Last Night of the Proms

[Lydia Leftcoast]

I just heard the last concert of the (London) Proms this afternoon, and it made me envious.

The audience was so obviously having "fun with music," and I loved the sing-alongs.

[tjwmason]

1. It really is good fun.

Did you hear Andreas Scholl? He is both gorgeous as a counter-tenor (which is a voice I adore) and stunningly beautiful too.

There has been much criticism of the nationalistic leanings of many pieces (Land of Hope and Glory, Jerusalem &c.), but I think that once they are placed in the context of a 2 month long music festival (to get last-night tickets you have to have attended about 10 other concerts), and the fact that it is all incredibly tongue-in-cheek I have no problem with it.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

2. And at least those songs don't talk about

"bombs bursting in air."

I LOVE the tune of "Jerusalem," and it's too bad that the words are specifically English.