Press Release
30 May 2003
Immediate
6/03
What Price the Proms and the Excellence of BBC Music?
VLV Conference,
Took Place On The
Monday 7 July 2 - 3.30pm
At The The British Academy,
London SW1
The 2003 Proms Season began on Friday,
18 July. Since their inception in 1895 the Proms have grown to be
the biggest and most popular music festival in the world - an essential
part of the London summer season. .
Many of us take the Proms - and the BBC
- for granted. But how secure is their future? The Proms are
organised and sponsored by the BBC. Could they survive without its
support? Could the BBC orchestras, which provide so much of
the music, survive without the backing of BBC Radio, which broadcasts every
Prom? Could the BBC, its orchestras, the Proms or BBC Radio survive
without the licence fee to fund them?
The BBC Royal Charter expires in 2006.
Debate about its future role and funding has already begun, fuelled by
powerful commercial interests who may be further strengthened after the
passage of the current Communications Bill.
To discuss the future of the Proms and
to consider how the excellence of BBC music can be enhanced and ensured
in the ever-more competitive, commercial environment of the multi-channel
future, VLV brought together a distinguished panel of speakers who were:
Sir Charles Mackerras CBE, the renowned
conductor, Nicholas Kenyon CBE, Director of the Proms, and Peter Maniura,
BBC Head of Television Classical Music and Performance, under the chairmanship
of Christopher Cook, the Radio 3 and Radio 4 broadcaster.
For further information, contact: Linda
Forbes or Jocelyn Hay.
Tel: (00)1474-352835; Fax: (00)1474-351112.
For full details of VLV contact:
Telephone: 01474 352835.
Fax: 01474 351112.
E-mail: vlv@btinternet.com
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