Britons: Ever been to the Last Night of The BBC Proms?
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I've just watched one of the strangest concerts on Concert Channel HD. It was the Last Night of The BBC Proms 2009.
I had never seen such a light-hearted classical music event; it almost felt like watching a soccer match, complete with a narrator. Such an enthusiastic public waving flags and singing... The humor during the piece performed by vacuum cleaners being shot by hunters... Such weird costume worn by the singer of "Rule Britannia". The people in the park, the fireworks during Handel's music... It certainly was unique, but at the same time it was really strange to a foreigner like me. After some research (thanks, Wikipedia) I'm starting to understand what it's all about.
So, have you ever been to one of these?
[flash=853,505:1iy6dfuh]http://www.youtube.com/v/rB5Nbp_gmgQ&fs=1[/flash:1iy6dfuh]
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Yes, been there, done that. As you've probably found out, it's a long-standing event that goes back to the Victorian era. The 'Last Night' is just that...the final performance of a series of concerts (The Henry Wood Summer Promenades) that takes place at the Royal Albert Hall in London right through the Summer months.
The atmosphere is peculiar to the last night...all the other concerts in the season are regular musical events. Traditionally the last night always contains a number of patriotic pieces like 'Rule Britannia' and 'Land of Hope and Glory'. We Brits aren't always outwardly patriotic...so this is one way of demonstrating it. Although we like all the foreign visitors being equally patriotic and waving their flags as well.
Here's a 2007 clip of the Simon Bolivar Youth orchestra from Venezuela wearing their flags...great performance.
[flash=640,390:2f44z7to]http://www.youtube.com/v/vtkCvgWdRcM?version=3[/flash:2f44z7to]
It's become a tradition for the guest soprano who sings Rule Britannia to wear something outrageous, including ball gowns that turn inside out to reveal the union flag.
In recent years, the concert has broken free from the confines of the concert hall and is relayed to a much larger audience over the road in Hyde Park...and now to a number of other parks and city squares throughout the nation.
Another traditional offering is the sailor's Hornpipe from Henry Wood's Fantasia on British sea Songs, in which all the rhythmically-challenged geeks down on the floor of the hall get it on down. Great fun; it's basically an excuse for everyone to let their hair down and party.
The highlight of the last night is usually Elgar's Land of Hope and Glory, which is basically the National Anthem we never had. I believe the Americans have borrowed it to play at graduation ceremonies, where it tends to be played way too ponderously. Here's how it ought to be played.
[flash=640,390:2f44z7to]http://www.youtube.com/v/A1zyvlkhROU?version=3[/flash:2f44z7to] -
Could not stop thinking about Disney's Fantasia 2000 during Elgar's piece, he he.
Thank you for the insight, Alan.So, what's the spirit of the rest of the season? More highbrow?
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