Interact & Reviews / Reviews

Beth Yearsley, Auckland
My daughter was one of the lucky ballot winners and as I had come from New Zealand it had been my ambition to attend the Last Night of the Proms since I was in my twenties, I have waited fifty years and I was screaming with delight. A wonderful performance and Bryn Terfel was absolutely brilliant. Bring back the Sea Shanties. However, nothing could disappoint my enthusiasm for a truly memorable evening and a wonderful venue.

Gregg
While I have some sympathy for those who want to keep with tradition and bemoan the loss of the British Sea Songs, a lot of the critcisms appear to be from people who are not true prommers. I have been coming from deepest Derbyshire or Lincolnshire to at least 6 Proms a year since 1974. Where else can you see such a wide range of world class orchestras and performances at a price a working person can afford. Surely no one can have failed to recognise the brilliant performance of that rare Beethoven piece in the first half. For me that made the Prom and everything else pales into insignificance. But then I just love music and am grateful for the time and effort the BBC put into organising them

jeffmross@aol.com
I was lucky enough to be in the hall for the Last Night again this year having been to quite a few Last Nights over the years and been going to the Proms since 1977. I just wanted to add my voice to those mourning the loss of the Sea Shanties. A loss not for the musical content but for the tradition and sense of continuity - we should let go of these things carefully and with a great deal of consideration.

I suppose the Folk Song medley from Chris Hazell takes some blame for their exclusion (possibly in the name of balance?). And as someone who has listened to British traditional music for as long as classical this 'Folk Song' medley was truly disappointing. The orchestration of these four songs represented everything that can go wrong with some Classical interpretations of traditional music - sounding as it did more like the old White Heather Club on a bad night - clicked and rather sad. Compare and contrast with any of the invigorating and exciting interpretations from say Vaughan Williams and his contemporaries. So we seem to have lost a much loved (albeit indulgent) tradition for a disappointing substitute - sad!

Hywel Jones, Woodley, Reading
Absolutely delighted that Henry Wood's Fantasia on British Sea Songs was dropped as it encouraged the worst excesses from the Prommers e.g. klaxon horns, out of time clapping and handkerchiefs on a string! Having picked three former prospectuses at random I see it was not part of the Last Night in 1971, 1972 nor 1973. How much this was because of the influence of the conductor Colin Davis who was concerned about audience behaviour I can only surmise. But Wood's Sea Songs have not been a permanent feature of the Last Night. RVW was a welcome change as was Bryn Terfel's return to sing Rule Britannia as he did in 1994 at the end of the 100th Season.

Christine Pearce
Watching the Last Night of the Proms on Saturday 13th (which I enjoyed very much) I was very surprised when Bryn Terfel came on stage wearing his white suit bearing flags from England, Scotland, Wales and Republic of Ireland. Coming from Northern Ireland, which is in the United Kingdom, where was this flag? Did someone forget about us?

Adam Riley
I was in Hyde Park and thought the show there was generally great - good atmosphere, good acts (Bellowhead in particular) and good performances despite a couple of technical hitches. Sharlene Spiteri was excellent and one of the best live vocal performances I have heard for some time. The final part of the evening was a disappointment however. The 'froms' piece by Anna Meredith was frankly appalling, a discordant waste of 5 minutes and it seemed that most people in Hyde Park thought likewise, using the time to tidy up, go to the loo etc. The omission of the Fantasia on British Sea Songs was also a shame, one of the nation's favourites missed out there. Bryn Terfel was superb with a great performance and the night was superbly conducted too. Wogan was also at his best in the Park. Overall ... far from the best Proms but entertaining nonetheless. Please BBC, keep the traditional format for 2009!

Karen Williams
I am a huge fan of the Last Night of the Proms - never miss it, but last Saturday's show was a great disappointment to me. Fancy not playing the Fantasia on British Sea Songs! What were the organisers thinking of? This is a traditional concert, one of the few places we hear our 'British' songs played and are allowed to enjoy them without the PC brigade getting on our backs! Please bring them back next year.

