BBC PROMS 2026

I thought the Barber piano concerto was wonderful. Not being a fan of Barber I wasn't expecting to like it but boy what a magnificent composition. Yuja Wang is a marvellous pianist.

I wasn't wild about some of the stuff at the Last Night this year. I'm not keen on all the chat either, but everything has to be made "interesting" these days. I went to several Last Nights in the 60s and it used to be great fun. If you'd been going to some of the other concerts it was like an end of term party, with lots of people you recognised from other nights.

You can't please all of the people all of the time and Last Night of the Proms trying to be all things to all music lovers has just proved that IMO
Showy, virtuoso piano playing failed to do it for me I'm afraid and the Nessun Dorma and Scottish Medley were just underwhelming -not to say gimmicky.
(I actually hated what they did with the Scottish songs!)
I should have known better I suppose.

I make a point of never watching the last night but have had visitors so intend to see the Barber on catch up. I’m still coming down off cloud nine after the NYO concert with Thomas Adez conducting. I’ve watched it twice and will probably watch it again. Such a challenging programme, brought off with such aplomb. I’ve bought a ticket to go and see them in Manchester in January.

OK Classy peeps…What’s your verdict on Barber’s piano concerto? I love Yuja Wang and it was a brilliant performance but…. 😫

I very much enjoyed that, although I’m not a fan of the Rodrigo TBH. But I do love Manuel de Falla. Pity they couldn’t have fitted in Nights in the Gardens of Spain, too. Lovely sensual, captivating music.

I’m out tonight but will definitely catch up tomorrow.

Happily settling down for a Spanish night at the Proms.
Anyone else?!

I’ve just watched John Wilson’s concert and at the end, I had tears streaming down my face. Even without the Verdi and the Walton, the Respighi trilogy is such a huge and wonderful piece and I don’t think I’ve shall ever hear it played better than that. He’s such a charismatic conductor and his Sinfonia of London are simply marvellous. I would have sold my house to have been at that concert.

So true!

Their feet are a nightmare aren’t they, especially as they seem to hate having them touched. Winnie had a nail bed infection the other year and was on antibiotics for ages; no idea how that happened either. At least they don’t mind having to rest for 24 hours a day!

She’s sorry for herself I think but been amazingly patient given how painful it must have been - a dislocated toe (don’t know when or how? ) meant her back outside claw had started to grow into her pad. Made me think of Chinese foot binding.

Though not my favourite instrument, I sat through a wonderful concert by Simon Preston in St David’s Cathedral some years ago, and I do like to hear Anna Lapwood playing the organ, and indeed, talking about the organ, which is fascinating. I’ll get the Olivier Latry concert on catch up, hopefully.

Oh that’s a shame, Maw. Poor Rosie. Is she feeling sorry for herself or is that guilt?
I’m not terribly keen on organ music as I find a little goes a long way but no doubt amazing in a setting like the Albert Hall.

I listened to the John Wilson ‘Italian’ concert as I love the Respighi, and really enjoyed it. He ranks highly among my favourite conductors. I’ve just noticed it is now on iPlayer so that’s my afternoon sorted!

Thank you so much for this thread, I've bookmarked the full programme and put some in my diary.

Hoping to catch up on the Baroque evening, it's only on Sounds, not TV, so I guess that goes for them all.
But not a lot of my kind of Baroque, I like the "flowery" bits less than other Baroque.

I should have been at the Olivier Latry organ prom at the Albert Hall this morning but am having to make do with Radio3 as Rosie injured her paw and has it splinted and strapped up so I didn’t feel I could leave her early in the morning and for the whole day, even with a «sitter» to let her out.

I gave up as well. Crossover is all very well but if you’re going to have a well written arrangement for an orchestra there has to be a voice of the same quality. It doesn’t have to be operatic - just strong and in tune!

Just watched the Prog Rock one. Nearly gave up because the singing was so awful in the first half but it improved with the King Crimson stuff which was excellent. Some of it was like the legends slot at Glastonbury when they have someone performing their greatest hits but with a voice that’s way past its use by date ( eg Dianna Ross). Maybe the balance wasn’t right and it sounded better if you were there. I certainly hope so…

I’m not very impressed by the singing so far.

I’ve been in a few Proms as a choir singer. It’s quite an experience. The entire audience is visible to the performers. The backstage facilities were inadequate when I was there, but may have improved by now.

I shall certainly watch and listen.

Tonight's concert should be fun. Prog Rock/Classical crossover.

featuring music by Genesis, Mike Oldfield, Yes ...and others.

BBC4 7pm.

Such emotional intelligence in a 22 year old.

Yunchan Lim, what a star.

Wow! What an absolutely fabulous start. All the music excellent but the Ravel - taken to a whole new level. The Finzi magnificent, and to top it all off - Wonderwall !!