BBC Proms Season 66, Episode 18: The Romantics

First Night of the Proms

The 118th season of BBC Proms gets underway at the Royal Albert Hall with a spectacular concert of all-English music. In the year of the London Olympics there is something of a relay race around the podium with no less than four conductors passing the baton in the course of the evening - Sir Roger Norrington, Sir Mark Elder, Edward Gardner and Martyn Brabbins. Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel is the soloist in Delius' evocative Sea Drift, and a quartet of Proms favourite singers feature in Elgar's Coronation Ode - Susan Gritton, Sarah Connolly, Robert Murray and Gerald Finley. Elgar's effervescent Cockaigne Overture, Tippett's Suite for the Birthday of Prince Charles and a brand new virtuosic curtain-raiser by Mark-Anthony Turnage complete the programme. The BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus take their traditional place on stage for a special First Night.

180 min

Strauss and Sibelius

From the Royal Albert Hall, the BBC Philharmonic conducted by Juanjo Mena open the Proms on BBC Four with two of Richard Strauss's best-loved works - Also Sprach Zarathustra, with its spectacular musical sunrise, followed by his serene Four Last Songs, sung by the German soprano Anne Schwanewilms. Also on the programme is Sibelius's majestic Symphony No 7 and the UK premiere of Kaija Saariaho's Laterna Magica, her personal tribute to the films of Ingmar Bergman. Introduced by Petroc Trelawny.

180 min

Barenboim Conducts Beethoven Symphonies 1 and 2

A special night at the BBC Proms, as Daniel Barenboim embarks on his complete cycle of Beethoven symphonies, becoming the first conductor since Henry Wood in 1942 to perform all nine symphonies in a single Proms season. He begins the journey with Beethoven's First and Second Symphonies, performed by his acclaimed West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, which famously brings together both Arab and Israeli musicians and which he describes as 'less an orchestra for peace' than 'an orchestra against ignorance'. Throughout this symphony cycle, Barenboim pairs the revolutionary and visionary music of Beethoven with one of the great musical innovators of our time, Pierre Boulez, and here he presents the intricate and shimmering soundworlds of Boulez's Dérive 2. Introduced by Suzy Klein.

180 min

Barenboim Conducts Beethoven Symphonies 3 and 4

The second concert in Daniel Barenboim's complete survey of the Beethoven symphonies with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, as the high-spirited Fourth Symphony is paired with the monumental, mould-breaking Third Symphony, Eroica. The programme also includes a tour-de-force from Pierre Boulez, Dialogue de l'ombre double, performed by clarinettist Jussef Eisa with live electronics from Boulez's music research centre, IRCAM.

180 min

Barenboim Conducts Beethoven Symphonies 5 and 6

Daniel Barenboim's complete cycle of Beethoven symphonies reaches its mid-point, as he conducts his ensemble of young Arab and Israeli musicians, the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, in a programme that includes both the Pastoral Symphony and that most iconic of all orchestral masterpieces, Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Alongside, Barenboim programmes two short works by Pierre Boulez - Memoriale for flute and ensemble, and Messagesquisse, which showcases the virtuosity of the orchestra's cello section.

180 min

Barenboim Conducts Beethoven Symphonies 7 and 8

Daniel Barenboim continues his journey through the complete Beethoven symphonies with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra by performing a pair of contrasting later symphonies - the exquisitely compact Eighth alongside the expansive, majestic and athletic Seventh. Within this frame, Barenboim's son Michael Barenboim performs Anthemes 2 for violin and live electronics by Pierre Boulez.

180 min

Beethoven's 9th Symphony

Daniel Barenboim's complete cycle of Beethoven symphonies reaches its climactic conclusion. The ninth 'choral' symphony, with its passionate vision of human reconciliation, is performed at the Royal Albert Hall by the young musicians of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, the National Youth Choir of Great Britain and an international quartet of soloists - Anna Samuil, Waltraud Meier, Peter Seiffert and René Pape.

180 min

Bach's Mass in B minor

From the Royal Albert Hall, a performance of Bach's Mass in B minor, one of the great milestones of baroque music. Bach intended this glorious work, completed the year before his death, to be a summation of his church music, incorporating material from earlier compositions to great effect. Performed by The English Concert and Choir of the English Concert conducted by Harry Bicket. Presented by Charles Hazlewood.

