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| Musicians suffer at BBC Proms as temperature crescendos | Musicians suffer at BBC Proms as temperature crescendos |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Musicians at the BBC Proms have battled soaring temperatures inside the Royal Albert Hall as the UK faces its first prolonged heatwave since 1997. | |
| Wagner's Das Rheingold, which lasted nearly three hours, was performed on Monday, when temperatures in London reached 33.5C (92.3F). | Wagner's Das Rheingold, which lasted nearly three hours, was performed on Monday, when temperatures in London reached 33.5C (92.3F). |
| "It was hot as Hades," one audience member tweeted, saying it was "crazy" to see the orchestra in "tails & ties". | "It was hot as Hades," one audience member tweeted, saying it was "crazy" to see the orchestra in "tails & ties". |
| But one musician said he had chosen not to perform in informal attire. | But one musician said he had chosen not to perform in informal attire. |
| "In such a traditional, breathtaking architecture like the Royal Albert Hall, I think it wouldn't be appropriate," violist Wolfgang Hinzpeter told BBC Radio 3's In Tune. | |
| In his review, the Financial Times' Richard Fairman praised the "warm and cultivated" performance but warned visitors about the "sweltering heat". | In his review, the Financial Times' Richard Fairman praised the "warm and cultivated" performance but warned visitors about the "sweltering heat". |
| The Staatskapelle Berlin orchestra performed the first part of Wagner's Ring Cycle, conducted by Daniel Barenboim, alongside 14 singers. | |
| BBC Philharmonic trumpeter Gary Furr is playing at the Proms on Thursday night, alongside conductor Juanjo Mena and a troupe of Spanish dancers. | |
| "It's going to be a sweaty one," he told the BBC News website. "The tailcoats are not ideal. We're acutely aware we're getting red-faced and dripping with sweat live on camera!". | |
| Furr explained the temperature can also affect the pitch of brass instruments. | |
| "[The string section] is probably fed up of us oscillating in pitch," he said. "As the concert gets hotter and hotter, we have to make sure the pitch doesn't go up." | |
| Venue upgrade | |
| Audience members who contacted Radio 3 said they would prefer the musicians to be more comfortable on stage. | |
| "I was dripping in the circle, must have been awful on stage," said Tiffany Hore on Twitter. "I like white tie and tails, but pragmatism is good too!" | "I was dripping in the circle, must have been awful on stage," said Tiffany Hore on Twitter. "I like white tie and tails, but pragmatism is good too!" |
| "I wouldn't have minded if they'd been wearing t-shirts, shorts and flip-flops," agreed David Hendy. | "I wouldn't have minded if they'd been wearing t-shirts, shorts and flip-flops," agreed David Hendy. |
| Speaking on BBC Radio In Tune, pianist Joseph Middleton said he preferred to wear concert dress for the Proms despite the discomfort. | |
| "I like the feeling of putting on something smart that you wouldn't wear at other times," he said. | "I like the feeling of putting on something smart that you wouldn't wear at other times," he said. |
| The Albert Hall, a Grade I listed building, has been in continuous use since it was opened in March 1871. | The Albert Hall, a Grade I listed building, has been in continuous use since it was opened in March 1871. |
| A spokesman for the concert hall told the BBC that plans are in place to upgrade the Victorian heating and ventilation systems. | A spokesman for the concert hall told the BBC that plans are in place to upgrade the Victorian heating and ventilation systems. |