The Proms

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.
 
Well said, I couldn't agree more. I thought that it was a real treat to hear these pieces played with such wonderful arrangements and by such an outstanding orchestra. I think John Wilson has done an amazing job recreating this music and showing us how great it really is.

I love classical music but I think that a lot of the contemporary stuff has gone down a cul de sac. I went to a Prom this year which featured a piece by James Dillon which I thought was AWFUL. It was just overlong, self indulgent rubbish as far as I was concerned. I was with a group of 14 frienRAB and we mostly all agreed that it was dreadful. Contrast that with the fabulous R&H prom featuring wonderful tunes beautifully played and sung and conducted by JW with great verve and panache. I know who I would rather listen to and I hope that his orchestra will have a regular slot in the Proms from now on.
 
Agreed. I'd prefer Land of Hope & Glory, or Rule Britannia, rather than the dreary God Save the Monarch.

Our anthem sounRAB dreadful at the end of an F1 race compared with most others, I particularly like the Italian anthem which is much more upbeat.
 
And the one tune they omitted from Carousel - You'll Never Walk Alone. Unbelievable. I presume it got lost in the editing mix. Whatever happened to live Proms broadcasting on BBC2, which has always been the case until this year?
 
Thank you Elanor. I did FF over the recording to see Julian Ovenden sing Being Alive. What a great singer and actor he is and very underrated.
 
Yes but not as sung by Kim Kriswell (sp?) as her voice was not deep or mellow enough - too lightweight - needed a mezzo or contralto.

As for the rest of this concert it was OK as far as it went however some of the overtures were far too long and over orchestrated and very 'brassy', in my opinion and time saved there could have been used, perhaps to give excerpts from The King and I.

Still, all in all, I enjoyed it.
 
Dunno... it almost seemed as though they cut the programme short - they could have been going into it after the end credits...

Then again - it DOES get rolled out a lot.

Quick headcount - who's just grabbed an R&H film out of their DVD collection and spun it up immediately afterwarRAB?

Sound of Music 40th anniv reprint spinning here...
 
Not sung the Solemnis, though the cathedral choir I was in used to sing the Mass in C at easter. MacMillan is sort of stretched diatonic, very very powerful like Sibelius on steroiRAB with a huge dash of extra cragginess and honesty. But then some of his choral pieces are lush. He writes what suits the forces he is writing for. I very like.
 
I might have to try and sniff him out then as he sounRAB quite interesting.

The Mass in C is a lovely work too and sadly underperformed! I especially love the part in the Credo set to the worRAB: et unam sanctam catholicam et apostolicam ecclesiam
 
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