BBC Proms Season 64, Episode 8: Sondheim's Eightieth Birthday Celebration

Mahler's Symphony No 8 - Symphony of a Thousand

Katie Derham introduces a Prom concert from the Royal Albert Hall in London, featuring Mahler's Symphony No 8 - Symphony of a Thousand. The choral symphony for orchestra, massed choirs and eight soloists, launches the 150th-anniversary celebrations of Mahler's birth. Jiri Belohlavek, chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra leads on the podium.

180 min

Bryn Terfel Sings Wagner's Meistersinger

A special Proms performance of the Welsh National Opera's production of Wagner's midsummer comedy Die Meistersinger. A smash hit when it opened in Cardiff in June 2010, the stellar cast perform a concert staging at the Royal Albert Hall, with Bryn Terfel as the cobbler-poet Hans Sachs and Lothar Koenigs conducting. Wagner enthusiast Stephen Fry is in the presenter's box and Charles Hazlewood is backstage with the cast.

300 min

Shostakovich's Leningrad Symphony

Suzy Klein presents from the Royal Albert Hall as the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, under their principal conductor Thierry Fischer, perform Prokofiev's audacious First Piano Concerto with soloist Alexander Toradze and Shostakovich's monumental Seventh Symphony, composed in 1941 while Leningrad lay under German siege.

180 min

Beethoven Night with the BBC Symphony Orchestra

Beethoven Night was a regular and popular feature of the Proms from its very first season in 1895. Charles Hazlewood presents as this tradition is recreated by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and its chief conductor Jiri Belohlavek, who perform two Beethoven overtures and his First and Fourth Piano Concertos with soloist Paul Lewis.

180 min

Miracle on the Mersey

The orchestra that has been at the heart of the Liverpool's cultural life for over 160 years, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, comes to the Proms with its trailblazing Principal Conductor Vasily Petrenko. In a programme of Romantically inspired music, the Phil plays two works based on a poem by Byron: Schumann's Manfred overture and Tchaikovsky's Manfred symphony. The brilliant Macedonian pianist Simon Trpceski is the soloist in the ever-popular Piano Concerto No 2 by Rachmaninov.

180 min

Dvorak's New World Symphony with the CBSO

At the Royal Albert Hall, Charles Hazlewood presents as soloist Paul Lewis plays Beethoven piano concerto No. 2 with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra under their music director, Andris Nelsons. The programme includes Dvorak's evocative 9th Symphony, From the New World.

180 min

Mark Elder Conducts Shostakovich's Tenth Symphony

From the Royal Albert Hall and introduced by Suzy Klein, the Australian Youth Orchestra visit the Proms as part of a three-continent international summer tour. Under conductor Mark Elder, they perform an orchestral fantasy by Australian composer Brett Dean, a selection of Mahler songs and Shostakovich's Tenth Symphony.

180 min

Mahler's Third Symphony with the BBC SSO

A celebration of Gustav Mahler's 150th birthday with his monumental Third Symphony, performed by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra under their chief conductor Donald Runnicles.

180 min

Paul Lewis Plays Beethoven's Third Piano Concerto

Paul Lewis continues his cycle of Beethoven piano concertos with the Hallé and their music director Sir Mark Elder. The programme includes Strauss's popular tone poem Ein Heldenleben.

World Orchestra for Peace

Katie Derham introduces a concert of Mahler played by the World Orchestra for Peace with charismatic conductor Valery Gergiev. Conceived by George Solti as an assembly of first rate musicians from around the world to promote peace, the orchestra play Mahler's epic Fifth Symphony, which includes the composer's most famous single movement - the heart-rending Adagietto.

Beethoven's 5th Piano Concerto

A classic archive performance of Beethoven's monumental Fifth Piano Concerto from 1989, with the legendary American pianist Murray Perahia and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, conducted by Sir Neville Marriner. Introduced by Charles Hazlewood in conversation with pianist Paul Lewis, who is performing a complete cycle of Beethoven Piano Concertos at the 2010.

