Devil's Trill's Proms picks

 

Last week’s announcement of the programme for the 2013 BBC Proms season prompted excitement and befuddlement, in almost equal measure. “Why so much Wagner?”, “why so little Verdi?”, “who’s Granville Bantock?”, they asked. As usual, there’s something for everyone in this ever-expanding season of concerts, though Wagnerphobes (and I know a few of those) are going to want to give week 2 a miss.

 

The full listings are available to browse on the Proms website and the big brochure is out now in bookshops, complete with page after page of adverts for posh schools and (credit where it’s due) some very nice graphic design work. Newspapers and blogs have given a run-down of their Proms picks, so I thought I’d stick my oar in and tell you about the ten Proms to which I most look forward. 

 

Proms Chamber Music 1 – Vilde Frang and Michail Lifits in recital (July 15)

The rocketing reputation of this young Norwegian violinist is rewarded with an appealing lunch-time concert. She also performs Bruch’s 1^st Violin Concert in Prom 31.

Prom 8 – Thomas Adès’s Totentantz (July 17)

A sizable premiere from the British composer, coupled with key twentieth century works by Britten and Lutosławski.

 

Prom 11 – Late night Stockhausen (July 19)

London hears a segement of Mittwoch aus ‘Licht’ for the first time, following the successful recent Birmingham production of the epic work.

 

Prom 15 – Barenboim’s Walküre (July 23)

If you only get to one of this year’s mammoth Wagner evenings, make it this one.

 

Prom 25 – The Knussen one (August 1)

Although often bafflingly poorly attended, Oliver Knussen’s annual Prom is usually a feast of off-centre delights – this one features Tippet’s ebullient Second Symphony

 

Prom 35 – Jansons’s Mahler (August 9)
He’s been around Europe with Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony and now brings his other orchestra (the Bavarian Radio Symphony) for a pair of Proms performances.

Prom 45 – Tippet’s Midsummer Marriage (August 16)

If you like your Proms poorly attended, try this one. A chance to hear the most famous opera of one of Britain’s greatest composers.

 

Prom 52 – Batiashvili and Bantock (August 21)

Brilliant Georgian violinist Lisa Batishvili tackles the Sibelius Concerto, and Sakari Oramo conducts music by one of this season’s odder obsessions – Granville Bantock.

 

Prom 68 – Baiba Skride and the Oslo Philharmonic (September 2)

The Latvian violinist makes her Proms debut with Szymanowski’s radiant First Violin Concerto.

 

Prom 74 – Bach and Bruckner with the Vienna Philharmonic (September 6)

Yes, I’ve been hard on the Wieners in the past, but mixing Bach’s organ music and Bruckner’s mightiest symphony is outside-the-box programming .

...And many more besides. As usual, we’re spoiled for choice and how many you get to will depend on how much Promming punishment your legs will take. See you there.