Chelsea Music
Aug 29, 2013 11:16:12 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2013 11:16:12 GMT -5
Kensington Gore is well known for the Proms, the Royal Albert Hall actually lies within the City of Westminster, if only just, but what of Chelsea?
BBC - Proms
Chelsea Concerts
And to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the City of Westminster, what of the City of London and the East End? Cadogan Hall is on the edge of Chelsea, just to the north of Sloane Square, where Chelsea meets with Belgravia, and the Proms Chamber Music Series has been an unexpected triumph since it relocated to London SW1 from London SW7 in 2005.
A series of lunchtime chamber concerts was started during the 1996 Proms Season, replacing the Wigmore Hall lunchtime concerts in the BBC Radio 3 schedule during the summer months. This is not to say, of course, that there are no better chamber music concerts elsewhere, many of which are broadcast at this time of year from 'special' recordings made at the summer festivals, notably from the Edinburgh International Festival, but the Proms have a certain weight of history, numbers, and, if only from being broadcast live, expectations. In their first year, Proms Chamber Music was performed in the Britten Theatre (RCM), and in 1997, they moved slightly further afield, to the V&A. In 2005, they moved again, to the then new Cadogan Hall, just off London's Sloane Square, which, for the record, was the first time I attended such a concert.
These allowed the Proms to include music which is not suitable for the vast spaces of the Royal Albert Hall, although I would add that some of the Late Night Proms, occasionally staged in the Arena itself, work surprisingly well. In 2009, the total number of Proms peaked at 100 for the only time, bolstered by one of the highlights of the season, the New Generation Artists (NGA) 10th Anniversary (August Bank Holiday) Weekend at Cadogan Hall. Not many people achieve what is known as a grand slam, although Roger Wright, who in all fairness is handsomely paid for the privilege, occasionally manages the feat. For a keen cricketer, a century of Proms concerts in 2009 was equally impressive. For mere mortals, there can be a trickier trade off to be made, and even if I can usually only make a Monday lunchtime concert on the Bank Holiday, is it still worth the effort?
The acoustics of Cadogan Hall are excellent, reportedly matching those of Wigmore Hall, although I should add that with the addition of LSO St Luke's and Kings Place, London is currently somewhat spoilt for choice. From a promming perspective, the Cadogan Hall auditorium can take a long time to leave, and the reserved 150 Side Gallery (bench) seats are a little stuck away at the sides, even if they eventually sell out. I suppose that I would say that the Royal Albert Hall sometimes works as a Proms venue despite its obvious limitations, whereas the light and airy surroundings of Cadogan Hall offer a refreshing contrast.
Cadogan Hall - Proms Chamber Music 8 - Dowland
Due to unprecedented demand from around the world, everyone reading 'The Third' is cordially invited along!
BBC Proms - Chamber music & Saturday matinees
If you cannot make it in person, why not listen or even watch a selection of the intimate, distinctive and quite often brilliant chamber music concerts from the 2013 BBC Proms Season online?
BBC - Proms Chamber Music
As for Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, and even the City of London and beyond, which is your favourite part of London?
Kensington and Chelsea Music Society
BBC - Proms
Chelsea Concerts
And to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the City of Westminster, what of the City of London and the East End? Cadogan Hall is on the edge of Chelsea, just to the north of Sloane Square, where Chelsea meets with Belgravia, and the Proms Chamber Music Series has been an unexpected triumph since it relocated to London SW1 from London SW7 in 2005.
A series of lunchtime chamber concerts was started during the 1996 Proms Season, replacing the Wigmore Hall lunchtime concerts in the BBC Radio 3 schedule during the summer months. This is not to say, of course, that there are no better chamber music concerts elsewhere, many of which are broadcast at this time of year from 'special' recordings made at the summer festivals, notably from the Edinburgh International Festival, but the Proms have a certain weight of history, numbers, and, if only from being broadcast live, expectations. In their first year, Proms Chamber Music was performed in the Britten Theatre (RCM), and in 1997, they moved slightly further afield, to the V&A. In 2005, they moved again, to the then new Cadogan Hall, just off London's Sloane Square, which, for the record, was the first time I attended such a concert.
These allowed the Proms to include music which is not suitable for the vast spaces of the Royal Albert Hall, although I would add that some of the Late Night Proms, occasionally staged in the Arena itself, work surprisingly well. In 2009, the total number of Proms peaked at 100 for the only time, bolstered by one of the highlights of the season, the New Generation Artists (NGA) 10th Anniversary (August Bank Holiday) Weekend at Cadogan Hall. Not many people achieve what is known as a grand slam, although Roger Wright, who in all fairness is handsomely paid for the privilege, occasionally manages the feat. For a keen cricketer, a century of Proms concerts in 2009 was equally impressive. For mere mortals, there can be a trickier trade off to be made, and even if I can usually only make a Monday lunchtime concert on the Bank Holiday, is it still worth the effort?
The acoustics of Cadogan Hall are excellent, reportedly matching those of Wigmore Hall, although I should add that with the addition of LSO St Luke's and Kings Place, London is currently somewhat spoilt for choice. From a promming perspective, the Cadogan Hall auditorium can take a long time to leave, and the reserved 150 Side Gallery (bench) seats are a little stuck away at the sides, even if they eventually sell out. I suppose that I would say that the Royal Albert Hall sometimes works as a Proms venue despite its obvious limitations, whereas the light and airy surroundings of Cadogan Hall offer a refreshing contrast.
Cadogan Hall - Proms Chamber Music 8 - Dowland
Due to unprecedented demand from around the world, everyone reading 'The Third' is cordially invited along!
BBC Proms - Chamber music & Saturday matinees
If you cannot make it in person, why not listen or even watch a selection of the intimate, distinctive and quite often brilliant chamber music concerts from the 2013 BBC Proms Season online?
BBC - Proms Chamber Music
As for Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, and even the City of London and beyond, which is your favourite part of London?
Kensington and Chelsea Music Society