180 min

Bruckner's 8th Symphony

From the Royal Albert Hall, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by Donald Runnicles perform two great works by Wagner and Bruckner. Wagner's Siegfried Idyll, a gift to the composer's wife Cosima, is performed in its pared-down original orchestration, much as she would have heard it on Christmas morning 1870. Bruckner's magnificent 8th Symphony is arguably his greatest, the last symphony the composer completed. Presented by Charles Hazlewood.

180 min

Handel's Water Music

A very special performance of Britain's best loved music for royal occasions - Handel's Water Music suites and the Music for the Royal Fireworks. Both works were originally performed outside - on the River Thames and in Green Park, and in this Jubilee year, conductor Hervé Niquet recreates the spectacular atmosphere of those occasions. He brings the huge forces of the remarkable French orchestra Le Concert Spirituel to London, with eighty players, including no less than 18 oboes, all playing specially made instruments that reproduce those used in Georgian England.

180 min

A Fantasia of English Music

Samira Ahmed presents from the Royal Albert Hall, as Tadaaki Otaka conducts a celebration of British music performed by the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales, the BBC Symphony Chorus and London Brass. Vaughan Williams's much-loved Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis is followed by the beautiful but rarely-performed These Things Shall Be by John Ireland with baritone soloist Jonathan Lemalu. Delius's The Walk to the Paradise Garden marks the 150th anniversary of the composer's birth before all the forces combine for Walton's iconic Belshazzar's Feast.

180 min

Bruckner's 6th Symphony

Samira Ahmed presents from the Royal Albert Hall, as Juanjo Mena conducts the BBC Philharmonic in Bruckner's richly-expressive 6th Symphony and Wagner's highly-charged Prelude to Act I of Tristan and Isolde. The Manchester Chamber Choir, Northern Sinfonia Chorus and Rushley Singers join them for the world premiere of James MacMillan's powerful and deeply spiritual Credo.

180 min

An Evening with Ivor Novello

In the 1930s, Ivor Novello wrote a string of musicals that saved Drury Lane from closure and kept the cash tills ringing throughout the 40s and early 50s. This Prom features time-honoured favourites, such as We'll Gather Lilacs, in a tribute to Novello - playwright, composer, actor and silent movie star. Narrated by Simon Callow on stage, with Sir Mark Elder conducting the Hallé, and soloists Toby Spence and Sophie Bevan.

180 min

Vaughan Williams Night

Petroc Trelawny presents a rare opportunity to hear a significant trio of English symphonies in the same concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Andrew Manze conducts the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in Symphonies 4, 5 and 6 by Ralph Vaughan Williams, a composer whose work played a significant role in the reawakening of English music in the 20th century.

180 min

National Youth Jazz Orchestra

From the Royal Albert Hall, Mark Armstrong conducts the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, featuring Britain's best young jazz musicians in a wide-ranging set of jazz favourites. The programme includes Duke Ellington's The Queen's Suite to mark the Diamond Jubilee year and a new commission by saxophonist Tim Garland. Presented by Petroc Trelawny.

180 min

From the New World

Music and artists from both American continents in tonight's concert from the Royal Albert Hall. The Prom opens with Dvořák's symphonic masterpiece From the New World, and the second half includes Copland's iconic Fanfare for the Common Man and Joan Tower's Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman. Works by Villa-Lobos and Ginastera add some attractive Latin American colour in a concert marking the first visit to the Proms by the Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra as well as the return of distinguished Brazilian pianist Nelson Freire and conductor Marin Alsop.

180 min

National Youth Jazz Orchestra

From the Royal Albert Hall, the vast forces of the National Youth Orchestra conducted by Vasily Petrenko perform Messiaen's Turangalila Symphony, the composer's iconic musical celebration of love. The programme also includes Varese's musical parody Tuning Up, Anna Meredith's HandsFree featuring body percussion, and the London premiere of Nico Muhly's Gait, inspired by the motion of horses. Introduced by Charles Hazlewood.

180 min

Gilbert and Sullivan

Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta The Yeomen of the Guard comes to the Proms. It is a tale of joy and despair abounding with tongue-in-cheek satire, and is arguably the pair's finest Savoy production. With the BBC Concert Orchestra and BBC Singers under the baton of the inimitable Jane Glover, the cast boasts a stellar line up of British singers. Directed for the Royal Albert Hall stage by the acclaimed Martin Duncan.