Peter Semkiw, New York
It was a wonderful festive Last Night at the Proms with Sir Roger Norrington conducting brilliantly, and I appreciated his brief but very moving talk about the importance of music in our lives as well. Bryn Terfel gave wonderfully strong and powerful and very humorous performances also, and Helene Grimaud's inspired and joyful performance on piano of Beethoven's Choral Fantasy was magnificent. All the other preformers and performances in the program were excellent as well, and it was a festive Last NIght to be remembered! A special thanks to BBC Radio 3 for broadcasting the performance, too!

Kenneth Thorne
What sacrilege to omit Sir Henry Wood's Sea Songs from this year's Last Night. I do know why, but why break with tradition. Sir Henry Wood and Sir Malcolm Sargent would turn in their graves. There are plenty of other outlets and opportunities to broadcast what you put on on in place of the Sea Songs. I'm sure the audience only tolerated the change out of politeness, but they must have been disappointed.

Joseph McNulty
What an unusual and throughly enjoyable first part of the Last Night of the Proms, a nice change from some past Last Nights. The Choral Fantasia was performed magnificently by all ... the second half was good fun as usual!

Wayne Fitzgerald
I'm listening to the Last Nights on the iPlayer, listening to each Last Night in full around the nations. Royal Albert Hall was good, Hyde Park was the usual Radio 2 Wogan-drenched version of the Proms, BBC Wales presenters seemed to be obsessed with how fit Blue Peter boy was, and BBC Scotland held a conversation over the piece known to people of a certain generation as The Onedin Line, which I was looking forward to hearing live - and was very tempted to shout shut up and listen to the music! I hope BBC NI, when it eventually comes available online, treats the music with respect. Could you not put them all up on line at the same time afterwards on the iPlayer? And have the playlists shown as with the RAH & PCM concert listings?

Alexander Gibson
Once again I watched and enjoyed the Last Night of the Proms on Saturday. The evening was as good as ever, but once again it was spoiled by the same thing. At the end, the promenaders sing Auld Lang Syne, and once again, they get the words wrong! On previous occasions I've watched the conductor correct the promenaders on such pieces as Land of Hope and Glory, why can't someone put not in the program or something to correct what is a clear mistake. Check the lyrics anywhere, you will not find "for the sake of" in any version of Auld Lang Syne.

Charles Bryant
Great to hear Sir Malcom Sargent's arrangement of Rule Britannia again - a welcome return. Clive Anderson was a tremendous improvement on Alan Titchmarsh. Why did we loose the Fantasia on British Sea Songs by Sir Henry Wood? Come on BBC you were so nearly there!

Harriet, Rutland
My first Last Night of the Proms and I don't think it'll be my last. I absolutely loved the spirit of the night and Roger Norrington's speech was fantastic. Many of my friends at home commented on Bryn Terfel's coat! If someone didn't like classical music and decided to watch Saturday night on the TV, they would surely love it for the rest of their lives.

Jessica Belson
I was both disgusted and appalled at the change to the programme for the Last Night of the Proms. There are 8 weeks where you can show new music talent etc but the Last Night should not be changed, I am not the only one who thinks this. I was also highly embarrased after boasting to an Australian friend about how good the Last Night was, only to have some of the classics not played. How dare you change programme. This is one tradition that should not be tampered with. LEAVE IT ALONE.

Philip Hulm
It was my first time, in the hall, for a Last Night for five years and I think it was the best Last Night for a number of years with Sir Roger handling it superbly. I think Danny Boy and the Skye Boat Song have been overdone over the last few years and found the 2007 version of Danny Boy with the little girls singing absolutely cringworthy. I have to say I never liked hearing this rather odd version of the Sea Songs and doubt very much Sir Henry would have approved either, I do hope we've seen the end of this version for good.

I also think the changes this year, rather than slavishly just going back to the original format, before the input from the various regions, was very good, although I do prefer Rule Brittania with soloist and thought Bryn Terfell sang it magnificently. There seemed to be much less of "going around the parks" than in previous years which was much better in my opinion. I was also glad the children's patomime shouting of "Hello park, Glasgow, Swansea etc" was dropped. Bryn Terfel was absolutely superb and I have to say I enjoyed this year's Last Night more than I've done for a number of years.

