May appreciates Teutonic tone at the BBC Proms

WITH her Swiss summer hiking holiday over, Theresa May got straight back into London culture. Last night she was at the Albert Hall for the BBC Proms. On the Teutonic programme were Bach’s Cantata No 82 and Bruckner’s Ninth Symphony, performed by Vienna’s Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester. May and her husband Philip enjoyed the concert from the BBC’s box.

Downing Street has not commented on whether the Prime Minister was a guest of the corporation and directorgeneral Tony Hall. However, a BBC spokesperson confirmed the vi sit , telling The Londoner that “we are delighted that the Prime Minister found time in her busy schedule to visit the Proms last night”.

It’s an interesting move in the image st akes. While Smiths-loving David Cameron might have been advised by his spin team that the Proms didn’t fit his brand, the new PM i s mo r e comfortable with the concert series, which is aimed at a popular audience.

And Mrs May follows in a cultured line of politicians at the Proms. George Osborne visited as Chancellor in 2012 — he was spotted singing along to Rule, Britannia and You’ll Never Walk Alone with the BBC’s Nick Robinson. John Major and his wife Norma were also keen visitors, as PM and afterwards. Norma Major is something of a classical music exper t , having penned t he authorised biography of soprano Joan Sutherland.

May has a broad taste in music. As well as Mozart and Elgar, her 2014 Desert Island Discs also included Walk Like a Man by Frankie Valli. At least she and Angela Merkel will have a good conversation opener: the German Chancellor enjoys seeing the Berlin Philharmonic and visiting Bayreuth.