BBC boss Tony Hall backs decision to play orchestral Rule, Britannia! at this year's Proms
In a statement on Monday evening, BBC Proms said it was announcing the concert's programme following recent speculation.
"The real problem the corporation has is that it is always in a panic about race, and one of the reasons it is always in a panic is that it has no confidence," he said. The rumours that the tunes were being dropped for political reasons because of concerns about lyrics extolling Britain's imperial past has led to a heated debate.
On Monday, Downing Street waded into the row, with a spokesman saying:"This is a decision and a matter for the organisers of the Proms and the BBC. "Let's just have a single voice singing those words proudly," he said."There's nothing wrong with a bit of tradition, and it's a beautiful tune."Rule, Britannia! was set to music by Thomas Arne in 1740, and its lyrics were based on a poem by James Thomson.The nations, not so blest as thee / Must, in their turns, to tyrants fall."Rule, Britannia! rule the waves / Britons never will be slaves.
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