The Best BBC Proms 2019: the top artists and works
Sheku Kanneh-Mason, a world-class orchestral debut, the EU anthem, and a queen's piano...
West-Eastern Divan Orchestra
Always among the first Proms to sell out. Daniel Barenboim and his gifted cross-cultural musicians are joined by the great Martha Argerich (pictured) in Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No 1. Also, Schubert's lovely 'Unfinished' Symphony and Lutosławski’s showpiece, Concerto for Orchestra.
Read more ...Elgar's Enigma Variations
Catch 14 world premieres on one night. British classical music royalty have each written a piece to complement one of Elgar's much-loved Enigma Variations, and both the originals and the new works are played to mark conductor Martyn Brabbins's 60th birthday. Featuring Sally Beamish, Colin Matthews, Gavin Bryars, Judith Weir and others. Nadine Benjamin (pictured) sings Brahms.
Read more ...Queen Victoria's birthday concert
This year's must-hear Prom. On Queen Victoria's own piano, loaned from Buckingham Palace, Prommers' favourite Stephen Hough (pictured) plays Mendelssohn's Piano Concerto No 1. Also on the programme, charming songs by Prince Albert, and Mendelssohn's 'Scottish' Symphony.
Read more ...Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No 1
All-Russian programme with the London Philharmonic Orchestra under its dynamic chief conductor Vladimir Jurowski (pictured) features works by Rimsky-Korsakov and Glazunov. Alexander Ghindin is the soloist in the virtuosic concerto.
Read more ...Beethoven's Symphony No 9
Always a big event, this performance of the composer's Choral symphony is sure to be highly charged with its Ode to Joy, anthem of the EU. Sakari Oramo (pictured) conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Western music’s most powerful statement of universal fellowship. Plus two world premieres, including the Piano Concerto by Dieter Ammann, with soloist Andreas Haefliger.
Read more ...Elgar's Cello Concerto
Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, BBC Young Musician 2016, plays the benchmark work with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, which also marks the centenary of Mieczysław Weinberg with a rare performance of his folk-inspired Third Symphony. Speedy booking recommended.
Read more ...Shanghai Symphony Orchestra
Proms debut by China’s premier orchestra under Long Yu includes music by Qigang Chen and Rachmaninov’s exhilarating Symphonic Dances. Leeds Piano Competition winner Eric Lu (pictured) joins them for Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23.
Read more ...Haitink and the Vienna Phil
In one of the Proms starriest nights, Bernard Haitink (pictured), 90 this year, conducts the first of the Vienna Philharmonic’s two concerts this season, with the outstanding Murray Perahia as the soloist in Beethoven’s radical Piano Concerto No 4. Plus Bruckner’s Symphony No 7. Sure to sell out quickly.
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