John
I am a big fan of the Last Night and always make a point of watching every year. However, I found this years performance extremely disappointing. Firstly, the piece entitled 'froms' - not sure whether it just didn't work on TV with the switching between the various venues but it just sounded like an awful cacophony of random noise. Then the Bugle Calls were (again) ruined by having them shared between the different venues. If you must do this, at least have each venue play a different bugle call and not simply have them repeat the last one played in the Albert Hall. This was followed by probably the worst moment of the evening - the omission of the Fantasia on British Sea Songs. What were you thinking? This is probably the most enjoyable part of the evening with all that great audience participation and banter with the conductor. Ok, you replaced it with another piece called 'Sea Songs' because it was composed by the guy whose death you were remembering this year but, so what? Play it earlier in the evening or on another night but don't mess with the established format - you just alienate your audience by doing so.

Clive Anderson was also a poor choice as presenter for this type of show as he quite clearly was just reading direct from an autocue without really knowing what it was he was saying. That was when his microphone was working or he wasn't cut off mid-sentence by the orchestra of course. As for the conductor, excellent as he was, he just didn't seem to really want to be there and avoided interacting with the Prommers as much as possible (perhaps it was his idea to exclude the Fantasia for this very reason?). Come on BBC, you can do better than this and have done so in the past. Sticking with the winning formula that is the Last Night results in a happier audience!

Tom Hanna
I will be sad at the ending of this Season of Proms. In my opinion, the 76 concerts have flown, but the muscal highlight was a tie between the singing of Bryn Terfel and the Francis of Assisi. Could I PLEASE give a big THANK YOU to all the staff in the Arena, Security, Box Office and Cafe Consort Restaurant. You make the Proms experience all the better.

The music this year has been first class, and must have caused our fledgeling Proms Supremo more than one sleepless night with the programing of its diversity and magnitude! I heartily salute you all, especially Prommer Lesley, who we all were VERY happy to welcome back to the Proms Last Night, albeit not in the Arena, but in a comfortable seat in the stalls. To you, Lesley I wish you a speedy recovery, and lots of that love that seems to abound in all Prommers. Here's to next year, and to Radio 3!

Neil Mattock
Although a great evenings entertainment as ever, last night seemed to lack the traditional audience participation I recall from years gone by. Perhaps due to the lack of tunes to "bob" to? I didn't think Sir Roger engaged the audience at all well. Bryn Terfel was wonderful particularly as Falstaff. Clever as it was I thought "froms" was a bit of a noise! Bring back "bobbing" next year so we can have a Proms party at home!

David Williams
Last Saturday's Last Night of the Proms was a disgrace, apart from the brilliant BBC Symphony Orchestra, the wonderful audience and that glorious pianist, Helen Grimaud. To have Bryn Terfel instead of the usual top-line female soprano singing Rule Britannia was a disaster; and to omit the glorious Sea Shanties and that beautiful cello solo was apalling. Who made these changes? Sack them.

Norrington resembled a scruffy priest who had recently escaped the Vatican in an ill-fitting surplice via the Galveston storms. Next year let's return to the customary internationally loved Last Night of the Proms. Let's also have a conductor who shows respect for the orchestra and the audience by dressing properly. The night is too important for that!

Bill Evans
Why were the sea shanties omitted? Tom Bowling, Home sweet Home. These are an integral part of the Last Night. Who decided to axe them? Is this the first time they were not played? Very dissapointing.

Ben Tomlin
That was my first "Last Night" and I enjoyed it thoroughly in the arena (row 3), despite the hard work of queuing for 2 days for a good spot. Bryn Terfel's added touches to the pieces and interaction with the crowd was wonderful and really made the concert.

Sarah
I enjoyed all up until Rule Britannia, when the two choirs clearly had learned different words, with one choir singing "shall be slaves" and the other singing "will be slaves". Drove me mad by the third or fourth time ... it seems like a basic detail to get right really.

