The Proms

ElanorElanor Posts: 13,326
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They start tonight!

EVERY single year I enjoy watching the Proms and remember that I would really like to go sometime, and EVERY single year I decide that next year I really will go. And EVERY single year I forget until suddenly I realise it's First Night of the Proms night again. I am rubbish!

Oh well! First night tonight - who's going to be watching? And has anyone here been in person?
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  • Claires_dadClaires_dad Posts: 5,100
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    There are still some tickets left for some of the Proms if you still want to go.

    http://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/proms.aspx
  • LightofTruthLightofTruth Posts: 614
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    Guess there is no takers for the proms on Digital Spy
  • JordanDSJordanDS Posts: 1,833
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    I'm watching! But Mahler's 8th is one of my favorites. The last 10 minutes or so are unforgettable.
  • alcockellalcockell Posts: 25,160
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    Strikes me that that piece was very cinematic... I found my brain was trying to splice in visuals...
  • JS477JS477 Posts: 1,489
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    Is there any Haydn this year?
  • ElanorElanor Posts: 13,326
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    I'm afraid I got a bit bored tonight - it was pleasant enough background music but I just didn't get into it really.
    JS477 wrote: »
    Is there any Haydn this year?

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2010/whatson/2208.shtml#prom50 Yep, prom 50.

    I really fancy the Sondheim prom:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2010/whatson/3107.shtml#prom19
    But apparently it's sold out. :(
  • nethwennethwen Posts: 23,374
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    Does anyone know if tonight's Mahler performance will be repeated? I missed it and would really like to watch the full symphony.
  • ElanorElanor Posts: 13,326
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    nethwen wrote: »
    Does anyone know if tonight's Mahler performance will be repeated? I missed it and would really like to watch the full symphony.

    Yup, you can watch it on the BBC Proms website, or you can download it.
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2010/whatson/1607.shtml#prom1
    and
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00t4213
  • JeffG1JeffG1 Posts: 15,243
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    It's also on iPlayer.
  • PaacePaace Posts: 14,679
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    I love the Proms but if I don't like some of the music I switch off. Didn't enjoy Mahler 8th . Too much screaming from the sopranos for most of the first half. Mahler's 2nd Symphony the Resurrection, is a wonderful, sublime piece of music.

    I see they have Wagner on BBC4 tonight. Another composer I find difficult to enjoy. I'll give it a go tonight but if I don't like I'll switch over.
  • ohglobbitsohglobbits Posts: 4,479
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    The first two nights are a bit heavy to start a concert season. I'll tune in today just to catch Bryn Terfel who is an exceptional opera singer. Here he is in a Proms from 1998 performing one of his signature songs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sL5G4U-Y1cM
  • BeethovensPianoBeethovensPiano Posts: 11,689
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    Which Prom concerts are you looking forward to?
  • ClarkF1ClarkF1 Posts: 6,587
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    I'm going to Proms 12 and 60

    Shame Sir Charles Mackerras died
  • ElanorElanor Posts: 13,326
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    ohglobbits wrote: »
    The first two nights are a bit heavy to start a concert season. I'll tune in today just to catch Bryn Terfel who is an exceptional opera singer. Here he is in a Proms from 1998 performing one of his signature songs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sL5G4U-Y1cM

    I really like Bryn Terfel. I come from the same part of north Wales and my parents still live there. I used to see him at Bangor train station quite often. His Faenol festival was always really good.
    Which Prom concerts are you looking forward to?

    I'm particularly keen to see the Bach day.
    ClarkF1 wrote: »
    I'm going to Proms 12 and 60

    Shame Sir Charles Mackerras died

    Have you ever queued for day tickets? What are the chances of getting in? I really want to go to the two matinees of the Brandenburg Concertos at the Cadogan Hall, but they're sold out.
  • MetermaidMetermaid Posts: 804
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    Elanor wrote: »
    They start tonight!

    EVERY single year I enjoy watching the Proms and remember that I would really like to go sometime, and EVERY single year I decide that next year I really will go. And EVERY single year I forget until suddenly I realise it's First Night of the Proms night again. I am rubbish!

    Oh well! First night tonight - who's going to be watching? And has anyone here been in person?

