Last Night of the Proms

Posted by: Mike-B on 13 September 2009

I guess many of you listened & saw the Last Night.

The TV sound was (again) below par. Last Night to me is always a must watch TV spectacular more than a listen. But it's very annoying (impossible) to listen with hopefully better sound from Radio and watch TV when the sound & vision are out of sync because of digital TV delay. So Naim powered TV was the only way.

SHAME on whoever was responsible for leaving out the Henry Wood "Sea Songs". Yes the fireworks theme was very good, but why should that have to be added at the expense many peoples favorite traditional Last Night item. It seems the rigidity of the time table is more important than music to the BBC

Sarah Connolly was both good and bad; very moving rendition of Mahler, but not sure about the Gershwin stuff (who knows an opera singer who can move with natural comfort to big band & jazz)
Not at all sure about the naval costume for "Rule, Britannia", hint of fem cross dressing drag ??? hmm.
Definitely not sure about her OTT vocals, yes agreed this piece can take embellishments, especially on the last Night, but it was OTT (IMO) and she missed a few notes and phasing in the process.
But unforgivable and a hanging offence; when she drew her sword to wave the Union Flag, it was UPSIDE DOWN.

Are the Beeb trying to get too clever with linking in all the parks stuff, would it not be better to spend on quality rather than spectacle?
Posted on: 13 September 2009 by Analogue
I too listened to the second half of the "last night".
And came to the conclusion that the sound and balance were very good on R3.
If only the Beeb would return to simule broadcastig as it once did.

Chris N
Posted on: 13 September 2009 by Derek Wright
Did you notice the glitches in the sound - they were noticeable on the BBC HD channel either by Sky or Freesat, and surprisingly also on the FM Radio 3 broadcast - so perhaps a problem twixt the RAH and the BBC.

The flying, zooming cameras are a real turn off.
Posted on: 13 September 2009 by Michael
quote:
Did you notice the glitches in the sound - they were noticeable on the BBC HD channel either by Sky or Freesat, and surprisingly also on the FM Radio 3 broadcast - so perhaps a problem twixt the RAH and the BBC.


Yes, Derek, was very noticeable on the BBCHD channel.

Was good to hear the Malcolm Arnold piece again complete with domestic appliances...it certainly brought back memories of those great Hoffnung Music Festivals in the Royal Festival Hall.... time for a revival maybe?