FMS-Blog : The Wildly Whimsical, Mostly Musical WebLog
Thursday, May 11, 2006
BBC Proms 2006
I've just been checking out the BBC Proms website and it looks like many of this year's concerts will be focusing on the achievements of two major composers : Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Dmitri Shostakovich. Both of these massive figures in the classical music world have major anniversaries in 2006 : Mozart's birth was on January 27th 1756, 250 years ago, and Shostakovich was born on September 25th 1906, a mere century ago!
This is very fortunate for concert goers and those interested in classical music because some marvellous music will be on offer over summertime, both live at London's Royal Albert Hall and also televised and broadcast on the BBC's serious music station, Radio 3. You can search through a full line up for what will be performed by clicking here, but having a quick scan I've noticed multiple Shostakovich heavy weights and lots of Mozart opera, concertos and other orchestral works. For example, the opening concert, scheduled for Friday 4th July aptly referred to as 'Prom 1', will include parts of the Marriage of Figaro and a performance of Shostakovich's 5th Symphony : a massive work known as well for its tongue-in-cheek title 'A Soviet Artist's Reply to Just Criticism' as it is for its themes. This prom is a must for any admirer of either of these composers, as is, I think, most of the rest of the season.
I'll have to promise myself a trip down to London to see at least one or two of these in person : the last time I turned up at the Albert Hall for one of the proms, my friend arrived a little late and so we didn't manage to get tickets (we were hoping for a couple of bargain - standing room only - ones!!) That must be about 10 years ago, though, so I think it's about time I made the effort to get down there again. As it happens, the same mate still lives just outside the city of London so maybe he could offer floor space for the evening?!
This is very fortunate for concert goers and those interested in classical music because some marvellous music will be on offer over summertime, both live at London's Royal Albert Hall and also televised and broadcast on the BBC's serious music station, Radio 3. You can search through a full line up for what will be performed by clicking here, but having a quick scan I've noticed multiple Shostakovich heavy weights and lots of Mozart opera, concertos and other orchestral works. For example, the opening concert, scheduled for Friday 4th July aptly referred to as 'Prom 1', will include parts of the Marriage of Figaro and a performance of Shostakovich's 5th Symphony : a massive work known as well for its tongue-in-cheek title 'A Soviet Artist's Reply to Just Criticism' as it is for its themes. This prom is a must for any admirer of either of these composers, as is, I think, most of the rest of the season.
I'll have to promise myself a trip down to London to see at least one or two of these in person : the last time I turned up at the Albert Hall for one of the proms, my friend arrived a little late and so we didn't manage to get tickets (we were hoping for a couple of bargain - standing room only - ones!!) That must be about 10 years ago, though, so I think it's about time I made the effort to get down there again. As it happens, the same mate still lives just outside the city of London so maybe he could offer floor space for the evening?!
