The Proms and natural justice - Robert Simpson

Dr Robert Simpson, one of Britain's finest composers and for nearly thirty years a BBC music producer, scrutinises the methods by which the BBC plans the annual Promenade Concerts. Basing his argument on long experience inside theBBC, Dr Simpson argues the only logical way to give the Proms the flair that a single imagination can provide - without those otherwise inevitable long-term imbalances - is to limit the tenure of the Controller to four or five years. Dr Simpson further examines the artistic gains and financial savings to be made from more extensive use of the BBC's own orchestra. He suggests that not only would this measure produce a saving of a staggering 62% of costs; it would also give the Controller almost total control of the repertoire. This would enable the Proms to become more adventurous than ever before, and a true realisation of Sir Henry Wood's original vision. A musician andwriter of scholarly books on Nielsen, Bruckner and Beethoven, for 30 years ROBERT SIMPSON was also a Music Producer with the BBC.