180 min

Wallace and Gromit at the Proms

Musical marvels from the Royal Albert Hall for the TV premiere of a new show - Wallace and Gromit at the Proms. There's specially filmed new Wallace and Gromit animations featuring the dynamic duo's backstage exploits as they prepare for the first performance of Wallace's brand new work, 'My Concerto in Ee Lad'. On stage are the Aurora Orchestra, violin soloist Tasmin Little with conductor and host Nicholas Collon performing some classical favourites.

180 min

Wagner and Strauss

One of the great youth orchestras returns to the Proms, the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra conducted by Daniele Gatti. The concert opens with a prelude from Wagner's Parsifal and is followed by a trailblazing concerto from 20th-century Vienna, Alban Berg's Violin Concerto with soloist Frank Peter Zimmermann. Vienna is the setting for a bittersweet tale of young love and middle aged melancholy in the Rosenkavalier Suite by Richard Strauss and the concert concludes with French composer Maurice Ravel's take on the Viennese waltz in his explosive La valse. Introduced by Samira Ahmed.

180 min

Elgar's First Symphony

From the Royal Albert Hall, Samira Ahmed introduces an English symphonic masterpiece and a hauntingly beautiful choral work. Herbert Howells's Hymnus Paradisi is a personal memorial, written after the tragic death of his nine-year-old son. Following this intensely emotional work comes a proms favourite, Edward Elgar's First Symphony, the composition that heralded his arrival as a great British symphonist. Performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Chorus and the London Philharmonic Choir, conducted by Martyn Brabbins.

180 min

Bernstein's Mass

A large musical ensemble from across Wales come to the Royal Albert Hall to give the first complete Proms performance of Leonard Bernstein's Mass, a work that combines religious observance and musical theatre. Kristjan Järvi conducts the National Orchestra of Wales, the National Youth Orchestra of Wales and eight choirs of talented children and adult singers, with choruses of street kids and a rock group thrown into the mix. Introduced by Petroc Trelawny.

180 min

Haitink Conducts the Vienna Philharmonic

One of the great orchestras of the world returns to the Proms - the Vienna Philharmonic, conducted by the legendary Bernard Haitink. Steeped in the history of the European orchestral tradition, they present a concert from two giants of Western classical music. It opens with Joseph Haydn's 104th and final symphony, written while he was staying in London and at the height of his powers, and is followed by music from Richard Strauss, who in his Alpine Symphony portrays a day spent climbing a mountain, from the foreboding of night to the glorious vision from the summit. Introduced by Petroc Trelawny.

180 min

Last Night of the Proms - Part 1

Katie Derham introduces the final concert of the 2012 Proms season from the Royal Albert Hall. The programme includes the much loved Bruch Violin Concerto, popular operatic arias by Verdi and Puccini, and a choral work by Delius. Chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra Jirí Belohlávek takes to the podium and is joined by special guest soloists Nicola Benedetti, one of Britain's most talented violinists, and Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja. Digital viewers via the red button can choose to see Last Night celebrations around the UK in Hyde Park London, Caerphilly in South Wales, Titanic Slipways in Belfast and Glasgow City Halls.

180 min

Last Night of the Proms - Part 2

Live from the Royal Albert Hall, Katie Derham introduces the biggest classical music party and grand finale to the 2012 Proms. The soloists are Nicola Benedetti, one of Britain's most popular and influential young violinists, and Maltese star tenor Joseph Calleja. Also on stage are the combined forces of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Chorus, all under the baton of Jiri Belohlavek. Audiences around the UK in London's Hyde Park, Glasgow, Caerphilly and Belfast can join the singing of Richard Rodgers' You'll Never Walk Alone, along with the traditional Last Night anthems Rule Britannia, Jerusalem and Pomp and Circumstance No 1.

Last Night of the Proms in 3D

ive from the Royal Albert Hall, Katie Derham introduces the biggest classical music party and grand finale to the 2012 Proms. The soloists are Nicola Benedetti, one of Britain's most popular and influential young violinists, and Maltese star tenor Joseph Calleja. Also on stage are the combined forces of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Chorus, all under the baton of Jiri Belohlavek. Audiences around the UK in London's Hyde Park, Glasgow, Caerphilly and Belfast can join the singing of Richard Rodgers' You'll Never Walk Alone, along with the traditional Last Night anthems Rule Britannia, Jerusalem and Pomp and Circumstance No 1. To watch in 3D set your 3D TV to 'side-by-side' mode.

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