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Reviewed by: NULL
Reviewed: 9 July, 2005
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Thousands are expected to watch First Night of the BBC Proms on big screens across the country this coming Friday 15 July 2005.
Thirty-seven of the world’s top orchestras, three opera companies, a host of leading ensembles, and hundreds of the world’s greatest soloists and conductors pack 74 concerts into just 58 days at London’s Royal Albert Hall from Friday, when the BBC Proms opens.
For the first time the First Night is relayed live from the Royal Albert Hall to the big screen in Trafalgar Square. The free event in Trafalgar Square also includes live entertainment in the afternoon. The live broadcast of the concert from the Royal Albert Hall is also being shown on the big screens in Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and Hull where audiences are expected to gather for party-like events to mark the opening of the world’s ‘greatest music festival’.
Mendelssohn’s ever-popular Violin Concerto, performed by glamorous young violinist Janine Jansen and Tippett’s powerful war-time oratorio A Child of Our Time are among the highlights of the First Night concert. Top artists including singers Sir Willard White and Ian Bostridge join leading British conductor Sir Roger Norrington and the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.
The Prommers in the arena and gallery will stand for around 111 hours of music-making during the Proms season, paying just £4 to hear such great names as Plácido Domingo, Ravi Shankar and Anne Sofie von Otter. More than quarter of a million seats will be sold, and there will be more than 300 hours of Proms broadcasts on BBC ONE, BBC TWO, BBC FOUR and every concert on BBC Radio 3. There are also eight Proms Chamber Music concerts at Cadogan Hall, four Composer Portraits, 24 pre-Prom talks and, for the first time, four Proms films.
The BBC Proms comes to end on Saturday 10 September when the world-famous Last Night of the Proms celebrations will attract more than 100,000 people into the Royal Albert Hall, Hyde Park and four other venues around the country.
As in past years, the Classical Source expects to cover all 74 concerts and bring you reviews within days of the concert.