'Twas a magnificent, hot, sunny day as our tribe descended on Hyde Park for Proms in the Park yesterday. It is one of our annual treats - a highlight of the "Social Calendar" (it is traditionally the signal for the change-over between Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter seasons). We always manage to bag ourselves a spot close enough to the stage to be able to see the artists, but with the big screen ahead of us (all the better to catch the details), not too far from the facilities, and with landmarks to enable us to find our way back in the dark.
It is an exciting day at the best of times, and this year was particularly special - for our headliner was none other than Princess Kylie herself!
However, Proms in the Park provides a long day's worth of entertainment before we get to the top-billing artists, and the opening segment (aka "the daylight bit", this year with presenter Tony Blackburn) gave us some genuine treats - including a rare appearance (accompanied by the Chicago Blues Brothers) by none other than the truly legendary Miss Madeline Bell (of Blue Mink fame; she has worked with some of the world's greatest artists including Led Zeppelin and Rod Stewart) - who added a touch of class early on in the proceedings.
As well as the fantabulosa Bjorn Again (again!), the London Community Gospel Choir and the cast of not-so-fab Beatles musical Let It Be, the other highlight was a recent discovery, the Gypsy Queens, whose version of L'Americano - the dance version of which was in the charts a few years ago - is rather wonderful.
[2019 UPDATE - gone from YouTube]
As the blazing sun began to set, the picnic was half-consumed and the copious quantity of booze was beginning to kick in, it was time for the second half of the day's entertainment to begin, with the beautiful tenor voice of Mr Alfie Boe, here singing You Are My Heart's Delight:
The rather hunky Il Divo followed soon after, and true to their "boy band for the classically-minded" style, mixed light classical (including a unique vocal interpretation of Barber's Adagio) with pop numbers. Here's their take on one of my favourite gay anthems, Somewhere (from West Side Story):
Excellent stuff. After another rather wonderful appearance from Mr Boe, it was the moment we had all been waiting for!
Adorned in a most beautiful scarlet evening gown, the tiny but striking fame of Miss Minogue took centre stage to deafening cheers from the 40,000-strong crowd, and gave us what we had been promised - a selection of her hits brilliantly orchestrated in a more classical style. We were completely blown away!
Here are a few of the songs our Princess sang...
We danced, we sang, we shouted, we bawled! I think Miss Minogue appreciated it. She looked utterly radiant, beaming smiles throughout, so I guess she knew we all adored her...
Whew! What an emotional roller-coaster... My first Kylie concert. And what a show!
However, even as the lady twinkled her way off the stage, the show was far from finished - it was time for the Grand Finale, as we joined via a live link the Last Night of the Proms concert itself from the Royal Albert Hall. Once more, we had the traditional selection of British pride numbers - including the Sea Shanties, Jerusalem, Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia, and waved our Union Jacks till a wind whipped up!
This being a very special year for the UK, the tenor Joseph Calleja was joined on stage by a few of the medallists from the Olympics and Paralympics (which was a superb and emotional moment):
Last night was definitely the very best, most memorable, and most amazing Proms in the Park I have ever been to. I am still coming down to earth! Despite having spent the day with Madam Arcati's Mum and folks for her 80th birthday, the echoes of last night still resonate...
Heaven!
Proms in the Park on the BBC
