The BBC Proms are wrapping up: “Last Night at the Proms,” usually a rowdy blast of a concert, is tonight in London at 7:30 pm, that is, now, and available live and for 7 days on the BBC site. Joyce DiDonato is the star, with everything from Handel to “Over the Rainbow,” which she added for political reasons.
Promises to be a great show.
The All-Star Orchestra is kind of an all-state for grown ups, and bows on PBS tomorrow. It’s the brain child of conductor Gerald Schwarz and seems, at
first glance a least, to be less of a sure bet. Although any effort to get classical music on television in good in theory, neither Tony Tomassini’s take in the Times, “Schwarz…. no one’s idea of a probing maestro,” and the premise itself–that bringing a bunch of first chair stars together is a recipe for something special–does much for me. Still, I’ll give it a try, and report back.
A Few Reasonable Words 