Bach Day

Prom featuring the music of JS Bach in arrangements for large orchestra, live from the Royal Albert Hall. The concert, given by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Andrew Litton, begins with thunderous reinventions by Stokowski and Respighi of Bach's organ works. There are also arrangements of Sheep May Safely Graze, Air on the G String and the popular chorale, Sleepers, Awake! Bach's sonatas for solo violin and for viola da gamba are re-imagined by the young composers Tarik O'Regan and Alissa Firsova. Plus Katie Derham introduces one of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos performed by the English Baroque Soloists directed by John Eliot Gardiner.

Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony

From the Royal Albert Hall and introduced by Suzy Klein, the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Edward Gardner perform Shostakovich's iconic Fifth Symphony (A Soviet Artist's Reply to Just Criticism) which found huge favour with the Stalinist authorities in the 1930s and has since become internationally established as one of the great popular masterpieces of the 20th century. The programme also includes the Four Sea Interludes from Britten's opera Peter Grimes, and the world premiere of a new violin concerto by young British composer Huw Watkins, performed by Alina Ibragimova.

The Philharmonia Play Ravel and Arvo Part

Introduced by Suzy Klein, the Philharmonia Orchestra under principal conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen bring a characteristically colourful programme to the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, from the scintillating sound world of Ravel's popular Piano Concerto for the Left Hand with soloist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, to Scriabin's ravishing Poem of Ecstasy and the eagerly-anticipated UK premiere of a new symphony by that giant of contemporary music, Arvo Part.

The National Youth Orchestra

A fantasy-themed concert by the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain conducted by Semyon Bychkov at their annual prom at the Royal Albert Hall. The witty and thrilling Sorcerer's Apprentice by Paul Dukas opens the programme followed by the London premiere of British composer Julian Anderson's capricious orchestral showpiece Fantasias. The second half of the concert is given over to Berlioz's brilliant work with a nightmarish storyline, Symphonie Fantastique. During the interval presenter Katie Derham meets some of the orchestra on their summer course in Birmingham.

Sibelius's Second Symphony

Sibelius's powerful and expansive Second Symphony is performed at the Royal Albert Hall by the BBC Symphony Orchestra under American conductor David Robertson. Israeli-American virtuoso Gil Shaham joins them in Samuel Barber's Violin Concerto, and the evening also includes the world premiere of a new work by leading British composer Mark-Anthony Turnage, entitled Hammered Out.

Jamie Cullum Night

An evening with the British singer-songwriter Jamie Cullum, as he makes his debut at the Proms. The Heritage Orchestra, one of the most exciting new young orchestras to emerge in the last decade, joins him onstage at the Royal Albert Hall for a wide-ranging programme that promises both new arrangements and some special guests.

Rodgers and Hammerstein

Following their extraordinary debut at the Proms last year, John Wilson and his hand picked orchestra return to the Royal Albert Hall to give a programme of Broadway hits penned by the great creative partnership of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. Excerpts from Oklahoma!, Carousel, The King and I and The Sound of Music are just some of the movie orchestrations recreated by John Wilson and performed by his orchestra, with soloists Kim Criswell, Anna Jane Casey, Julian Ovenden and Rod Gilfry. The concert is introduced by Katie Derham.

Pictures at an Exhibition with the BBC NOW

Suzy Klein introduces a richly colourful Prom programme from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales under the charismatic young French conductor Francois-Xavier Roth, ranging from the scintillating French Baroque of Rameau to new music by the Argentinian composer Matalon, via Canteloube's evergreen arrangements of Songs of the Auvergne. The programme culminates in Mussorgsky's famous Pictures at an Exhibition, in an extravagant orchestration by Proms founder Sir Henry Wood himself.

Bruckner's Ninth Symphony

Bruckner's last, unfinished symphony is performed at the Royal Albert Hall by the last youth orchestra to visit the Proms in the 2010 season. The Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester was founded by Claudio Abbado in 1986, and was the first orchestra to unite musicians from both Eastern and Western Europe. They are led by conductor Herbert Blomstedt in a programme that includes Mahler's Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen with baritone Christian Gerhaher, and Hindemith's Symphony Mathis der Maler.

Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic

Sir Simon Rattle and the Berliner Philharmoniker perform a concert of German late-Romantic music and works by three great pioneers of early 20th century Vienna. In the first half of this prom the opening Prelude from Wagner's opera Parsifal is paired with the Four Last Songs by Richard Strauss sung by soprano Karita Mattila. After the interval, orchestral adventures by Schoenberg, Webern and Berg, who collectively became known as the the Second Viennese School but each developed their own distinct creative voice.

Doctor Who at the Proms

Doctor Who returns to the Proms with a new show hosted by the stars of the series - Karen Gillan (aka the Doctor's companion Amy Pond), Arthur Darvill (aka Rory Williams) and featuring a special guest appearance by Matt Smith (aka the Doctor). The concert features Murray Gold's music for the television series, including his latest re-imagining of Ron Grainier's classic theme tune performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the London Philharmonic Choir, soloists Yamit Mamo and Mark Chambers, and conducted by Ben Foster. With exclusive behind-the-scenes access, specially-edited sequences from the most recent series, a host of monsters laying siege to the Royal Albert Hall and a new scene written especially for the Proms by Steven Moffat and featuring the Time Lord himself, this is an intergalactic musical adventure like no other.

Last Night of the Proms 1910 Style

In a tribute to Proms founder-conductor Henry Wood, the BBC Concert Orchestra perform Wood's own Last Night programme from a century ago, conducted by Paul Daniel. A dazzling marathon of short popular classics includes appearances from Russian baritone Sergei Leiferkus, British cellist Steven Isserlis and American mezzo Jennifer Larmore.

Doctor Who at the Proms Extended

Doctor Who returns to the Proms with an extended version of a new show hosted by the stars of the series - Karen Gillan (aka the Doctor's companion Amy Pond), Arthur Darvill (aka Rory Williams) and featuring a special guest appearance by Matt Smith (aka the Doctor). The concert features Murray Gold's music for the television series, including his latest re-imagining of Ron Grainier's classic theme tune performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the London Philharmonic Choir, soloists Yamit Mamo and Mark Chambers, and conducted by Ben Foster. With exclusive behind-the-scenes access, specially-edited sequences from the most recent series, a host of monsters laying siege to the Royal Albert Hall and a new scene written especially for the Proms by Steven Moffat and featuring the Time Lord himself, this is an intergalactic musical adventure like no other.

Monteverdi's Vespers

Charles Hazlewood introduces as the stage, arena and galleries of the Royal Albert Hall provide a thrilling setting for Monteverdi's masterpiece - the spectacular Vespers of 1610. Sir John Eliot Gardiner and his Monteverdi Choir return to the music with which they made their Proms debut in 1968, now joined by the expert period instrumentalists of the English Baroque Soloists, and with the additional brass forces of His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts. A festive new piece by Jonathan Dove opens the evening; a contemporary hornpipe forms an upbeat to anniversary composer Arne's Rule, Britannia!; and audiences around the UK can join the Royal Albert Hall crowd in singing along to excerpts from Lohengrin and Carousel in a climax to the BBC's opera season

Last Night of the Proms

Katie Derham introduces the spectacular climax to the 2010 Proms from the Royal Albert Hall. There are encores from composers featured earlier in the season, with music by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Wagner, Henry Wood and Parry. The star soloists are American soprano Renee Fleming and viola player Maxim Rysanov, and the combined forces of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Chorus and the BBC Singers are conducted by Jiri Belohlavek. Audiences around the UK can join the singing of an excerpt from the musical Carousel, along with the more traditional Last Night fare of Rule Britannia, Jerusalem and Pomp and Circumstance No 1.

Chopin and Ravel

Leading Chopin interpreter Nelson Freire is the soloist in Chopin's lyrical and brilliant Second Piano Concerto. On the podium the young French conductor Lionel Bringuier makes his Proms debut conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra and gives a sizzling performance of Ravel's score for the ballet Daphnis and Chloe - Suite No 2. Introduced from the Royal Albert Hall by Katie Derham.

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