    Ive been several times since the 60s Elanor. I had the pleasure of hearing and seeing some fabulous and world class musicians. The atmosphere is always electric. You must go next year, pick your concert carefully. A big choral work is always brill for your first time. Anyway, enjoy this season.:)
  • JS477JS477 Posts: 1,489
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    Elanor wrote: »
    I'm afraid I got a bit bored tonight - it was pleasant enough background music but I just didn't get into it really.



    http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2010/whatson/2208.shtml#prom50 Yep, prom 50.


    Thanks Elenor, I don't think it's on TV but so I'll record it off the radio.
  • JeffG1JeffG1 Posts: 15,243
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    I must confess I have given up on Die Meistersinger. I find Wagner a bit heavy going :)

    See the dedicated Prommers at the front following everything in their own copies of the score...
  • ElanorElanor Posts: 13,326
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    Metermaid wrote: »
    Ive been several times since the 60s Elanor. I had the pleasure of hearing and seeing some fabulous and world class musicians. The atmosphere is always electric. You must go next year, pick your concert carefully. A big choral work is always brill for your first time. Anyway, enjoy this season.:)

    I think the first year that I started watching properly on telly (I'm not hugely knowledgeable about classical music or anything) I had it on in the background and there was a Beethoven choral thing on, and I became totally transfixed by it, just loved it. Can't remember what it was now, but it was fabulous.

    There are still tickets for the two main concerts on the Bach day - I am very very tempted to go for it. It would mean staying overnight as the last train home is at 8.55, but I am sorely tempted! And the Brandenburg concertos are earlier in the day, I could queue for the cheap tickets. OH it's tempting! But my car tax is also due, and I need to get by brake discs done... Oh dear.
  • nethwennethwen Posts: 23,374
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    Elanor wrote: »
    Yup, you can watch it on the BBC Proms website, or you can download it.
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2010/whatson/1607.shtml#prom1
    and
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00t4213

    Thanks. :)

    I caught up with it today. I really enjoyed it, especially the end chorus.

    I gave Wagner a miss tonight as I don't like his music.
  • ohglobbitsohglobbits Posts: 4,479
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    Elanor wrote: »
    I really like Bryn Terfel. I come from the same part of north Wales and my parents still live there. I used to see him at Bangor train station quite often. His Faenol festival was always really good.
    Bryn Terfel and the Welsh national orchestra and singers nailed it, I thought. Apparently this is the first Mahler Opera he has undertaken and has only performed it a few times. Great showcase for Welsh talent.
    JeffG1 wrote: »
    I must confess I have given up on Die Meistersinger. I find Wagner a bit heavy going :)
    It's probably his lightest opera, but that's not saying much. ;)
  • greengrangreengran Posts: 4,129
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    JeffG1 wrote: »
    I must confess I have given up on Die Meistersinger. I find Wagner a bit heavy going :)

    See the dedicated Prommers at the front following everything in their own copies of the score...

    I did the same I'm afraid, it's too easy watching at home, you can switch off if it's heavy going. In the Concert Hall you have to stay.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 12,613
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    I am really enjoying the Proms on TV this year. Worth the licence fee alone!
  • Yorkie47Yorkie47 Posts: 1,487
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    I like Bryn Terfel too but I couldn't watch last night because of the poor sound. Did anyone else have the same problem?
  • ElanorElanor Posts: 13,326
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    Yorkie47 wrote: »
    I like Bryn Terfel too but I couldn't watch last night because of the poor sound. Did anyone else have the same problem?

    Not that I noticed to be honest, but I wasn't really watching or listening that closely. I had it on in the background all evening, and while I don't like Wagner and wasn't following the story, I enjoyed the music. I particularly liked how expressive Bryn Terfel was, and I liked the blonde woman.

    What did make me smile was Stephen Fry's bits in between - he totally reminded me of his mickey-taking radio 3-style bits on Saturday Night Fry all those years ago!
  • BeethovensPianoBeethovensPiano Posts: 11,689
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    greengran wrote: »
    I did the same I'm afraid, it's too easy watching at home, you can switch off if it's heavy going. In the Concert Hall you have to stay.

    I did notice that by the fifth hour the people standing up at the front were starting to sway a bit :eek:
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