BBC Proms Season 61, Episode 16: Midseason Highlights

1

First Night of the Proms

Jiri Belohlavek conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra, performing Walton's Overture 'Portsmouth Point', Elgar's Cello Concerto and Beethoven's 9th Symphony.

2

Rameau and Campra - Prom 3

Charles Hazlewood introduces a night of French Baroque music performed by the English Baroque Soloists and the Monteverdi Choir. Sir John Eliot Gardiner conducts a sequence of dances from Rameau's stage works, which also features performers from the Buskaid Soweto String Project and the dancers of Compagnie Roussat-Lubek. The programme also includes a rare performance of Campra's neglected Requiem Mass.

3

Rossini and Berio - Prom 4

Suzy Klein introduces the Chorus and Orchestra of Santa Cecilia, Rome, and an international quartet of young singers as they perform Rossini's theatrical Stabat Mater, conducted by Antonio Pappano. The orchestra is joined by the Swingle Singers for Luciano Berio's modern masterpiece, Sinfonia.

4

American Classics - Prom 5

Charles Hazlewood introduces the BBC Symphony Orchestra under David Robertston as they perform two 20th century American classics - Leonard Bernstein's Second Symphony, The Age of Anxiety, and Charles Ives' Fourth Symphony. The programme begins with the first BBC commission of the season, Substratum by British composer Sam Hayden.

5

Beethoven and Brett Dean - Prom 13

The BBC Symphony Chorus, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Gondwana Voices perform Brett Dean's Vexations and Devotions.

6

Haydn's Seasons - Prom 14

Conductor Sir Roger Norrington and the Handel and Haydn Society of Boston are joined by singers Sally Matthews, Toby Spence and Jonathan Lemalu for a performance of Joseph Haydn's oratorio, The Seasons. Presented by Charles Hazlewood.

7

Film Prom - Prom 2

From the Royal Albert Hall, Richard E Grant introduces a selection of film compositions to mark the BAFTA's 60th anniversary and the Summer of the British Film. John Wilson conducts the BBC Concert Orchestra as they perform music from classic films Genevieve, The Dam Busters and Bridge on the River Kwai, as well as modern hits such as Chicken Run, Shakespeare in Love and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

8

French Classics - Prom 22

Suzy Klein introduces les Musiciens du Louvre, Grenoble, under their founding conductor Marc Minkowski in an entirely French programme which includes Bizet's incidental music to L'Arlesienne and Berlioz's song-cycle Les nuits d'ete, sung by Anne-Sophie von Otter.

9

Salonen Conducts Salonen - Prom 23

Suzy Klein introduces the European premiere of Esa-Pekka Salonen's Piano Concerto, performed by Yefim Bronfman and the BBC Symphony Orchestra and conducted by the composer. The programme also includes excerpts from Berlioz's Romeo and Juliet.

10

Twentieth Century Classics - Prom 24

Suzy Klein introduces four varied and colourful works from the twentieth century. Sibelius' Tapiola, Britten's Piano Concerto, Varese's Ecuatorial and Debussy's La Mer are performed by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra under Ilan Volkov, with soloist Steven Osborne. 2 hours

11

NYO - Prom 29

Mark Elder conducts as the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain performs works by Prokofiev, Shostakovich and Aaron Jay Kernis. Introduced by Howard Goodall.

12

Elgar's Enigma - Prom 31

Suzy Klein introduces Daniele Gatti conducting the Royal Philharmonic in the Enigma Variations, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Elgar's birth.

13

Renee Fleming Sings Berg - Prom 32

Suzy Klein introduces acclaimed soprano Renee Fleming as she returns to the Proms to perform songs by Alban Berg and Erich Korngold. She's accompanied by the BBC Philharmonic and conductor Gianandrea Noseda, who also perform Beethoven's 8th Symphony in F major and Schumann's 2nd Symphony in C major.

14

Britten and Mahler - Prom 33

Suzy Klein introduces Britten's Sinfonia da Requiem and Mahler's 10th Symphony. Gianandrea Noseda conducts the BBC Philharmonic.

15

EUYO Prom

A prom by the European Union Youth Orchestra conducted by Sir Colin Davis. The theme of nature links two great symphonies - Sibelius's Fifth and Brahms's Third.