The first half was amazing and 'solid' as one TV guide suggested. Definitely more for the die-hard fan although the pianist and Beethoven combined were extremely inspiring. I had never seen Bryn Terfel as a character singer before and so was pleased to be introduced to this. Sad to say though, that the commissioned piece sounded more like the orchestra tuning up than the marvel it was proclaimed to be. The second half was missing the majority of the music that makes it the Last Night. The sea shanties were cut down and several old favourites were missing. Instead 'Rule Britannia' and 'Land of Hope and Glory' were played twice. If the aim was to encourage more singing, the people may have been more up to it if these songs had been built up a little more to begin with.

I have to say that this year's Last Night was very disappointing. I am a traditionalist and sorry, I did not enjoy the second half of the Last Night. Very poor!

josephinedewhytell@hotmail.co.uk
I was thoroughly disappointed with the Last Night of the Proms. I am all for moving with the times and introducing something new, however, there is a tradition to the Last Night of the Proms that should not be destroyed so lightly. I hope it reverts back to the tradition next year or I shall not be watching it.

Just wished to record my great disappointment at the "removal" of many of the shanties - particularily the "hornpipe". As a British Seafarer I always enjoyed these. Last night's performance second half was just a lot less fun than previous years.

Patricia Bindon
I was extremely disappointed with the Last Night of the Proms. The specially-commissioned piece for the programme was a complete noise, not music. You could see by the faces of some of the performers that they also were not enjoying it. I also missed the Sea Shanty pieces. Why do you have to change the tried and tested format which most people look forward to. Change, to my mind, is not always for the better as Saturday proved. The Last Night is a time-honoured must for viewing and listening around the globe. Please BBC restore common sense for next year. Thank God at least for Bryn Terfel.

Have just watched a recording of the 2007 Last Night of the Proms and what a happy and joyous celebration it was for the audience (Albert Hall and TV) and performers. What a dreary event this year's was without the traditional British Sea songs arrangement and lively festive music that built up the party atmosphere. Please don't ruin this wonderful occasion. Sure it's the same each year but the enjoyment and expectation of sharing this unique time with millions of others is the reason for its continued existence.

Steve Evans
Fine music and singing, but disappointingly fewer opportunities than in previous years for the audience to participate. Why whittle away at a tradition? The last-night 'buzz' wasn't quite there, but when the audience were given an opportunity to join in they seized it with relish.

William Stuart
I'm sorry to say, that this was a disappointing Last Night of the Proms, lacking in the traditional favourites, and the interaction of the conductor with the audience. The Sea Shanties were mutiliated, and we had to suffer that painful noise "froms" where we actually thought they were still tuning-up. What a disaster. That is not music; if it is I would like to hear someone sing me that tune! My father also said it was the worst Proms he had ever seen.

Unfortunately the BBC did not bother to sort out subtitles for the thousands of people who wanted to sing, something that even Songs of Praise gets right and other outdoor Proms-like events that I have attended. I'm sure you're very proud of the jumping about between locations in the bugle calling and other bits, which is all very good, but was rather disjointed and a bit irritating to watch. I wish you'd just got on with it from the Albert Hall, with a conductor who made an effort both to conduct and interact with the promenaders. It was all a new-wave experiment that went badly wrong, please don't inflict this on us again.

I have a CD from the Last Night of 1997 which is a delight and I hope is a typical model again. There is nothing wrong with being traditional, people like it, they know where they stand and know what to expect. The Proms have grown amongst the masses because of this tradition, and you will lose fans equally quickly for messing up a formula that has worked for years and people love.

A Cowdrey, Hertfordshire
Sorry, several gripes regarding the Last Night of the Proms yesterday evening. Firstly, I understand that the playing of Vaughan Williams's Sea Songs was a final tribute to the composer but could we not have had the traditional Fantasia on British Sea Songs by Sir Henry Wood as well? Ever since I was a little girl I have watched the Last Night every year and Sir Henry's Fantasia remains as integral a part of the Last Night for me as do Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No.1 and Jerusalem. It simply wasn't the same last night. Instead of that dreadful din (I refer to Anna Meredith's "froms") surely we could have enjoyed Sir Henry's Sea Songs AND Vaughan Williams's Sea Songs. I'm all for commissioning work from younger composers and liked the idea of linking the Proms in the Park in with the Albert Hall but I've never heard such a load of tripe in my life. Even the dog got up and walked off, so he obviously didn't approve either.

