Monday, July 05, 2010

Wagner Most Popular Proms Composer

The BBC has launched a Proms archive site. Wagner is the most frequently programmed composer & Tannhäuser his most performed work.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/archive/

4 comments:

y2k said...

Fascinating. I didn't expect Wagner, and I've never heard Tannhäuser, live or on recording!

Axel Feldheim said...

I suppose this means you need to get yourself to the Proms, as do I. Tannhäuser is more like a "normal" grand opera than Wagner's later works, so I would not be intimidated by it, if that is why you have yet to encounter it.

This archive is an interesting indicator of changing musical tastes. Mahler doesn't make the top 40 in the 1st half of the 20th century, though Gounod is #11. In the 2nd half of the 20th century, Mahler is #15, while Gounod disappears.

y2k said...

I actually have attended one Proms concert a few years ago. It was Levine leading the Boston Symphony playing Eliot Carter. This was before I knew we were moving back to Boston.

It's difficult to plan a trip to London for the Proms, as tickets tend to sell out quickly for the popular concerts. It becomes chicken-or-the-egg question: should I buy plane tickets first and hope I can get the Proms tickets; or should I but the Proms tickets first then book plane tickets. In any case, I try to avoid London in the summer due to high airfare and way too many tourists.

Axel Feldheim said...

Wow, I am very jealous. I have never been able to get into the Proms. I happened to be in London once when Simon Rattle was appearing with Berlin Phil. I showed up at the hall 4 hours before concert time, & there was a line winding away several blocks long. A young lady at the end kept trying to explain that the hall was full & the doors had been closed hours ago, but people were still joining the line.

So I would recommend making sure you have tickets first...