Roll on the first night!
Post categories: Proms, Proms 2009, Royal Albert Hall, behind the scenes, music
|22:32 UK Time, Thursday, 16 July 2009
It has been a week of press, radio and TV interviews and
last minute preparations and getting settled back into the Royal Albert
Hall.I'm really reminded of the extent to which putting on the BBC Proms is a supreme team effort and I remain in awe of my colleagues' organisation and professionalism.
I've just been to the hall to see Jiri Belohlavek. He was in very good form and has been enjoying conducting Dvorak's Rusalka at Glyndebourne. I was also able to welcome the Labeque Sisters to the hall and to the Proms as two of our featured artists this year. They wanted to try out the pianos on the stage before the orchestra arrived. They had selected them a little while ago but it's essential to balance them in their concert position.
I'm looking forward to hearing the final rehearsal - it's a real treat to have that vast space to enjoy and to stand on your own in the middle of the arena. But it doesn't compare to the fantastic experience of sharing the concert with thousands. The atmosphere of concentrated shared listening is remarkable and the Proms audience unlike any other in the world.
Roll on the first night.
I hope the audience enjoys the gala style festival opener.
Comment number 1.
At 09:41 17th Jul 2009, Tom Adustus wrote:How about something more substantial in the Blog. This is just advertising stuff that those of us who are interested in serious music and the proms know already.
Anyway here is my little contribution. Last year's proms had a bigger impact on me than any I can remember in more than 25 years of concert going. Why? The Stockhausen works. Hearing those pieces live was utterly compelling and will last with me to the end of my days. It just goes to show that what was once considered worthless and meaningless plinky-plonk music could have such an impact.
In particular the performance of Punkt surrounded by rather routine performances of Beethoven and Mahler got the biggest applause of the night.
Lets hope that something similar will happen this year. Unfortunately, I've been credit crunched so I've not booked any seats, but I'll try and get into town to queue for a standing place for at least one concert.
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Comment number 2.
At 10:15 17th Jul 2009, Jon Jacob wrote:I agree with Tom Adustus about the Stockhausen.
I was initially fearful of Stockhausen's music (although this shamefully was down to not having heard any of it .. amazing how even the sound of a name can put someone off). But the Stockhausen gigs did turn into something very special which as time passes only serves to turn into something really quite nostalgic.
And the result of that is that anyone eager for a repeat experience will attend each concert with a simple question in their back of their minds: Is this going to be as special as the last special experience I had listening in the Royal Albert Hall.
I'm in no doubt there'll be something and I'll be saying exactly the same next year.
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