16

Midseason Highlights

Highlights of the 2007 Proms season so far, including Sir John Eliot Gardiner's collaboration with the young musicians of the Buskaid Soweto String Project.

17

Mahler and Brahms - Prom 40

Verity Sharp introduces baritone Matthias Goerne singing a selection from Mahler's Des Knaben Wunderhorn, with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony conducted by Paavo Jarvi. Also, Weber's Oberon Overture and Schoenberg's orchestration of Brahms's ambitious Piano Quartet.

18

Stravinsky's Petrushka - Prom 41

A reinterpretation with improvisation of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, Stravinsky's Petrushka and three dance episodes from Bernstein's On the Town.

19

Simon Bolivar National Youth Orchestra of Venezuela

The Simon Bolivar National Youth Orchestra of Venezuela play Shostakovich's Tenth Symphony and symphonic dances from West Side Story.

20

Bluebeard's Castle - Prom 48

Verity Sharp introduces Christoph von Dohnanyi conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra in a new orchestral suite from Thomas Ades' opera Powder Her Face, based on the life and disgrace of Margaret, Duchess of Argyll. This is followed by Bartok's darkly psychological opera Duke Bluebeard's Castle, sung by Charlotte Hellekant and Falk Struckmann.

21

Elgar Compilation

Aled Jones introduces a programme of much loved pieces by Elgar from the season's Proms. Daniele Gatti conducts as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra perform the Enigma Variations, soloist Paul Watkins performs the Cello Concerto with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and Stephen Jackson conducts as the BBC Symphony Chorus sing There is Sweet Music.

22

Haitink - Prom 55

Nicholas Owen introduces a Prom by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra conducted by Bernard Haitink, featuring music by Wagner and Debussy.

23

Britten and Prokofiev - Prom 56

Petroc Trelawny introduces Britten's Four Sea Interludes and Prokofiev's Fifth Symphony, performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra under their chief conductor, Jiri Belohlavek. They are joined by pianist Ivo Kahanek for a rare performance of Martinu's Fourth Piano Concerto.

24

An Evening with Michael Ball - Prom 58

Petroc Trelawny introduces a bank holiday concert featuring star of the West End and Broadway, Michael Ball, as he comes to the Proms for the first time. With special guests and the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Callum McLeod.

25

Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev - Prom 59

Petroc Trelawny introduces Valery Gergiev conducting the London Symphony Orchestra in an all Russian programme of Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev.

26

Handel at the Proms

Aled Jones with a Prom featuring music by Handel performed by Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Freiburg Baroque Orchestra.

27

Prom 64

From the Royal Albert Hall, Charles Hazlewood introduces a concert by the San Francisco Symphony led by Michael Tilson Thomas. Featuring Charles Ives' 3rd Symphony.

28

Mahler's 7th Symphony - Prom 65

Charles Hazlewood introduces Mahler's Seventh Symphony, a colossal journey from darkness to light, performed by the acclaimed San Francisco Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas.

29

Last Night of the Proms - Part 1

From the Royal Albert Hall, Alan Titchmarsh introduces the final concert of the Proms season. There's a Shakespearean theme with Dvorak's Overture Otello and Thomas Ades' Prelude to The Tempest, plus a rarely performed work by Elgar in his centenary year. Soprano Anna Netrebko and violinist Joshua Bell perform works by Rakmaninov, Ravel and Bellini. Jiri Belohlavek, chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducts the Last Night for the first time.

30

Last Night of the Proms - Part 2

Live from the Royal Albert Hall, Alan Titchmarsh introduces the final concert of the Proms season. Master of ceremonies is conductor Jiri Belohlavek, who joins with soprano Anna Netrebko and violinist Joshua Bell and the combined forces of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Chorus. The audience at the Royal Albert Hall will link up with Proms in the Park events around the UK for the traditional finale.

31

Youth Compilation

From the Royal Albert Hall, Aled Jones introduces highlights of youth orchestras that have performed at the Proms. Gustavo Dudamel conducts the National Youth Orchestra of Venezuela who perform music of a Latin American flavour. Mark Elder conducts the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain who perform Prokofiev's First Piano Concerto with soloist Alexander Kobrin. Sir Colin Davis conducts the European Union Youth Orchestra who play Sibelius's 5th Symphony.