£500 might sound like a lot to fork out in one go. But look at what you get from the Southbank Centre's 'The Rest And More' package, introduced to tie in with next year's 20th century music series.
The biggest draw is a free ticket for each of the 70-ish concerts in the series (normally up to £65) - which include all the LPO's 2013 Southbank shows plus visitors like the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonics. Also included are free entrance to 12 special weekend events (normally £25 each), free Southbank membership (£45) and a copy of Alex Ross's book (£10). That's potentially well over £2,000 worth of benefits for a £500 outlay.
So is it worth the investment? If you were planning to buy 20+ top price tickets anyway, then definitely. But most of us aren't, and the regular multibuy discounts of up to 30% bring down the cost of multiple purchases anyway.
So what about the educational perspective? Is it worth going to concerts you normally wouldn't bother with in the interests of extending your horizons? After all, the Southbank's marketing claims they're embracing contemporary music.
But that falls somewhat short of the mark when you look at what's actually been programmed. The concerts announced so far (covering the first half of the year) major on the usual Strauss, Shostakovich, Sibelius, with morsels of Vaughan Williams, Copland, and so on tossed in. In other words, the same old stuff, minus the 19th century bits. There's a possibility of some genuinely contemporary music in the latter half of the year, but given that Ross's book more or less grinds to a halt with Boulez, I don't expect more than a cursory rush through.
A bargain for some - but check what you're getting carefully before you buy.
The real, and very aggravating problem for someone like me who booked all the LPO's 2012/13 season concerts back in January, is that now the second two-thirds of it is being bundled together on deep discount with the first third of the 2013/14 season.
Not much incentive to be a supporter, is it?
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Intermezzo replies - I assume you can return existing tickets for a credit voucher, as normal, then repurchase at the relevant discount. Might be worth the £2 per ticket fee if you want a lot of extra tickets.
Posted by: sjt | 28 November 2012 at 04:02 AM
I'm afraid I agree about the programming - which is sadly indicative of the scope of Ross' book. What promises to be an adventure through the daunting waters of 20th century just ends up focusing on what everyone knows and likes already. That said, it'll probably our only chance to hear Mattila singing some of Salome in London!
Posted by: John | 28 November 2012 at 12:30 PM
For new aural experiences try the FREE concerts at 6pm dotted throughout the year at the Southbank. I'm looking forward to hearing some Claude Vivier on 2nd May.
Posted by: Dogbrook | 30 November 2012 at 09:49 AM
The recent Times interview with Ross, ostensibly to publicise the season, says very pointedly that he was not consulted about the programming. I'm not sure whether that's a dig at the South Bank, Ross or both.
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Intermezzo replies - Conceivably neither. Could just be that all involved want to avoid any misapprehension, given that the title of the series hints otherwise. Ross is booked to give some talks later in the season, so I don't think it's handbags at dawn time.
Posted by: cunningfox | 30 November 2012 at 02:06 PM