From Our 'Proms' Correspondent.
It was good to see Ronald Spinney at the prom on July 21st. It is good to see his interest in a world premier by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies ' - Spinning Jenny', (but maybe it was the Elgar cello concerto that really attracted him).Ronald Smith makes a reference to Harrison Birtwistle - yes the Clayesmore teacher whom DPB always referred to as Mr Bentwistle, now Sir Harrison. He had a London premier of a work 'Harrison's Clocks' performed at the late night prom on August 5th. At this concert, he waited for the first two works (one of which was the Stravinsky octet) before making a dramatic entry with a large entourage. He entered through a door about as far from his seat as possible, progressed to the front row of the stalls, and then walked about halfway round the hall, pausing several times (to be noticed?), before eventually sitting in his seat which happened to be not far from where your correspondent was promming. Your correspondent felt that he too could be rude and did little to stifle his genuine yawns. After the second of five lengthy movements, your correspondent left to catch his train. However, had he stayed, rumour has it that he would have witnessed the composer dropping off in the third movement.
Karren Ripper and her son Oscar, came to the prom on August 8th for an unexciting performance of Mozart's Requiem.
Andrew Shaw was at the prom on Monday 23rd August to hear Haitink conduct Mahler's symphony No 3 -as enthusiastic as ever.
Sarah Trueman and family, and Karen Ripper and Oscar reserved a whole bay in the gallery and picnicked at the prom on Sunday August 29th. They had come to hear Joshua Bell play the Walton Violin concerto - what a performance - but I think they preferred Elgar's Introduction and Allegro - what critics!
Lachlan Burn, his wife Jo, and two of their children joined with Karren Ripper and two of her children for a party in Bay 12 for the last night of the proms. All four children looked worried and slightly incredulous at the beginning of the 'high jinks', but very soon entered into the spirit of the occasion. Also in the gallery at the RAH that evening was Ian McIsaac.
There were some magnificent concerts during the season but overall, I found the 'proms' rather disappointing and even dull. There were few of the 'discoveries' that this magnificent festival usually offers and I can not help wondering if the present Director is going to make as much of a mess of this great festival as he did of Radio 3 when he was in charge of that. Of course I very much hope that this will not happen as these concerts, for many years, have been some of the most adventurous programmes one can find anywhere and the Royal Albert Hall which is occupied for over eight weeks seems to respond to the lively events. It is most impressive to see so many young promenaders enjoying these concerts night after night and I am all for the policy of introducing a number of 'first performances'. However I do question the programming policy when some programmes are so unattractive that as few as 500 people go to listen. What is the point of a world premier of a work to an empty hall?