BBC Proms - Season 17 / Year 2019
Season 17 / Year 2019
Episodes
First Night of the Proms - Part 1
Katie Derham presents live from London's Royal Albert Hall, as the BBC Symphony Orchestra and choral forces, conducted by Karina Canellakis, begin the season with a brand-new commission by Zosha Di Castri marking the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11's mission to the moon, the first manned mission to land on its surface. Dvorák's fairy-tale tone-poem The Golden Spinning Wheel is also performed.
First Night of the Proms - Part 2
Live from London's Royal Albert Hall, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Chorus, under conductor Karina Canellakis, perform Janácek's monumental Glagolitic Mass, a work steeped in Moravian rhythms. Katie Derham also presents highlights from the evening's first-half and a taste of the season to come.
Prom 2: Bohemian Rhapsody
Following his thrilling Proms debut in 2017, Czech conductor Jakub Hrůša returns with two popular masterpieces from his homeland.
With its song-like slow movement and irrepressible, folk-infused finale, Dvořák's Violin Concerto is one of the best-loved in the repertoire. American virtuoso Joshua Bell joins the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra as soloist.
Journey through the Czech countryside in the second half with Smetana's symphonic suite Má vlast (‘My Country') – a colourful celebration of a nation's landscape, castles and warriors, with the sweeping melody of ‘Vltava' at its heart.
Schumann, Schoenberg and Mozart
Suzy Klein is at the Royal Albert Hall for an evening of musical game-changers, as Omer Meir Wellber makes his Proms debut with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. South Korean pianist Yeol Eum Son performs Mozart's fiendish 15th Piano Concerto along with Israeli composer Ben-Haim's emotive first symphony, Schoenberg's revolutionary Five Pieces for Orchestra, and Robert Schumann's mould-breaking fourth Symphony.
Nicola Benedetti with NYO
Nicola Benedetti performs Tchaikovsky's demanding Violin Concerto, alongside the London premiere of Icarus from Russian composer Lera Auerbach. Plus a selection from Prokofiev's ballet, Romeo and Juliet.Tom Service and Jess Gillam present.
Britten and Mahler
Katie Derham introduces two pieces originally premiered by Proms founder Sir Henry Wood. Here, Leif Ove Andsnes performs Britten's Piano Concerto, while Claudia Mahnke and Stuart Skelton sing Mahler's poignant Das Lied von der Erde. Edward Gardner conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Rachmaninov and Shostakovich
John Storgards conducts the BBC Philharmonic in two dark Russian classics, Rachmaninov's atmospheric The Isle of the Dead and Shostakovich's broody Symphony No 11, The Year 1905. Bringing light and hope is the world premiere of Finnish composer Outi Tarkiainen's Midnight Sun Variations. Introduced by Tom Service and Jess Gillam from the Royal Albert Hall.
Angélique Kidjo
Grammy winner Angélique Kidjo makes her Proms debut at the Royal Albert Hall with her nine-piece band in a tribute to salsa star Celia Cruz. Clara Amfo explores the links between the music of Cuban diva, Cruz and the traditional Yoruba music that came to America during the slave trade, and how Kidjo has combined these influences with the West-African Afrobeat and juju styles.
John Wilson Orchestra
John Wilson's virtuoso orchestra celebrates the music of one of the most famous film studios, Warner Brothers. The lush sounds of composers such as Max Steiner and Erich Korngold are among the many pieces played showcasing why this historic studio holds a special place in the hearts of lovers of film music. Katie Derham presents from the Royal Albert Hall.
The Sound of Space
At the Royal Albert Hall, Cerys Matthews introduces a Prom featuring music from sci-fi films. The London Contemporary Orchestra performs excerpts from cult soundtracks together with recent works from Hans Zimmer and Mica Levi. Fans of Alien: Covenant, Interstellar, Under the Skin, or Gravity will recognise this repertoire.
Mozart's Requiem
Love and loss, life and death collide in a version of Mozart's Requiem by Nathalie Stutzmann and the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales, featuring soloists Fatma Said, Kathryn Rudge, Sunnyboy Dladla and David Shipley, from the Royal Albert Hall.
Pappano and the National Youth Orchestra USA
Suzy Klein introduces America's most talented young musicians in an ambitious concert from the National Youth Orchestra of the USA. Antonio Pappano conducts the UK premiere of Benjamin Beckman's new work, Occidentalis and mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato sings Berlioz's beautifully crafted miniatures Les nuits d'ÚtÚ. The impressive programme culminates with Richard Strauss's epic work, An Alpine Symphony.
Queen Victoria's Playlist
Petroc Trelawny and Suzannah Lipscomb introduce an evening of music to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Queen Victoria's birth. Featuring the music of her favourite composer, Mendelssohn, including his `Scottish" Symphony and First Piano Concerto, performed by Stephen Hough on Victoria's own piano, loaned by Her Majesty The Queen from the Royal Collection. There's also a suite from Arthur Sullivan's ballet Victoria and Merrie England and songs composed by Prince Albert.
