The Proms

Ugh. Never heard of Dizzie Rascal but it sounRAB vile. I didn't mind the Doctor Who Prom as I'm a fan and at least the music was completely orchestral but Jazz isn't remotely like classical music. I hate to use the word 'dumbing down', but I will anyway :)
 
Well I'm in the Classical camp, but never particularly cared for Symphony Fantastique. I like R & H and Sondheim too. But the Proms? Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm getting the impression that the Beeb are beginning to dumb down the Proms. AFAIK this is the first year where most of the performances have not been live. Also if they can get away with filling an evening with light music rather than a classical one, they'll go for that option. We may even get an evening of Jamie Cullum coming up soon.
 
Do you not like Berlioz generally or just the Symphonie Fantastique? I'm quite a fan myself. My favourite works are probably the SF, Romeo & Juliette, La Damnation de Faust, Harold en Italie and, especially, his vast five-act opera 'Les Troyens' based on the Aeneid. I think he's the best French composer of all. :)

And I agree. The BBC is in danger of dumbing down its presentation of the Proms, although I felt that started when they began to employ Alan Titchmarsh as a guest presenter. :mad:
 
Yes, you really don't notice the mass of people around you. It's an amazing space. It does get hot in the arena tho. :eek:

I love the mushrooms but I hate how they cover up the organ; that's the hall's best feature!

A pianist like Andras Schiff or Brendel can keep the whole hall in rapture. Either of those would be a great choice perform his sonatas/impromptus. (although preferably Schiff because Brendel tenRAB to overuse of the loud pedal)

Haydn is the base which Mozart built on, perhaps. Very good music for a long car drive.

That's interesting; I suppose modern composers might have taken their inspiration from those earlier composers just like Tchaikovsky/Rachmaninoff took their cue from Beethoven.

I tried to like the Scriabin/Stravinsky on tonight but I am glad that this year, there seems to be far less modern stuff than a few years ago when there'd be some weeks without any of the classical composers in them.
 
Why did Wagner think he had to write such long pieces? I pitied those people standing for 5 hours.

I just don't get the singing in Wagner. No defined arias just endless recitative. I also don't understand why some rave over his music. I prefer the wonderful arias of Verdi or Mozart.
 
Liked the Tchaikovsky viola piece just now. Very beautiful and Mozartian with none of the crowd pleasing touches he usaully adRAB on. The Parry i like less tho.
 
I quite agree. I'm not really that into opera, but I quite like Mozart and Puccini. I can rarely be bothered with a whole opera though, I get bored. I prefer a few arias really, cut out the rest.

BBC is showing a Beethoven piano concerto prom from a couple of nights ago tonight:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2010/whatson/2107.shtml#prom6
I like the sound of it. I don't know all the Beethoven piano concertos, but the ones I do know, I really like.
 
Googleking, I would like to thank you most profusely for the link to the South Bank concert. I have booked two tickets for my sister and me. I am looking forward to it.
 
I'll try and sniff out a HIP version. I usually prefer Beethoven on modern instruments but it's worth a try. :)

Edit: will watch the youtube vid :D

Post-Edit: it was ok, probably better than the traditional orchestra approach, but I just find the variations as dull as ditchwater, especially compared with what Beethoven achieved in the Diabellis, the late sonatas or the late string quartets. Plus, I don't see how they fit into the overall narrative of the symphony itself. I think I'd enjoy the movement more if it was just a stand-alone set of orchestral variations. I think a large sonata-rondo movement would've been better, something along the lines of the final to the 5th symphony in tone at least (although that movement is problematic for me too with that ridiculously emphatic multiple restatement of C major in the coda. Beethoven really over-egged the pudding there!)
 
And there was me thinking the whole point and history of the Proms was about making classical music accessible to people who wouldn't normally listen to it.

It's -supposed- to be dumbed down!
 
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