Last Night of the Proms

Just to be clear about the EU flags: nothing to do with the BBC: checked all the sources: its about the decline in work for British musicians post Brexit

"The flag distribution is organised by the pro-EU group Thank EU for the Music, which was founded in 2016 in response to the Brexit vote.

The group, composed of musicians and music lovers, campaigns for a borderless music industry.
The impact Brexit has had on musicians touring in Europe has been devastating.

Research by the Musicians’ Union found that almost half of musicians say touring in the EU is no longer financially viable. A survey of 200 musicians in July found that 75 percent of respondents said their bookings in the EU had declined post-Brexit"
leftfootforward.org/2024/09/thousands-of-eu-flags-to-be-distributed-at-bbcs-last-night-of-the-proms/

In fact security had collected a number of flags at the door
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/14/eu-flags-confiscated-concert-goers-last-night-of-the-proms/

I agree about the commentators and keeping it mainly classical.

I haven't watched The Proms for years but last night I put it on. It was nothing but various personalities droning on and on which was getting on my nerves, so I turned back to my computer and became thoroughly engrossed in something else.

By and by I realised that music had started in the form of Destiny's Child. I turned back to the TV and watched their fantastic performance of "Survivor". I knew there'd been a lot of controversy about the Proms and I assumed this was part of a shake up to modernise it.

Next up was another pop group who were equally compelling and I was really enjoying it but in between I was returning to read the article on my computer.

Then Lulu came on, but she looked so young (maybe in her 40's). A caption popped up at the bottom of the TV screen saying something to the effect of "Lulu live at BBC studios in 1995". I couldn't fathom it. Why would the Proms show an old recording of Lulu?

When Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush appeared I began to smell a rat. I realised that The Proms had finished and I was in fact watching a Top of the Pops compilation with artists from the 70's to the 90's. It was great.

Thankfully I was on my own and didn't try to discuss the "new look" Proms with anyone.

Now we have Clive Myrie, who had clearly mugged up on some stuff beforehand but had nothing of real depth to say - he was there as a "celeb"

And Sheila Hancock who admitted she had only just discovered Mozart. Eh??
Why on earth was she on there then?.

I have also been disappointed with the "commentators" in the box during the televised proms. There used to be real experts guiding us through the music, its composer and history etc. Now we have Clive Myrie, who had clearly mugged up on some stuff beforehand but had nothing of real depth to say - he was there as a "celeb".

There is also the issue of which proms are televised. I love watching a live orchestra at work, and TV is an excellent medium for this - they can hone in on particular instruments when they are featured and add something special to the experience for the TV audience. The choice of the populist events to televise cuts down on the number of orchestral concerts that can be seen on TV.

I love music of all sorts - I am far from being a musical snob - but why try and dumb down the proms? - Glastonbury (and other similar festivals) are not "dumbed up" - they are unashamedly what they are and fans can attend secure in the knowledge that will get what they signed up for.

On dear, I was bored ☹️

I thought the promenaders were more restrained this year, I’m sure that in previous years there were more whistles and bangs from them. And there was usually someone “conducting” the music too, (along with real conductor).

Nothing wrong with EU flags. We need that relationship.

Bring back the real proms! 👏👏👏
Well said, Luckygirl
I did wonder what Sir Henry Wood might be thinking

I thought it was me being an old fuddy duddy.

Allira

Witzend

I had to escape to the kitchen when Gary Lineker appeared! WTF?? But thank goodness he was only on for a minute or two.
Very enjoyable, as always, though.

Well, I thought I'd wandered over to Match of the Day instead.

There just seemed to be something lacking this year, not the fault of the performers (excellent as usual) or the audience but the BBC presentation in general.

The BBC seems to be getting rather a lot wrong these days.

Dumbing down. A holy horror of being seen as too ‘posh’/elite.

Go away Josh. Whatever you are selling we don't want.

Back to the Proms. Lovely music as always. Apparently the BBC were giving out EU flags to people as they arrived!

Totally agree with you, Luckygirl, more, not less classical music.

I think the proms has lost the plot in general now. I have very very wide taste in music, but have always loved the proms for being a go-to season of classical music at its best.
Now there seems to be an obsession to diversify the event by watering it down. I remember last year the had a folk prom which was hopeless ... I knew a lot about this as my family was involved ... it watered down the folk music by trying to include a full symphony orchestra as a nod to its being the proms. We finished up with the worst of both worlds ... the true folk element was diluted, as was the classical element.
Bring back the real proms!°

I was really looking forward to it .
But the chit chat drove me mad -I closed my eyes for a second and dozed off !

It seems to be a thing . At one stage I switched to the British site for the Olympics but soon switched back to our local one because they just seemed to drone on and on. Why don’t they shut the f up and let us enjoy what artists/ athletes are actually doing ? The Americans are even worse.

I think the Last Night sums up the British perfectly. So many people singing Rule Britannia and Land Of Hope And Glory while waving EU flags. And why not?

I agree that they are dragging in far too much talk. It's an evening of music, not endless chit chat. In the days (long ago) when I was there I loved Auld Lang Syn at the end, when we all held hands and promised total strangers that we'd be back next year.

Both reported.

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Witzend

I had to escape to the kitchen when Gary Lineker appeared! WTF?? But thank goodness he was only on for a minute or two.
Very enjoyable, as always, though.

Well, I thought I'd wandered over to Match of the Day instead.

There just seemed to be something lacking this year, not the fault of the performers (excellent as usual) or the audience but the BBC presentation in general.

The BBC seems to be getting rather a lot wrong these days.

I had to escape to the kitchen when Gary Lineker appeared! WTF?? But thank goodness he was only on for a minute or two.
Very enjoyable, as always, though.

merlotgran

I enjoyed it but I thought Angel Blue was a little restrained with her choice of outfit for Rule Britannia. Just a small Union flag on her hat!

I used to love the OTT, flamboyant costumes and the tongue in cheek patriotism. It all seemed a bit restrained tonight.

Never mind. The music was great as usual.

I loved her blue dress!

But I suppose she could have worn a Union sash over it.

I really enjoyed it, but agree there was too much talking - did we care that the host liked women's and under 18 football - no.

I enjoyed it but I thought Angel Blue was a little restrained with her choice of outfit for Rule Britannia. Just a small Union flag on her hat!

I used to love the OTT, flamboyant costumes and the tongue in cheek patriotism. It all seemed a bit restrained tonight.

Never mind. The music was great as usual.

Even those silly berets made an appearance.