben]

Great graph but also to be borne in mind are the platform waits .You can spend an age waiting for the right circle and district line train and then have to change. Sometimes it’s better to get the pain over quicker.
To be serious Monday and Tuesday in London is so warm I would think seriously before attempting any sort of tube journey at all. The thought of being stuck in a train….
The last really hot day I had in London it was about 34 deg. I spent most of it in the air conditioned reception of a dubbing studios drinking Diet Coke and cowering from the heat. For some reason hot weather in London always feels hotter than abroad.

[LHC]

Great graph but also to be borne in mind are the platform waits .You can spend an age waiting for the right circle and district line train and then have to change. Sometimes it’s better to get the pain over quicker.
To be serious Monday and Tuesday in London is so warm I would think seriously before attempting any sort of tube journey at all. The thought of being stuck in a train….
The last really hot day I had in London it was about 34 deg. I spent most of it in the air conditioned reception of a dubbing studios drinking Diet Coke and cowering from the heat. For some reason hot weather in London always feels hotter than abroad.

Good advice. I’m going to see Attila at the Opera House on Tuesday and am not looking forward to my journey there and back on the Central line

[Ein Heldenleben]

Good advice. I’m going to see Attila at the Opera House on Tuesday and am not looking forward to my journey there and back on the Central line

I wonder whether the new Elizabeth line has reduced pressure on this notorious stretch with its dangerously over crowded stations
I hope you enjoy Attila and that the air con is working!

[Petrushka]

Like a few people on here, I'm starting to feel a bit burned out by the Proms. It doesn't seem to matter in the way it used to ... It really doesn't need to last for two months and the whole thing would definitely benefit from some judicious pruning so that we don't get as many filler Proms in half-empty halls. The schedule looks uninspired to say the least this year.

I've been saying precisely this for the past few seasons now and am concerned that if steps are not taken to properly address the issue, then the Proms could be facing the axe altogether within a few years. I really struggled to find the four, yes FOUR, Proms I've decided to attend this season, when in previous seasons I've struggled to whittle down to a manageable level. Agree that much of the fayre this year is uninspired, even poor, in both content and artists. Just calling the Proms 'the world's greatest music festival' doesn't necessarily make it so and I'd look at something more like Lucerne as a better model.

The season definitely needs pruning, possibly down to a month, say from first week in August to first week in September, allowing musicians to have an extended break after the end of their normal season. There needs to be more concentration on artists and ensembles of renown playing a more considered repertoire with worthwhile commissions/new music. The Proms has always been good at moving with the times and someone needs to step up because the times have shifted very markedly in recent years with the future looking increasingly uncertain.

[Serial_Apologist]

I've been saying precisely this for the past few seasons now and am concerned that if steps are not taken to properly address the issue, then the Proms could be facing the axe altogether within a few years. I really struggled to find the four, yes FOUR, Proms I've decided to attend this season, when in previous seasons I've struggled to whittle down to a manageable level. Agree that much of the fayre this year is uninspired, even poor, in both content and artists. Just calling the Proms 'the world's greatest music festival' doesn't necessarily make it so and I'd look at something more like Lucerne as a better model.

The season definitely needs pruning, possibly down to a month, say from first week in August to first week in September, allowing musicians to have an extended break after the end of their normal season. There needs to be more concentration on artists and ensembles of renown playing a more considered repertoire with worthwhile commissions/new music. The Proms has always been good at moving with the times and someone needs to step up because the times have shifted very markedly in recent years with the future looking increasingly uncertain.

The pace of change, or, that much-used word these days "modernisation" - in terms of widening the generic range of music at the Proms, might well be in danger of outpacing any gain in terms of that much-cherished but probably illusory "younger demographic" the BBC seems lemming tendency-bound to fail winning over to Radio 3. Well, at any rate this is the only rationale I can see to explain Proms programming policy.

[Prommer]

The decline in the Proms is directly mirrored by the decline in the volume (and quality?) of comments here...Oh for the BBC messageboards! Salymap, thou shoudst be living at this hour?!

[mahlerfan]

The decline in the Proms is directly mirrored by the decline in the volume (and quality?) of comments here...Oh for the BBC messageboards! Salymap, thou shoudst be living at this hour?!

The decline in the volume (number?) of comments is probably due to there being fewer active forum members now compared to previous years. As for the quality, I'm not sure there's an issue, perhaps you could say more about this.....

[Master Jacques]

For some reason hot weather in London always feels hotter than abroad.

It's the humidity. I used to get laughs from my Spanish colleagues, for telling them that 30C in London was worse than 40C in Madrid ... until one of them came over for a Prom, and experienced the horrors of a Kensington Summer for himself!

[Master Jacques]

The decline in the volume (number?) of comments is probably due to there being fewer active forum members now compared to previous years. As for the quality, I'm not sure there's an issue, perhaps you could say more about this.....

I think there is an issue, though it's difficult to quite say why. Too many pop, americana and/or special interest concerts (e.g. Ceebeebies x 2)? Too much dull and predictable repertoire? Lack of interest in a stream of (often undersold) new commissions, compared to the anticipation which used to be around before brand-new works from established big guns, such as Britten, Tippett, or Max? Bad programming of individual concerts? Lack of overall theme or shape? Doubtless something of all these, with the result that it's hard for pre-covid "regulars" to feel very excited about much of what's being offered.

All things fall and are built again ... and perhaps it's time to go back to basics with this rather tired-looking, bloated and over-long "festival", done on the cheap, and increasingly reliant on inflated ticket prices.

[Petrushka]

I think there is an issue, though it's difficult to quite say why. Too many pop, americana and/or special interest concerts (e.g. Ceebeebies x 2)? Too much dull and predictable repertoire? Lack of interest in a stream of (often undersold) new commissions, compared to the anticipation which used to be around before brand-new works from established big guns, such as Britten, Tippett, or Max? Bad programming of individual concerts? Lack of overall theme or shape? Doubtless something of all these, with the result that it's hard for pre-covid "regulars" to feel very excited about much of what's being offered.

All things fall and are built again ... and perhaps it's time to go back to basics with this rather tired-looking, bloated and over-long "festival", done on the cheap, and increasingly reliant on inflated ticket prices.

[mahlerfan]

I think there is an issue, though it's difficult to quite say why. Too many pop, americana and/or special interest concerts (e.g. Ceebeebies x 2)? .........................

Maybe,

but I asked about your comments about your claim about the comments on this forum....

You said - "The decline in the Proms is directly mirrored by the decline in the volume (and quality?) of comments here......"

Here's what I said.....

The decline in the volume (number?) of comments is probably due to there being fewer active forum members now compared to previous years. As for the quality, I'm not sure there's an issue, perhaps you could say more about this.....

[Barbirollians]

I think this is a dud season as a whole and very few concerts made me want to rush out and buy a ticket