europeannovice

The listing for the current season went up yesterday.

We are tempted to go this summer but then I read that due to the place not having any air conditioning and a poor ventilation system--people were complaining quite a bit last summer when the temperatures soared outside. There were news articles that read it was hotter than hades inside while everyone sweltered. Is it that unbearable when the temperatures are high outside during the summer? Plenty of people still seem to go and it is a popular event so what do you suggest?

texasbookworm

We had to leave after about an hour in July of 2008 because of the heat; it had been maybe near 80 that day? Maybe a bit warmer. It was unfortunate, but would I plan to do it again? Probably; the chances are probably good you won't have a hot night. And if you do, you might not be too affected, or you may be able to enjoy just the experience for a bit of early evening. I was glad to see inside and sit for a little while anyway, and listen to perhaps 30 minutes of music before we decided to leave. Seems like the tickets for the night we went weren't very much, so we didn't count it as some big loss. (We were feeling a bit like spoiled Americans, but as we left, there were at least two couples of British-English-speaking people complaining to some attendant as they, too, departed, so it wasn't just us!)

europeannovice

Hi Texas--I think I remember reading about that on one of your trip reports.

We want to go as having never been to see a concert there before and the venue is supposed to be outstanding as far as architecture is concerned. However, I don't look forward to sweating excessively and being in contact with other equally sweaty people with no air circulating about for a couple of hours. There were quite a few newspaper articles on this subject dated last year when the heat became very uncomfortable for those attending not to mention the poor performers. That prospect is not appealing but the music certainly is--hence the dilemma. No one can predict the weather so hard to determine whether or not we should go ahead with ticket purchases when they go on sale.

flanneruk

I can't imagine who said the RAH architecture is "outstanding". If it is, so is 90% of central London.

Proms are hardly some sublime experience: the season is just a gynormous festival of classical music, presented informally. Prebooking isn't essential: there are 1,400 unbookable, Promming (standing, or sitting on the floor if it's not busy) tickets at every RAH performance and though you have to queue for the most popular concerts, most often it's just turn up and sit on the floor) and prebooked seats aren't all that pricey.

If there's a performance you particularly want to go to, go and leave if it's too uncomfortable (chance would be a fine thing, we'd all say. Heat is rarely a worry in London). If you just want the Prom experience, turn up and buy a Promming ticket. If you find it uncomfortable, you'll only have lost £5

If you're not an obsessive music fan, the honest truth these days about most Proms is that you'll get just as good a performance from Spottify for most pieces. The Proms are far more about the experience - and that experience is best obtained from Promming tickets anyway

PatrickLondon

Personally I can't abide the standing around, either in the queue for the £5 tickets or in the arena when you actually get in (if you do go for this option, climb up to the top standing gallery, where there will be more room, you could even lie down if you've come equipped, and nobody minds if you bring a book to read).

Dress for the tropics, and take a bottle of water in with you (to cut down on coughs as much as anything else - I could murder the person who launched a volcanic cough in the opening solo of last year's Rite of Spring).

Or stay at home and listen on the radio (or if you're abroad, via the internet: www.bbc.co.uk/proms; and if you should be aware of VPNs and have the bandwidth, you could probably watch the televised concerts as well)

Gordon_R

The RAH can be hot and stuffy at any time of year. Went to see Diana Krall there some years ago in November I think, and it was unbearable. Tiny seats packed together as well. Oh and the acoustics ain't that great either.

europeannovice

We were thinking of pre-booking for seats rather than "Promming" but the conditions sound less and less appealing---hot and stuffy, crammed seats, acoustics not that great--wow.

Will the broadcast be playing live on the radio on the evening of the performance? If so, what station? Maybe we can listen to it from our hotel room? Or through an ipad or tablet?

annhig

e-novice - BBC Radio 3 always broadcasts the proms live, and there are often live or live recorded broadcasts on the TV too [sometimes they will show a concert a few hours or even days later, to fit in better with TV schedules]. Unless the concert you are interested in is very obscure, you are most likely to be able to listen to it or see it. and if you just want to listen to the music, well there will be loads of it [as there is all day, every day on Radio 3 anyway]. you should have no problem listening on an ipad or tablet, or even on your hotel room TV/radio.

and you always have the option, in you're in London, to join the Prommers, if only for an hour or so.

PatrickLondon

Yes, BBC stations are streamed over the internet, so you could listen via their website, or a tablet/phone app like TuneIn, anywhere in the world. Televised concerts will usually run on the digital channel BBC4 which may not be available on most hotel systems (though some will be on BBC2, which may be available); but they would also be streamed over the web for viewers in this country (or on a VPN based in this country).

Depending on the programme, you don't necessarily have to book in advance for a seat. Some high profile concerts sell out almost as soon as seats go on sale, of course, but there is a huge range, and there might be some seats available at fairly short notice. Comfort is subjective, of course, but I didn't feel that uncomfortable at the last few I went to (but I was in my thinnest short-sleeve shirts).

Nor are all events in the Albert Hall: there is a chamber music series in the Cadogan Hall in Chelsea, and free pre-concert talks, usually in the Royal Academy over the road from RAH.

Keep an eye on the website (link above) nearer the time to see what might be available.

janisj

IME it isn't like any other classical 'concert' you are ever likely to attend. More the overall experience/music festival-ish rather than a 'formal' concert. Attended the Last Night once years ago and it was hot/crazy and terrific fun. Have been on other nights twice (sat time at least 8 or 9 years ago) and I agree that I'd do it as a 'Prommer' and stay as long as it still fun and leave when/if you get uncomfortable.

Christina

I've been to the PROMs and bought my ticket ahead for the performance that I really wanted to hear (Martha Argerich). I've traveled to a couple music festival to hear her live as she is one of my favorite pianists and she doesn't get to the US very much. I wouldn't bother for some ordinary concert. I had a decent seat, I bought my ticket fairly soon after they went on sale. Of course I could listen to a CD of Martha Argerich, I have several, but it's not the same for me for someone special. I'm glad I went as she doesn't perform that often any more due to health reasons.

It was a pretty hot summer the time I went in 2009 (August was the hottest month that summer, and I think it was around 85F in the afternoon at end of August), but I don't remember the heat making it unbearable for me. She was fantastic, this was the review http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture...-at-the-proms/

I wouldn't go if there weren't someone special I wanted to hear, though.

europeannovice

Well I think we decided against pre-booking seats in advance and will play it by ear when we get there. I don't think we want to queue for prom tickets either so we will see if the weather cooperates and if there are still seats available for the performances we are interested in then maybe. I originally wanted to go for the experience of being at the Royal Albert Hall but given some of the negatives, the radio option might win out.

Christina--glad you enjoyed your favorite artist. Glad she was well enough to perform that day.

PatrickLondon

If you discount the advertorial boosterism, this gives you some idea of the experience:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-iOBbSkMcg