Rattle conducts Belshazzar's Feast
At the Royal Albert Hall, Walton's choral masterpiece Belshazzar's Feast gets the Proms treatment with conductor Simon Rattle, the London Symphony Orchestra, the LSO Chorus, the Orfeo Catala Choir and Orfeo Catala Youth Choir and Canadian baritone Gerald Finley as soloist. Plus, Varese's celebration of the modern city in sound AmÚriques and Charles Koechlin's Jungle Book-inspired Les bandar-log. Presented by Suzy Klein.
Sheku plays Elgar
Sheku Kanneh-Mason performs Elgar's Cello Concerto at the Royal Albert Hall, with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and their Music Director Mirga Gra×inyte-Tyla. Introduced by Tom Service and Sheku's sister, pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason.
Sheku plays Elgar
Sheku Kanneh-Mason performs Elgar's Cello Concerto at the Royal Albert Hall, with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and their Music Director Mirga Gra×inyte-Tyla. Introduced by Tom Service and Sheku's sister, pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason.
Strauss, Sibelius and Prokofiev
Katie Derham presents flavours of Finland, Russia and Germany from three 20th-century favourites. Yannick NÚzet-SÚguin and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra perform Sibelius's turbulent first Symphony, Prokofiev's second Violin Concerto - performed by Gil Shaham - and the orchestral suite from Richard Strauss's blockbuster opera, Der Rosenkavalier.
Homage to Nina Simone
Clara Amfo introduces a prom celebrating jazz and blues legend Nina Simone. The Metropole Orkest is led by Jules Buckley, joined by Ledisi, Lisa Fischer and other singers in this tribute to the acclaimed singer, songwriter and political activist. The titles include standards such as Feeling Good, My Baby Just Cares for Me and I Put a Spell on You.
Happy Birthday Henry Wood!
Tom Service and Kwame Ryan introduce a 150th anniversary tribute to Henry Wood, founder-conductor of the Proms. It features many of the works he premiered and arranged across almost 50 years of the festival, and reflects his wide musical tastes, from Wagner and John Ireland to Ravel and Percy Grainger.
Shanghai Symphony Orchestra
Suzy Klein welcomes the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra to the Royal Albert Hall for their Proms debut. With conductor Long Yu, they perform Qigang Chen's 'The Five Elements', Mozart's Piano Concerto No 23 in A, with soloist and 2018 Leeds Piano Competition winner Eric Lu, and a triptych of Symphonic Dances by Rachmaninov.
Ellington's Sacred Music
Cerys Matthews introduces an evening of jazz, gospel and Broadway-style music from big-band giant Duke Ellington. The Nu Civilisation Orchestra, conducted by Peter Edwards, emulate Ellington's Sacred Concerts from the mid-60s, as the Proms premieres this brand-new version of the revered performances.
Elgar's Enigma
The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra celebrates conductor Martyn Brabbins's 60th birthday in music by Vaughan Williams, Brahms and Elgar's Enigma Variations, from the Royal Albert Hall. Presented by Suzy Klein and Anna Meredith. Elgar's Enigma Variations is the inspiration for a new work commissioned from 14 living composers as a special birthday tribute to conductor Martyn Brabbins. Elgar's original set also features, as do Vaughan Williams's exquisite Serenade to Music and Brahms' Little Requiem, the Song of Destiny.
Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique
At the Royal Albert Hall, Matthew Baynton, Nicholas Collon and the Aurora Orchestra present Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique from memory in a specially devised production incorporating elements of theatre, spectacular lighting and choreography as well as the composer's own words about his music. Introduced by Tom Service and Jess Gillam.
Jonny Greenwood Curates
At the Royal Albert Hall, Jess Gillam introduces an evening of music curated by Radiohead lead guitarist and award-winning film score composer Jonny Greenwood. Hugh Brunt conducts the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and BBC Proms Youth Ensemble, joined by pianist Katherine Tinkler and violinist Daniel Pioro for a varied programme of music culminating in the world premiere of Greenwood's `Horror vacui" for solo violin and 68 strings.
Last Night of the Proms Part 1
Katie Derham hosts the climax of the classical music festival live from the Royal Albert Hall. American mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton joins Sakari Oramo and the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and the BBC Singers in a programme that includes a world premiere by Daniel Kidane, ballet music from Manuel de Falla's The Three-Cornered Hat, Laura Mvula performing Sing to the Moon, plus classics by Bizet, Saint-SaÙns and Verdi.
Last Night of the Proms Part 2
The classical music celebration continues live from the Royal Albert Hall. Sakari Oramo conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and the BBC Singers through an energetic programme, including the Overture to Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld, Grainger's Marching Song of Democracy, Harold Arlen's Somewhere Over the Rainbow and Gershwin's I Got Rhythm. The event is then brought to its familiar and rousing close with Rule, Britannia!, Land of Hope and Glory and Jerusalem. Presented by Katie Derham.
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