BBC Proms — 2014
The world's preeminent classical music festival commences at the Royal Albert Hall. Katie Derham presents a performance of Elgar's magnificent biblical oratorio, *The Kingdom*, a stirring musical depiction of the disciples' actions follo…
The celebratory atmosphere of the opening night gives way to the regular Friday evening program, with hosts Petroc Trelawny and soprano Danielle de Niese introducing Beethoven's beloved Sixth Symphony. This lyrical tribute to nature's resto…
A historic moment unfolded at the opening concert of the BBC Proms’ Sunday night series, marking the inaugural performance by the China Philharmonic Orchestra. Established in 2000, the orchestra has steadily gained prominence in a nation wh…
Conductor Tom Service introduces Russian maestro Valery Gergiev's appearance at the Proms, where he will lead the World Orchestra for Peace in a performance of Mahler's vast Sixth Symphony. To mark the 150th anniversary of Richard Strauss'…
Samira Ahmed and pianist Nicholas McCarthy offer a concert of contrasting moods: Mozart's delicate and refined Piano Concerto No. 23 is juxtaposed with Ravel's lavishly orchestrated ballet, *Daphnis et Chloé*, which was first commissioned b…
Katie Derham hosts a concert from the Royal Albert Hall commemorating the 150th anniversary of Richard Strauss’s birth. Acclaimed Danish soprano Inger Dam-Jensen performs the composer’s poignant *Four Last Songs* in a programme also featuri…
Tom Service presents a renewed perspective on iconic masterworks by two of history's most influential composers. Donald Runnicles conducts Beethoven's Fourth Symphony with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, collaborating with the National…
French pianist Alexandre Tharaud makes his debut performance of Ravel's Piano Concerto for the Left Hand at the prom. Conductor Juanjo Mena leads the BBC Philharmonic in Mahler's Fifth Symphony, a work containing one of the most celebrated …
The passing of Sir John Tavener in 2013 left a void in the landscape of British music. A profoundly influential composer, his sacred choral works, rooted in his deep Orthodox faith, resonated with millions and provided a poignant backdrop t…
Conductor Tom Service introduces Russian maestro Valery Gergiev as he leads the World Orchestra for Peace in a performance of Mahler's vast Sixth Symphony at the Proms. To mark the 150th anniversary of Richard Strauss's birth, Gergiev will…
Sir Mark Elder and the Hallé present a concert culminating in Beethoven's monumental Eroica Symphony, a work that irrevocably altered the course of music. The evening begins with Berlioz's vibrant overture, *Le corsaire*, a spirited depicti…
Jazz singer and broadcaster Clare Teal evokes the vibrant atmosphere of the swing band era – the 1930s and 1940s – through recreations of the music performed by Count Basie and Duke Ellington. Conductor James Pearson, leading the Count Pear…
As Tom Service navigates the turn of the 20th century through the Masterworks at the Proms, he encounters the music of Jean Sibelius and William Walton. Canadian violinist James Ehnes presents Walton's compelling violin concerto, while Thom…
Razia Iqbal and Petroc Trelawny have curated a concert exploring the profound influence of the First World War on composers. The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, led by Andrew Manze, will perform Vaughan Williams’s elegiac Pastoral Symphony…
The English Proms continue this weekend with Elgar’s Cello Concerto, a work imbued with a melancholic, autumnal quality born from the aftermath of the First World War. Renowned Norwegian cellist Truls Mørk joins the Melbourne Symphony Orche…
CBeebies invites you to a special event at the Royal Albert Hall: the inaugural CBeebies Prom. The BBC Philharmonic, joined by familiar faces from CBeebies, will guide you through a vibrant exploration of diverse and captivating sounds. Sal…
The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain returns for its annual Proms performance, led this year by conductor Ed Gardner. The program promises an energetic exploration of 20th-century music, featuring Igor Stravinsky’s vibrant ballet *…
A performance by Daniel Barenboim’s West-Eastern Divan Orchestra is invariably a highlight. Based in Seville, the orchestra’s repertoire often reflects its Spanish heritage. Razia Iqbal and organist-conductor Wayne Marshall will present Moz…
The Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra presents its festival debut, offering a program steeped in Eastern inspiration. The music evokes the vibrant sounds and rich aromas of bazaars and seraglios, alongside interpretations of the Queen…
