The Jesus Christ Superstar composer says Rule, Britannia! will sound 'ordinary at best' without lyrics, but he has a solution.
When asked about the controversy earlier this week,:"If it is correct... I think it's time we stopped our cringing embarrassment about our history, about our traditions and about our culture, and we stop this general bout of self-recrimination and wetness."
He admitted he'd been advised against speaking out on the matter but said:"I wanted to get that off my chest."The BBC said Finnish conductor Dalia Stasevska, who will lead the orchestra on the final night, has faced"unjustified personal attacks" on social media following the backlash against the removal of the lyrics.
They said decisions about the event were made"in consultation with all artists involved," and said the reinvention of the evening was a way of"adapting to very different circumstances at this moment in time". A BBC spokesperson confirmed that:"With much reduced musical forces and no live audience, the Proms will curate a concert that includes familiar, patriotic elements such as Jerusalem and the national anthem, and bring in new moments capturing the mood of this unique time, including You'll Never Walk Alone, presenting a poignant and inclusive event for 2020."
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