They really have a strange way of doing this. They pre-announce that they will announce at 6pm but hold the Press Conference hours earlier. Obviously oblivious to the way the internet works, presumably thinking that neither the nationals nor the specialist press will publish anything until breakfast time, they fail to update their own website. Which I think should go on line the moment the Press Conference finishes. And at 17:59 they text me. Old news, old news.
So what appeals to me?
Very little, if the truth be told. Certainly, if it means forking out money, making my way to South Ken and sitting in a hot airless tin hut.
But there are some 'not-to-miss' concerts for me, the most obvious ones being Samson, Fairy Queen, which includes one singer I love and two who are on my list of 'must see more of', Partenope, I suppose, but I can't see it matching up to the superb production and performance from ENO last year. Also, the Sixteen, with Carolyn Sampson singing, in a Handel night. And definitely the Fidelio with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, and Waltraud Meier.
There are several big orchestra pieces that I would like to hear live but far too many of them are programmed with works I don't have the slightest inclination of listening to. I know the idea is that the well-known work draws one in and then one is open to the unfamiliar work, but just because one ought, doesn't mean one must.
I think I will give Messiah a miss; can't say I fancy the massed choirs of thousands of schoolies, even less the idea of being in the audience of masses of parents many of whom will be there to preen and show off rather than enjoy the music. And I'm not even sure I am that keen on Creation. I expect I shall go, though, because Ilove the work so much more than almost any other piece of music that exists