From the Royal Albert Hall, Tom Service presents a program featuring music by the multi-award-winning American composer John Adams, alongside Gustav Mahler’s imaginatively ambitious First Symphony. The program includes the UK premiere of Ad…
Samira Ahmed leads a concert commemorating five decades of the renowned Monteverdi Choir, an ensemble established by conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner. This Prom features Beethoven’s monumental Missa Solemnis, performed alongside the Orches…
A dazzling spectacle unfolds at the Royal Albert Hall as Paloma Faith makes her Proms debut. The multi-platinum singer-songwriter, a native of London, has assembled a remarkable ensemble for this special concert: conductor, composer, trumpe…
Katie Derham reports live from the world’s largest classical music festival, where the legendary Cleveland Orchestra is performing at the BBC Proms. It's a rare opportunity to experience one of America's finest orchestras performing Brahms’…
A tribute to the 80th birthdays of two of Britain’s most significant contemporary composers, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and Sir Harrison Birtwistle, whose innovations irrevocably reshaped the nation's musical identity. Tom Service offers a cu…
Daniel Hope and Danielle De Niese offer a program of magnificent Romantic works: Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony and Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto, with soloist Denis Matsuev. The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra makes its debut at the BBC P…
From the Royal Albert Hall, Katie Derham welcomes the final concert of the 2014 Proms season. The program features William Walton's "Popular Song" from *Façade* and Malcolm Arnold's overture *Peterloo*, which makes its debut in a new choral…
From the Royal Albert Hall, Katie Derham welcomes the concluding event of the 2014 Proms. Violinist Janine Jansen and baritone Roderick Williams join the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Singers, and the BBC Symphony Chorus on stage, conduct…
John Wilson and his orchestra present a remarkable production of the classic musical *Kiss Me, Kate*, featuring a dazzling cast of singers and dancers from Broadway and the West End. The program showcases beloved numbers like "Another Op'ni…
The National Theatre’s acclaimed musical adaptation of the international phenomenon *War Horse* arrives at the Royal Albert Hall for the BBC Proms. Simon Russell Beale leads this distinctive production, featuring Gareth Malone’s Proms Milit…
Sir Mark Elder and the Hallé present a concert culminating in Beethoven’s monumental Eroica Symphony, a work that irrevocably altered the course of music. The evening begins with a vibrant flourish: Berlioz's overture *Le corsaire*, a spiri…
Across three centuries, these masterworks offer distinct perspectives: Beethoven’s First Symphony embodies the elegance and playful intelligence of the 18th century, Bruch’s First Violin Concerto overflows with 19th-century sentimentality, …
The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain returns for its annual Proms performance, this time under the direction of conductor Ed Gardner. The program promises an energetic exploration of 20th-century music, featuring Igor Stravinsky’s …
For the first of two performances with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Principal Conductor Thomas Søndergård will lead the orchestra in a monumental work by a Scandinavian composer: Nielsen's Fifth Symphony. The symphony delves into a …
Tom Service marks the arrival of the 20th century in his exploration of Masterworks at the Proms, guided by the music of Jean Sibelius and William Walton. Canadian violinist James Ehnes presents Walton's compelling violin concerto, while Th…
The ethereal pastoralism of Vaughan Williams's *The Lark Ascending* offers a striking contrast to the spirited vivacity of his overture *The Wasps* in this program showcasing the best of British music. The evening continues a theme of signi…
Allow yourself to be drawn into the insistent pulse and repeating patterns of Steve Reich, Minimalism's seminal figure, as interpreted by the BBC Singers and the Endymion Ensemble. The performance revisits the pioneering work of *It's Gonna…
The subtle, evolving forms and deeply expressive musical language characteristic of Sibelius, powerfully realized in his Second Symphony, find resonance and further development in Sir Peter Maxwell Davies's Fifth Symphony. John Storgårds a…
Jean-Philippe Rameau’s opera *Les Indes galantes* and Richard Strauss’s tone poem *Ein Heldenleben* were disastrous failures upon their initial performances, yet are now celebrated as masterpieces of their respective forms. The BBC Scottish…
