Posted on 14 September 2011
Edward Gardner, conductor of this year's
Last Night of the Proms, praised and thanked the Musicians Benevolent Fund's 'ongoing wonderful support' in his traditional Conductor's Address.
Gardner, the youngest 'master of ceremonies' of the Last Night since Sir Henry Wood himself on the first Last Night in 1895, voiced his own gratitude and that of all those in a packed
Royal Albert Hall for the work of the Fund. He not only thanked the Fund for commissioning the concert's opening piece,
Musica Benevolens, from
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, but equally for the work it does 'on behalf of all musicians'.
Although beset by technical difficulties, which resulted in the speech's consistent interruption both on radio and television, Gardner's first Last Night Address matched the light-hearted, festival atmosphere in the Hall whilst maintaining a seriousness in thanking the musicians, organisations and audiences that make the
BBC Proms such a unique and wonderful yearly festival.
After thanking his musicians and soloists
pianist Lang Lang and
soprano Susan Bullock, Gardner showed his appreciation for the '
Prommers' who collected a total of £85,700 for musical charities, including the Musicians Benevolent Fund. He then went on specifically to toast the Fund and its work with musicians from all musical traditions. As the broadcast of the speech was interrupted, this is a full transcript of what he said regarding the Fund:
“One of your registered charities, one of the people that you help support are the Musicians Benevolent Fund. I want to thank them on two counts for the commission they gave us this evening from Sir Peter Maxwell Davies; but also for their ongoing wonderful support on behalf of all musicians. So, to the Musicians Benevolent Fund.” (Applause follows)
Earlier in the evening, the world premiere of
Musica Benevolens, commissioned by the Fund and composed by its President Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, had the Prommers join in song with the
BBC Symphony Chorus,
Orchestra and The Fanfare Trumpeters of the Household Division in a remarkable start to the Last Night.
The Fund wishes to thank both Edward Gardner for his kind words and 'the Prommers' for their tireless work over the Proms season collecting for musical charities.