David Stewart wrote:

>Thought I might go to this...  Tippett's the Mask of Time.  Any good?

Tippett's amanuensis Meirion Bowen summed up the work: "Its scope is
vast, sketching out the evolution of the world and mankind, demonstrating
relationships between Man and Time, and meditating on man's place in the
world as we know it and in the universe at large."

If you can handle that after a hard day's databasing, you're ready to take
on Tippett.  I find the work intellectually stimulating, funny (parodies of
Handel and muezzin calls), crammed with inventive sonorities, occasionally
profound, and that its reach exceeds its grasp.  I encourage you to read
this page for background information, if you are unable to borrow a
recording beforehand:

   http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/knot.garden/mtwp17.htm

>I was going to go for the 3 quid arena seats.  Is it necessary to be there
>early? Surely the MoT is not a major seat filler?

You should queue from 6.30pm at the latest, to be certain of an Arena
place.  The Arena ticket will give you the better view of the singers,
whose all-important lyrics will be unclear elsewhere in the Hall.  However,
from the Gallery, you will see more of the orchestra, and the sound is more
powerful.  In either case, wear your lightest, coolest clothes.

How to Prom link http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/html/howtoprom.shtml

James Kearney
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