I know we have to move with the times but I also dislike the chats on the couch (and don't even get me started on Clive Anderson). I still look fondly back to Richard Baker presenting from within the hall itself so why we keep on whizzing off to the couch and leaving the atmosphere of the hall is beyond me. I know a gardener was once a controversial choice for presenting the Last Night but please bring back Alan Titchmarsh, let him sit in the hall as Richard Baker used to do, and let's stop trying to fix what ain't broke.

Paul Moorby
My first prom and a lifetime ambition achieved. I thought the 'pass the baton' composition, with all parts of the country involved, was inspired and a joy to participate in. Bravo! BBC. Bravo!

Darren Goodsell, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Well, thank you for reinstating Sargent's arrangement of "Rule, Britannia!", after many years of nagging by Proms goers, but in future can we please have ALL SIX verses? What I didn't realise was that this was also conditional on reducing "Fantasia on British Sea Songs" to a token couple of minutes. Why not play all of the movements? You would have had time for all of the above if we hadn't wasted time with the World Premiere of "froms", which, frankly, was pointless.

When will you realise that the Last Night of the Proms is not a proper Prom, but a national party? Stop fiddling and tinkering and just pack in as much patriotism as possible!

Still, I was in the RAH and of course, it was a fantastic evening nonetheless. Well done for another brilliant Proms season - looking forward to BBC Proms 2009.

Marco Briones
Anne Meredith's piece - the advance in the technology maybe is not good enough to support the ambitious project of a piece played in 5 different venues across the UK, but the piece itself was terrible! Sorry Anne.

Graham Wright
I haven't enjoyed a Last Night less - I even switched channels for large parts of it, even the finale! Sir Roger lacked that certain charisma, there was too much 'trying to do clever things' to involve the different sites (what on earth was that 'music'?) and, most importantly, the old standard traditional pieces were heavily cut back. They are the reason I religiously tune in every year so if they disappear, so do I!

I admit to being a selective fan of classical music (as are so many) and I do not widely appreciate contemporary offerings. I would usually get the 'lump in the throat' effect from Last Night finales but this one merely left a sinking feeling in my stomach.

Vivienne Daniel, St Leonards-on-Sea
My family always watched the Proms on TV, particularly the Last Night. I have continued the tradition with my own young family. For us the sea shanties and in particular, the hornpipe, have always been the "fun" part of the programme and we were all so very disappointed that they were ommitted. My father also watched it in Colchester and felt equally disappointed.

We consider the Celtic pieces were too long and out of keeping with the tradition - why not choose far more traditional classical pieces from those countries for this last night. For us the Meredith piece in particular had no place in this traditional formulaic programme which we all enjoy year after year. Please restore the original programme for 2010 and let us all enjoy the romp of the shanties and the hornpipe.

Chris
A brilliant choice of music and conductor and soloists but where was Henry Wood's Fantasia on British Sea-Songs?! This usually made it special for me!

Another great Last Night which had the hairs on the back of my neck at attention. As a proud Scot and Brit it's a wonderful occasion to celebrate our British culture, however it disappointed me that there was a lack of appreciation shown to our Northern Irish neighbours, for example, tricolours being used instead of the Red hand and crown, the song Molly Malone doesn't strike a chord with most in the Northern British land and the references to "Ireland" continuosly. The Last Night should honour the the countries who make up the United Kingdom and last night I felt Northern Ireland was left out. Apart from that, another great night!

Barbara Moss
Oh how I wish that Saturday's Last Night had left me speechless; instead it left me incandescent. I accept that Empire is over, that Great Britain is now far from 'Great', but what I witnessed last night were the death throws of a culture. I always believed that the Last Night was about celebration - my goodness, I have attended more cheerful funerals. Who chose the music? Conductor and solo tenor (undoubtedly respected professionals in their own fields) combined to give us a performance which rated some way below the excitement generated by ditch water. Where was the joy? Where was the banter? Where have our traditions gone? Land of Hope and Glory - I felt neither. I no longer care if the last person to leave this beleagured Isle even bothers to switch the lights off - who cares any more? Mediocrity has finally won and I am out of here.