The Prom features Bernard Haitink and the London Symphony Orchestra, with Gustav Mahler’s Fourth Symphony as its heart. The program balances the symphony’s festive spirit – evoked by sleigh-bells and gentle melodies – with the Classical pre…
The Aurora Orchestra, led by Nicholas Collon, presents a compelling juxtaposition of musical eras. They pair Mozart's elegant Symphony with two contemporary works: Dobrinka Tabakova’s *Spinning a Yarn*, which features the distinctive sound …
Razia Iqbal and Petroc Trelawny have curated a concert uniting the works of four composers whose lives and music were profoundly shaped by the First World War. The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, led by Andrew Manze, will perform Vaughan W…
A broadcast from the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Edward Gardner, presents a program spanning Russian musical masters. It begins with the vibrant energy of Stravinsky's *Scherzo fantastique* and concludes with the dramatic intensity…
The English Proms continue this weekend with Elgar’s Cello Concerto, a work imbued with a melancholic, autumnal quality, born from the shadow of the Great War. Renowned Norwegian cellist Truls Mørk joins the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for…
Singer-songwriter Laura Mvula, a nominee for both Brit and Mercury Awards, will perform at the BBC Proms in an intimate Late Night Prom. The evening promises a cabaret atmosphere, showcasing Mvula's considerable talent within lush orchestra…
A performance by Daniel Barenboim’s West-Eastern Divan Orchestra is invariably a highlight. Based in Seville, the orchestra’s repertoire often reflects its Spanish heritage. Razia Iqbal and organist-conductor Wayne Marshall will present Moz…
The devastating poetry of Wilfred Owen forms the emotional core of Britten’s *War Requiem*, a profound expression of pacifist lament and anguish. Presented this year, on the centenary of the First World War, by the very orchestra that unvei…
The Iceland Symphony Orchestra will present its first performance at the Proms, featuring compositions by two Icelandic composers deeply influenced by their nation's unique geology. Leifs’s *Geysir* evokes the slow, elemental power of the e…
A cast of ice-maidens, pirates, and princesses populate this fairy-tale concert. The BBC Symphony Orchestra, accompanied by soprano Anu Komsi, presents Szymanowski’s evocative Songs of a Fairy Princess. In Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, th…
Cellist Alisa Weilerstein will appear at the Proms performing Dvořák’s Cello Concerto, a cornerstone of the Romantic repertoire. The Czech Philharmonic, conducted by Jiří Bělohlávek, will present Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, often consider…
The Ulster Orchestra presents its annual Free Prom this Bank Holiday, a vibrant matinee filled with dance rhythms and rich colour. The concert begins with a selection of Dvořák’s lively Slavonic Dances, evoking a rustic charm. This spirited…
The Bank Holiday festivities carry on with performances by the Budapest Festival Orchestra, renowned for their Proms appearances. Their program features a selection of orchestral masterpieces from the Habsburg Empire. Viennese waltzes in th…
Iván Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra presented the second of a two-concert series, reviving the Proms tradition of composer-focused evenings with a program devoted to Brahms. The performance began with his deeply personal, autum…
Samira Ahmed leads a concert commemorating five decades of the world-renowned Monteverdi Choir, an ensemble established by conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner. The Prom features Beethoven’s monumental Missa Solemnis, performed alongside the O…
This year marks the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra's debut at the Proms, under the direction of Myung-Whun Chung. The program features Unsuk Chin’s sheng concerto, a work that conjures the sonic landscape of South Korea and unfolds as a prolo…
The London Philharmonic Orchestra, under Vladimir Jurowski, presents a concert showcasing three distinct facets of 20th-century music: works by Schoenberg, Holst, and Scriabin. Holst’s *The Planets*, with its grand melodies and striking dep…
Over a span of six years, Mahler crafted a symphony that grapples with the fundamental questions of human existence. The work explores the themes of birth, death, and the ephemeral moments in between, culminating in a profoundly moving chor…
