Pick of the Proms

With the publication of this year’s Proms brochure it is clear that what was already large has just become larger; and what was already a smooth production has just got smoother. Whether this is sustainable growth, or even desirable growth, are questions for the future; but I think I’ve discerned one of the main reasons for the current expansion — Wagner’s anniversary.

Verdi’s has had less impact. It is inconvenient when two great names share a year. Bach and Handel made 1985 difficult to manage, while Lassus and Palestrina caused some of us agonies of balance and regret in 1994. On both of those occasions, one composer got a larger bite of the cherry than the other, and so it is going to be this year. The problem is that neither Wagner nor Verdi can be celebrated in a small way, which presents something of a challenge to a festival expecting to be big by definition.