‘Eyes and ears of BBC Proms’ has died
RIPWe have received sad news of the death of Rosemary Gent, an assiduous and largely invisible organiser of the BBC Proms, described by controller Nick Kenyon as the festival’s ‘eyes and ears’.
After studying at Nottingham University, Rosemary found a job as production secretary at BBC Radio 3.She left to freelance for a decade as artistic co-ordinator for the London Sinfonietta and various festivals, revealing a passion for comtemporary music and composers.
In 1994 she became artistic administrator of the Los Angeles Philharmonic for five years, returning to be appointed artistic administrator at the BBC Proms for a decade, working with Proms directors Nicholas Kenyon and Roger Wright. Rosemary moved to Devon to care for her mother, undertook freelance projects and became a Green Party election candidate. She fell ill this month and quickly died.
Nick Kenyon and Roger Wright said ‘Rosemary was a wonderful artistic programmer and colleague, phenomenally knowledgeable about the repertory and always creatively supportive of artists and composers. She made a deep impact on our musical culture and will be much missed by all of us who worked with her.
This is desperately sad news. Rosemary took over from me at BBC Proms and we kept in touch thereafter – I was pleased to see her only a couple of months ago, at Blakeman’s farewell party. She knew literally everything about the orchestral repertoire, new music and composers and was always good fun to deal with. RIP.
Stephen, do you have a better photograph of her?
I don’t think I do, alas
Thanks…. and happy 2024.
So terribly sad. Rosemary was a wonderful and clever and brilliant woman who rarely stepped out of the shadows. I learnt so much from her about programming, good taste and also about new music; she was a passionate supporter of many living composers.
She was a wonderful colleague. RIP.
I was fortunate enough to meet Rosemary just this last summer and thrilled to discover such a wonderful musical mind living so near to to me. Over the past few months we have been developing as many regional links as possible, in the hope of offering a more joined-up, financially viable provision for both performers and audiences alike.
I spent most of the first weekend of December with her, taking in two concerts and an art exhibition, sharing many laughs over dinner and car rides in what was to be her last healthy weekend. She sent me a raft of suggestions on the Monday evening. Very sadly, she then felt very unwell, but didn’t dial 111 until 48 hours later, whence she was taken straight to the ICU. I spoke to her a few days later and she sounded very weak, but determined. I then had a much more upbeat text message on 22nd, when she believed she was ‘making small steps to recovery but it will take a while’. I was devastated to learn of her untimely passing and hope very much to action as many of her wonderful ideas as possible.
Many thanks, Ms Anderson, for this reflection. To put into action Ms Gent’s suggestions would be the best tribute of all.
Absolutely!
I knew Rosemary when she was in Los Angeles during Salonen’s early years as Music Director. She was such a kind and gentle person. I always enjoyed our many conversations. She was there when the also-dearly-departed Sue Knussen was head of education (what a team that was!). She once told me that After several years of living in LA, she unapologetically retained her Britishness. The head of education at the time was the also-dearly-departed Sue Knussen (what a team that was!). Sue told me that Rosemary was the only person in history that ever lived in LA and was not influenced by the culture and lifestyle in smallest bit!
RIP Rosemary. What a legacy you leave behind
Such sad news. Rosemary and I worked together at the London Sinfonietta. I learned so much from her comprehensive musical knowledge and her uncompromising standards. She was a friend to so many composers and performers – an unsung heroine.
A delightful, charming, supportive and wise lady. Thank you for all your advice, and gentle nudging in the right direction.
I too was “in the band” with Rosemary during the L.A.Philharmonic years. She was kind of stealth operator, creatively doing what she did well under the L.A. glitz radar, never losing her GB brogue or outlook. She asked me to do a series of pre concert lectures called “Upbeat Live” from the perspective of a player from the back row, and asked a woodwind and string player to add their perspective to the concert program du jour. As far as I know this was a first in the big time orchestra biz.