Synopsis

From the stage of the Royal Albert Hall, Samira Ahmed presents a cornerstone of English symphonic literature alongside a choral work of profound beauty. Herbert Howells’s *Hymnus Paradisi* stands as a deeply personal memorial, born from the sorrow following the untimely death of his nine-year-old son. This intensely emotional piece is followed by a beloved Proms choice: Edward Elgar's First Symphony, the composition that established him as a major figure in British symphonic music. The performan