J Hughes, London W14
One of the features of the Last Night of the Proms used to be that the music was impeccable despite the audience participation. Last night we had more great music from the platform and sympathetic contributions from the Albert Hall audience. The international nature of the Albert Hall audience was clear from the variety of flags enthusiastically waved. The Proms's uniquely sympathetic, intelligent audience was in great form, patriotic but not jingoistic. Unfortunately the drive to take the Proms out of the Albert Hall compromised musical standards for the sake of inclusion. I doubt if Roger Norrington's grimacing in his pause before he started Anna Meredith's "froms" was merely for the cameras. The broadcast sound showed all too clearly that the timing issues of the remote contributions had not been resolved. Further, contributions of fanfares from the external venues were mostly at a different pitch to those in the hall, presumably due to the tuning differences at the lower temperatures outdoors.

Another compromise which impaired enjoyment of an otherwise impeccable performance was the audience coughing during the Beethoven Choral Fantasia. This suddenly disappeared completely. Either the two or three offenders had been ushered out by the delightful attendants at the Hall or throttled by their neighbours or - more likely - a decision was made to change to close sound without real ambience from the Hall. Presumably the close sound was to the detriment of those lucky few with surround sound facilities watching on BBC HD but why was the sound for everyone compromised in the first place? Maybe last night's Last Night will be seen as a learning exercise and next year's will be more satisfying.

A very enjoyable season, although I was a tad dissapointed with the Last Night ... I'm a bit of an old traditionalist and I really missed the "hankies and sniff" section as we call it here, with the rousing Hornpipe outpacing the audience at the end. Also being somewhat of a traditonalist, I wasn't too keen on the newly commisioned piece, a little too "modern" for my taste ... Roll on next year's season (and please bring back the hornpipe bit at least!)

Poppy
Being a 17 year old who much prefers the Proms to Ugly Betty I would consider myself quite unusual. However after watching the Last Night of the Proms yesterday I doubt whether I would ever watch it again, the quality was so poor. I particularly wish to complain about the so called 'froms' which turned out just to be somebody depicting a heading, or at least that was all I got out of it ... I note that some of the traditional items were missing from the schedule. Bring them back please.

Tim Fincham
The best Last Night in a while, the orchestra on top form, and Rule Britannia restored to its former glory with a fantastic soloist.

Sandy Bootman
Although it was obvious that a great deal of artistic effort went into the Last Night of the Proms I have to admit to feeling just a tad disappointed. It lacked FUN. Bryn Terfel's Falstaff came closest and his Scarpia was excellent, but many of the works performed were a bit too serious for the Last Night (in my opinion anyway). And what happened to the Sea Shanties this year? I bet the promenaders would have enjoyed a chance to let their hair down in what was otherwise a rather 'tight ship'. Sir Roger Norrington came across as a rather nice gentleman but he lacked charisma.

ENJOYED EVER BIT OF IT. I find the Last Night of the Proms so uplifiting. I thought the inclusion of all the parks was well done. I being a folk fan wished there was more of the folk songs, even though I am not used to them being sung the way they were sung. Feel they are a big (missed) part of our culture. The variety of music played was over all well balanced. What I would like to know is how the traditons within the Prom started? Thank you BBC for broadcasting the Proms.

D McCormick
I am an avid TV viewer of the Last Night of the Proms and have always enjoyed the TV coverage of the event, but last night's broadcast seemed to lack the passion of previous years. I felt the Anna Meredith work wasn't appropriate for the Last Night, and sorry but Clive Anderson didn't give his best performance. Never mind there is always next year.

Stephen Ellis
You failed at the most important part, the finale. We all love the sea shanties, why cut them out? The collection from Scotland, Wales, Ireland and England was a waste of time. Please bring back the sea shanties - a must for Last Night of The Proms.

What a brilliant evening of entertainment to end this year's season. I thought Anna Meredith's "froms" was amazing and the technical ability, (which went without any noticeable hitch!), to bring in all the venues throughout the country made it a very inclusive item in which the sound sparkled. The Bugle calls were also very exciting. I also enjoyed Bryn Terfel's Folk Song Medley, especially his rendering of Molly Malone. As usual, Terry Wogan's role of introducing the Hyde Park Concert contained his inimitable wit and style. Sir Roger Norrington's speech with its reasons why music is so important was very touching. Thanks to the BBC for a fabulous Finale to this year's Promenade Concerts.

