BBC Proms commentary hits the wrong note

SIR – Having upset legions of tennis fans with the much-derided

Wimbledon 2day, the BBC now seems intent on inflicting similar suffering upon music lovers with the series

BBC Proms Sunday Symphony.

If someone were to wander on to the platform in the Royal Albert Hall to interrupt a performance of a symphony by introducing each movement separately, there would be a riot – so who thought it a good idea to do precisely that on television?

I yield to no one in my admiration of Sir Mark Elder – but please can we have his introduction all in one for the rest of the series so we can then enjoy the work as it was meant to be heard?

Alan Gallagher

Wallsend, Northumberland SIR – Henry Wood, the great Proms conductor, wanted to bring popular classics to the masses. I wonder what he would think of the present content. Today’s concerts are aimed at the typical Radio 3 listener, rather than the man in the street.

More than ever, we need to acquaint people with the popular classics. Few will listen to them on the radio, but they might do so on television.

And why are the semi-staged Proms not televised? These are meant to be seen as much as heard. I am furious that I cannot watch Fiddler on the Roof with Bryn Terfel. Most of us do not live near London, but we all pay (at least at present) for the Proms extravaganza.

John Jackson

Llanfairfechan, Caernarfonshire SIR – My children went, under protest, to the Ten Pieces Prom on Saturday and, under even greater protest, to the pre-Prom talk. From the first moment, they were gripped. My eight-year-old son was hopping with comments and questions. My 10-year-old daughter forgot to read her book.

Between them they do a lot of “straight” classical music: choir, orchestra, chamber music, recitals. But here classical music was fun, exciting and, yes, psychedelic – and not in any way dumbed down.

Dr Samantha Schad

Oxford