Giuseppe Verdi held a deeply personal and somewhat austere view of religion, requesting for his burial only "one priest, one candle, one cross." Yet, as a dramatist of extraordinary talent, he possessed an unparalleled ability to tell profo…

Conductor John Wilson has been a cherished figure at the Proms for years, but his debut last year with the Sinfonia of London sparked considerable excitement. *The Times* described the performance as ‘astonishing,’ while *The Spectator* lik…

In observance of the BBC's centenary, the Proms has joined forces with Radio 1 Relax for an evening of tranquil reflection. Join Sian Eleri, presenter of Radio 1’s Chillest Show, as she takes the stage to introduce a curated program of int…

British music’s history is deeply intertwined with the monarchy. Throughout the ages, composers from Handel and Elgar to Walton, Parry, and Vaughan Williams have contributed works of breathtaking pageantry, beauty, and power for royal occas…

Vaughan Williams’s *A Sea Symphony* presents the vastness of the ocean, a work that unlocks a torrent of inspiration from the poetry of Walt Whitman. Andrew Manze’s recordings of Vaughan Williams have long been celebrated for their remarkab…

Life aboard a French river barge is a harsh existence, and for a young wife, it can breed loneliness as well. Yet within this confined and demanding world, even the faintest hope of something better can ignite envy. Puccini’s *Il tabarro* i…

The boundless realms of computer games, with their epic adventures, intricate characters, and weighty moral dilemmas, resonate deeply with orchestral music. In the 21st century, games have cultivated a vast and devoted global audience for s…

Mozart composed his piano concertos with a particular performer in mind: himself. For the Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes, this is a key part of their allure. "To realize how rapidly Mozart progressed in the early 1780s compels one to as…

The Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra, a recent creation uniting musicians from across Ukraine – some still within the country’s major cities, others now refugees, and still others who perform with European orchestras – is a notable late addition…

The question of who constitutes the true hero of Richard Strauss’s *Ein Heldenleben* invites no easy answer. This ‘Hero’s Life,’ brimming with swaggering confidence and self-deprecating wit, presents a distinctly personal vision of the worl…

Three composers, three landscapes. Elgar penned his Cello Concerto amidst the Sussex woodlands; for many who listen, its autumnal hues stir emotions too profound for articulation. From his Finnish home, Sibelius crafted a symphony possessin…

“I think and feel in sounds,” Maurice Ravel once remarked. Consequently, his ballet *Daphnis et Chloé* is a richly textured musical landscape where one can discern the sound of each dewdrop, the flutter of birdsong, and the shimmer of every…

The Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra has long been synonymous with exceptional orchestral playing, its artistry built upon generations of tradition. Yet, under the distinguished and adventurous leadership of its American Music Director, Mari…

Celebrating her 80th year and the 50th anniversary of her seminal album, *Young, Gifted and Black*, the Proms honor Aretha Franklin, the ‘Queen of Soul.’ A singer, songwriter, pianist, and one of the most commercially successful recording a…

Cynthia Erivo is a remarkable artist: a London native and a Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award winner, celebrated as an actress, singer, songwriter, and producer. Her career has journeyed from her South London upbringing to the stages of the West…

Silence descends with the final blast of the trumpet, broken only by the solitary song of a bird – the Earth's sole voice. Gustav Mahler’s ‘Resurrection’ Symphony overwhelms the senses, an emotional journey of epic proportions encompassing …

For over a century, the BBC has cultivated a worldwide reputation for its exploration of the natural world – encompassing oceans, mountains, rivers, glaciers, deserts, and the myriad wonders of life on Earth. Tonight, the Proms present a re…

In 2019, cult ‘retro-futurists’ Public Service Broadcasting staged The Race to Space at the Royal Albert Hall – a spectacle of archival footage, dancing astronauts, and a blinking Sputnik that proved utterly captivating. Now, as the BBC mar…

“Be embraced, all you millions!” Since the Proms' inception, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony has occupied a cherished position in each season. Its climactic choral ‘Ode to Joy’ imbues the work with a fresh significance anew with every performanc…

“Nicola Benedetti – she truly knows how to play,” declares American composer, trumpeter, and jazz icon Wynton Marsalis. Following Benedetti’s 2015 world premiere of the concerto he composed for her, *The Guardian* lauded her performance as …

The occasion calls for festive attire, a flag in hand, and a joyous release of sound within the Royal Albert Hall. Few events rival the Last Night of the Proms—the most spirited annual celebration in the classical music world. Principal Gue…

The occasion calls for festive attire, a flag in hand, and a joyful embrace of the Royal Albert Hall's acoustics. Few events match the Last Night of the Proms – the classical music season’s most exuberant annual celebration. Principal Guest…

This special offers a glimpse of the finest music from the 2022 Proms season, condensing eight weeks of world-class concerts into a single, captivating hour. A selection of unforgettable performances by the many musicians who performed at …

Embark on a musical voyage with CBeebies as they explore the wonders of the ocean. Aboard a submarine journeying through the world of music in the Royal Albert Hall, they seek out endangered creatures and confront pressing environmental cha…