Peter
Was it me or did the audience participation seem a bit flat this year? Roger Norrington, despite his experience, seemed a bit nervous I thought. The normal interaction, banter and general winding up of the promenaders seemed to be missing, and it appeared Sir Roger was in a hurry to get to bed at the end!

Tom Matthews
What a fantastic evening! Although only watching at home, the atmosphere from the Royal Albert Hall was infectious and me and my parents were up singing along and swaying! The Proms are one of the greatest events in the calendar, and the Last Night is one night where you can feel truly proud to be British! Thanks.

John McGowan
I have always loved the Last Night of the Proms, somehow this year was different. I feel that the second half of tonight's programme was put to experimental use rather than its traditional form. The first half can do the unconventional music, and much of that was very good, but the whole purpose of the 2nd half of the Promenade Concerts is the revelrey that takes place. The Fantasia of Sea Songs which really winds the promenaders up was absent, and this year they were just so quiet. Why? Roger Norrington, who I thought previously to be an admirably choice, failed to deliver. Where was that spark between conductor and audience that we witnessed with Malcolm Sargent and Andrew Davis? Totally non-existant this year, yet I've seen Roger conducting Beethoven's 7th in totally exuberant form. Sorry, this year's Last Night of the Prom's did not stimulate any exictement nor provide the usual entertainment that I expect from such an institution.

Philip Harkins
Disapointing, anti-climatic and somewhat boring interpretation of the revered tradition that is the Last Night. What on earth the conductor thought he was doing by removing the best known and most fun pieces from the programme of music is beyond me. In taking the helm at the Last Night you have to be prepared to be led by tradition, not try to make history by changing it. The BBC also made a mess of the sound, especially the awful host's interrupting and annoying chatter. In conclusion: Not the best by a long shot, please, simply give us what we want for the Last Night, it's not much to ask.

Where were the traditional Sea Shanties with everyone wiping their eyes with the hankies on a string? Disappointing that these were missed out.

Deborah Newson
Didn't like the "froms" at all. Where were the sea songs? Really missed those! Bring them back next year please.

Anna Meredith's piece was simply awful, but at least it was short. But why, oh why, have you done away with Sir Henry Wood's Fantasia on British Sea Songs? He founded the concerts and it is downright insulting to his memory to alter this great tradition. The first half of the Last Night is the place for experimentation, not the second half. The Folk Song Medley was simply boring, and does not belong in the second half of the Last Night.

The first half of the Last Night was fantastic. Bryn Terfel has the best voice in the world and he was stupendously good. However, the part that everyone in our house looks forwards to is the Fantasia on British Sea Songs. This simply did not happen. There was a short version approximately 4 minutes long which was played so fast that the songs were virtually unrecognisable. This part of the Proms is usually so good we are enthralled. Sir Roger Norrington should stick with tradition.

Olwen Smith
What has happened to the Last Night? Why were we not swept up with the enthusiasm of the prommenaders? Where were the fun, the whistles, the hooters, the jogging up and down, the interruptions, the streamers, the semi-anarchy? It was all so staged and prescribed and correct and clinical and I hated it, even with Bryn Terfel who I have adored since the year dot. What on earth was Sir Roger Norrington wearing and why? What is Clive Anderson doing there, he is so cynical and inapropriate and the whole thing now seems to be orchestrated towards the lowest common denominator for the enjoyment of a Great British tradition. How very sad.

Chris Deas
What an appalling evening. Every year since I can remember (and I am now a pensioner) I have looked forward to, and enjoyed The Last Night of the Proms. What happened to the jolly (if annoying to some) young promenaders? Banished for 'suits' it seems. What were all those foreign flags? This was the ONE night of the year when one could feel happy to be English. I noticed that the array of Union Flags was squashed up in a distant balcony. No truly English folk-song from Mr Terfel? 'Early One Morning' springs to mind ... Far too much verbosity from the conductor, reducing the last few minutes to a rushed (and un-necessary) third rendering of Elgar. They JUST squeeezed in Jerusalem. This was a mixture of the Oscars and a Pop concert. Are we really reduced to this in 2008? We even had tears from Bryn. Sadly, I shall not be watching next year.

