BBC Henry Wood Promenade Concerts

Frescoes, Taras Bulba…
This Prom was a curious experience.Its oddity was partly due to the Albert Hall acoustic: some sounds were swallowed up and some blazoned out with shining sonic distinctiveness.The Frescoes of...
Curlew River
Ev’nin’ all!I understand that you want to know what happened on the 28 inst. at the Royal Albert Hall in London? Well, let me refer to my notes.Ah, yes …...
Glagolitic Mass
Not a concert that looked exactly promising – Schubert's proto-Romantic soul-searching seemingly unrelated to Janáček's exalted vision. Kurt Masur must have conducted the 'Unfinished' many times during his 50-year career,...
SCO
Although not billed as such, this gem of a concert marked Joseph Swensen’s farewell to the Proms as Principal Conductor of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. At the end of the...
Elgar Elaborated
A bitty bill of fare this and a long one, but it did at least demonstrate the versatility of its conductor. The official line was that we were celebrating the...
Chamber Music No.2
After his studied indifference while playing Elgar’s Violin Concerto the night before at the Royal Albert Hall (where his most demonstrative gesture was hurling the bouquet of flowers, immediately as...
Elgar & Dvořák
Two of Britain’s most popular composers were brought together in this programme, by which I mean two composers most be-loved of Britons. Elgar needs no introduction, nor should Dvořák –...
Blue Peter Prom
The Prom began with the “Blue Peter” theme – music that belongs to children and is much jollier than our National Anthem.“Blue Peter” presenters, Liz Barker and Simon Thomas, were...
Ives 4
With no apparent connection between the three works, save that each includes quotation or borrows from vernacular sources, this was, nevertheless, a satisfying concert, strongly performed by the CBSO under...
Des Canyons aux Etoiles
This Prom offered a welcome opportunity to hear the Ensemble Modern Orchestra working with one of its regular collaborators, George Benjamin, as conductor, composer and arranger. That latter guise first...
Casken Premiere
One of the many pleasures available to the seasoned Proms-goer is to chart the development of particular living composers as they are regularly revisited thanks to the munificence of the...
Czech Mates
Founded by Jiří Bělohlávek just ten years ago, the Prague Philharmonia has quickly established itself as a chamber orchestra of excellence, its musicians displaying commitment, skill and joy. This was...
The Immortal
The first interface between east and west at this year’s Proms – one of the main themes – came in the shape of the first-ever BBC World Service commission, from...
The Ring Dance of the Nazarene
A choral concert of contrasts for this late-night Prom, with two major works separated by a short arrangement – made just 25 years ago – by Harrison Birtwistle. Not that...
Elgar, Delius, Holst
This well-planned programme – Delius and Holst sandwiched between two of Elgar's finest pieces (all the composers passing away in 1934) – attracted a full house. It turned out to...
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