Land of hopeless Tories

The Last Night of the Proms is a national institution. At a time when virtually every other British institution is under pressure, if not actually collapsing, the Proms have become a flagship of national positivity.

And flags are a large part of the Last Night. At one time the flag-waving was becoming something of an embarrassment, verging on the jingoistic. Nowadays it is more ironical but it was pleasing to see, at last night's Last Night, a strong showing of the golden stars and deep blue of the EU flag along with a smattering of rainbow flags. The Proms programming has changed over time, too, and become much more inclusive, embracing other musical genres than the purely classical. The Last Night now sets the seal on that.

The Promenade Concerts, as they were originally known, were founded in 1895 by Sir Henry Wood and were taken under the aegis of the BBC as early as 1927. The BBC has itself been one of those great national institutions under threat from the government's cheeseparing and philistine policies. In 2022 the then Culture Secretary, Nadine Dorries (remember her?), froze the BBC licence fee for two years, so until April next year. This led to panic in the upper echelons of the organisation resulting in a rash of hasty and inappropriate cuts, including the revered BBC Singers in their centenary year. After a public outcry they won a reprieve and it was telling that last night's conductor, Marin Alsop, made a point of acknowledging them in her closing speech, where they gained perhaps the loudest applause of the whole evening.

She also alluded to her own role as a female conductor, reminding the audience that, in 2013, she was the first woman to conduct the Last Night in Proms history. She seemed both amused and bemused as she told of having recently been contacted by the Guinness Book of Records for inclusion for this historic feat. Times have changed, just not fast enough!

Her programme included a piece by Black British composer, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, meltingly beautifully played by Black British cellist, Sheku Kanneh-Mason. He later accompanied Norwegian soprano, Lise Davidsen, in a lyrical rendition of Villa-Lobos' Bachianas Brasilieras. The BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus were on top form, as were the aforementioned BBC Singers. 

The programme was rounded off in traditional style with the usual lollipops, including a rousing Rule, Britannia! from Ms Davidsen, resplendent in a voluminous scarlet gown befitting the campery which is such an essential part of the Last Night. The National Anthem was played in Benjamin Britten's dignified arrangement, a masterstroke from an American conductor, followed by Auld Lang Syne, with the post-pandemic Promenaders properly linked-up once again. When everything else in British life is falling apart at the seams, it's good to be reminded of continuity and confidence.

The Proms is a harbinger of hope for the future.

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