• ANOTHER Proms season and yet one more without the music of British composer (and London resident in later years), George Lloyd.

Yet another missed opportunity to feature the glorious symphonic Mass, the poignant cello concerto (a modern rival of the famous Elgar work) and any of the fine 12 symphonies that are undoubted leaders in their genre.

The excellent pro-am Ealing Symphony Orchestra (London) under conductor John Gibbons performed the composer’s 4th (“Arctic”) symphony not long ago and received an extended, enthusiastic, ovation.

Hardly a sign that it deserves the rejection employed for so long by the BBC Proms music management. (There was a brief centenary “nod” in 2013.)

Regrettably this seems to go hand in hand with the increasing lack of public trust in the organisation’s real interest in what the wider public might enjoy, let alone actually get.

I started to lobby politely 20 years ago for the music to be heard at the Proms, with no sign of a committed response. More’s the pity for British classical music as a whole – and my pensioner’s eagerly sought licence fee in particular.

MARK NEWBERRY
Harcourt Street, W1