Roger O'Brien
What can I say? The most hackneyed programme, in theory, but every year it works. Every year the orchestra plays it's heart out and the prommers sing so well. If I had not been singing along (good thing no-one else could hear) I should have wept for joy. I don't know how or why this ridiculous, British event works so brilliantly, but it does. Thank you.

Disgruntled, Manchester
I was most disappointed at the lack of Fantasia on British Sea Songs. This is a staple of the Last Night but all we got was a token effort of 4 minutes of sea songs. All right, we got Rule Brittania, but the whole suite is supposed to tell the story of a British sailor going to sea and his adventures. No doubt the chattering classes decided that it has become a bit too rowdy with too much audience participation with the horns and clapping. I especially missed the Hornpipe, which showcases the marvellous skills of the orchestra playing at high speed. Shame on you BBC Proms. Very disappointing.

Stephen Warnett
Having just watched The Last Night of the Proms I am so dissapointed that one of the great pieces of traditional English music, The Fantasia on British Sea-Songs by Sir Henry Wood, was not included.

Wow excellent as always - BUT WHERE WAS FANTASIA SEA SHANTIES sad face.

With the exception of the year of 9/11 when there wasn't a proper "last night", this was the worst Last Night of the Proms performance I have ever seen! All the heart went out of it and the conductor's speech was SO boring and unenthusiastic, just like the rest of the evening. Come on BBC, let's put the heart and patriotic tradition back into it, which is really what it's supposed to be all about.

Rebecca Giles
Where was the Fantasia on British Sea Songs? The Last Night must have the Hornpipe (as well as Rule Britannia, Land of Hope and Glory and Jerusalem). I feel cheated. Cut down the folk songs a bit and ditch that "modern" garbage and go back to what we expect and tune in for.

Sandy
Last Night of the Proms: ahh, lovely. Just loved it - chained here to my computer, finishing off a long-overdue lichen survey report, was able to sing - out loud and with gusto - to the Last Night. Well done BBC. Well done Radio 3. Where would I be without you? Long may you continue - this household is a fervent Radio 3 adherent. I sincerely think depression and despair would ensue if Radio 3 ceased in its present format.

Jon
I think they should have included the Hornpipes and other British Sea Songs. The Proms aren't the same without them.

Only caught the BBC1 coverage from the Rimsky-Korsakov. Always willing to listen to new pieces but I'm not enamoured of the Anna Meredith piece. AND WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SEA SONGS? Did I somehow miss them? I don't mind the programme being swapped around from the traditional order, but to miss out the 'Hornpipe' is just not cricket!

David Hare
Where oh where were the Sea Shanties? I was dead miffed!

George
What happened to the normal sea shanties that get played ever year?! It's a corner stone of the Last Night celebrations, and it's really disappointing that they weren't there. The Last Night really seemed to lack a punch, lacking many of the traditional sing-along songs that Prommers love to participate in. A bit of a let down, at least from watching it on TV.

Howard Williams
Another superb Last Night but why did you have to employ the sarcastic presenter Clive Anderson? His whole presentation left a lot to be desired - he was simply not the person for the job. Otherwise a wonderful night. Thank you all at the BBC.

Nan Thompson, Orpington
No sea shanties? You left out the sea shanties to play that discordant monstrosity composed by Anna Meredith? That was terrible! Next year, give us the sea shanties back.

John Griff
The adjective cacophonous could have been invented for the 'froms'. If ever there was an example of the emperor's new clothes this was it. An assault on the eardrums.

Richard Bruce, East Lothian
Where is Alan Titchmarsh? Is there anyone worse than Clive Anderson? What a disappointment. The modern piece would make Henry Wood turn in his grave. There is no way that dischordant mush like that brings people to Classical music. Worst Last Night for years. Shame Bryn was there - wasted talent alongside Anderson the mediocre buffoon.