Celebrating the 150th anniversary of Richard Strauss's birth, the Proms feature a double presentation of his two monumental tragedies. Over two nights, the fates of Salome and Elektra converge in a series of devastating conclusions at the R…
Strauss's unflinching and powerfully dramatic adaptation of the Greek revenge myth, *Elektra*, concludes this weekend’s opera pairing. The BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Semyon Bychkov, features an international ensemble of soloists, …
Let yourself be swept away by the exuberant energy of Berlioz's Roman Carnival overture, a whirlwind of delight. The Italian spirit persists in Respighi's Roman trilogy, a vibrant portrayal of life within the Eternal City's walls. Danny Dr…
The Singapore Symphony Orchestra will appear at the Proms for the first time, performing Zhou Long’s acclaimed piano concerto, *Postures*. The work blends Western musical structures with evocative echoes of Eastern tradition. The program be…
A program of deeply felt music unfolds, led by Sir Roger Norrington and the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra. The concert opens with the poignant 'Romeo Alone' movement from Berlioz's *Symphonie dramatique*, *Romeo et Juliette*. Beethove…
From the Royal Albert Hall, Tom Service presents a program featuring music by the multi-award-winning American composer John Adams, alongside Gustav Mahler's imaginatively ambitious First Symphony. The program includes the UK premiere of Ad…
Returning to the Proms in 2012, Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic present a program devoted entirely to Russian composers, drawn from the realm of dance. Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances weaves together threads of jazz, plainchant…
A dazzling spectacle unfolds at the Royal Albert Hall as Paloma Faith makes her Proms debut. The multi-platinum singer-songwriter, a native of London, has assembled a remarkable ensemble for this special concert: conductor, composer, trumpe…
Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic offer a new interpretation of Bach’s St Matthew Passion, conceived by Peter Sellars, for its UK premiere. The work grapples with themes of suffering and torment alongside those of salvation and r…
Daniel Hope and Danielle De Niese offer a program of magnificent Romantic works: Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony and Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto, with Denis Matsuev as soloist. The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra makes its debut at the BB…
Katie Derham reports live from the world’s foremost classical music festival, where the legendary Cleveland Orchestra is performing at the BBC Proms. This presents a rare opportunity to experience one of America's finest orchestras in a qui…
Concluding its exploration of Brahms' symphonic output for the year, the Cleveland Orchestra presents his Symphony No. 2, a work brimming with heartfelt warmth and irresistible charm. In stark contrast, Brahms’s Tragic Overture delivers on …
To mark Sir Peter Maxwell Davies's eightieth birthday, the Proms present a concert featuring works of his own choosing. The opening overture, *Ebb of Winter*, evokes the stark beauty of his native Orkney. A contrasting glimpse of island lif…
A celebration of American music graces the Proms. The program journeys through time, beginning with the folk traditions of Copland’s Appalachian Spring, then moving to the introspective Quiet City. Next comes Chris Brubeck, whose work seam…
This program offers an exploration of 20th-century English music, moving beyond conventional pastoral notions. The familiar nostalgia of Vaughan Williams's *Fantasia on ‘Greensleeves'* gives way to the stark power of his Symphony No. 4 and …
Gustav Mahler's monumental Third Symphony stretches across six movements, offering a profound musical depiction of the natural world, realized through the combined power of choir and orchestra. American conductor Alan Gilbert returns to lea…
Accompanied by the Britten Sinfonia, a distinguished ensemble of instrumentalists, Grammy-nominated Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright delivers a captivating performance at the Royal Albert Hall. He commands the stage with…
Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, a perennial favorite of the Proms, graces its customary place on the second-to-last night of the season this year. Alan Gilbert leads the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, accompanied by a distinguished international…
Sakari Oramo conducts his inaugural Last Night of the Proms, with the esteemed Dutch violinist Janine Jansen as soloist. The concert celebrates the anniversary of Richard Strauss, featuring the Proms premiere of his remarkable cantata, *Tai…
