Prom 1: 15.07.16 - First Night of the Proms

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

19:00 Friday 15 Jul 2016 ON TV
Royal Albert Hall

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Fantasy Overture 'Romeo and Juliet'”
Edward Elgar: Cello Concerto in E minor
Sergei Prokofiev: Cantata 'Alexander Nevsky'

Olga Borodina, mezzo-soprano
Sol Gabetta, cello
BBC National Chorus of Wales
The BBC Symphony Chorus
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Sakari Oramo, conductor

Tchaikovsky's ravishing 'Romeo and Juliet' overture launches our celebrations marking 400 years since the death of Shakespeare.
Argentine soloist Sol Gabetta makes her Proms debut in Elgar's hauntingly lyrical Cello Concerto, the first in a series of works throwing a spotlight on the instrument.
Prokofiev delivered a score of new directness and clarity for his friend Sergey Eisenstein's patriotic film Alexander Nevsky: the cantata he fashioned from it features the dramatic 'Battle on the Ice'.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07jl8n5

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07mm5rv (repeat)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

A rousing opener.

[Zucchini]

Sol Gabetta is outstanding by any standards

[BBMmk2]

Can't wait to hear the Prokovief!

[Alison]

Thoroughly good choice of works!

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

Looking forward to being at the RAH for this one. Sol Gabetta's recording of the Elgar is very fine and Alexander Nevsky should certainly get the hall quaking...

[maestro267]

A very solid opening night programme with three well-established works. The First Night is always special, whatever's programmed.

[Petrushka]

I'll be there once again and combining my first Proms visit with a trip to Newbury Races on Saturday (weather permitting ) as I have done for a few years now.

Yes, the First Night is always special, the start of a wonderful summer of music.

[bluestateprommer]

There were some odd comments elsewhere, I recall, that the running time of this year's First Night seemed a bit short measure. Maybe so, but if nothing else, there should be enough wiggle room time for SG to provide an encore after the Elgar, if she's in the mood (and it would very likely be JSB, understandably enough). Plus, to amplify on IGI's comment (and at the admitted risk of a jinx), if Oramo's interpretation of Alexander Nevsky is anywhere near the quality of his Belshazzar's Feast at the First Night last year, he may well blow the roof off of the RAH, and leave all parties very satisfied.

[Carlos V]

Tomorrow's concert will be my first Prom ever and I couldn't be more excited. To me, Elgar's concerto is the true gem of the cello repertoire, although I could listen to Dvorak's final coda(s) until the end of times. Alexander Nevsky is a true barnstorming piece, although I don't know how RAH vastness will affect its power. I bought seats close to the stage to avoid feeling underwhelmed. At home this is the kind of piece (like Bruckner's symphonies) I crank up the volume for (sorry neighbours).

I look forward to reading your opinions about the concert afterwards. I've always thought that being able to share your concert-going experiences adds a lot to the enjoyment.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Welcome to the forum, Carlos V.

I hope you enjoy your first Prom. It sounds as though you have made the right choice re seats. It's better not to be too far from the stage in the RAH.

[Carlos V]

Thanks. I'm sure I will. I've been to a dozen concerts since I moved to London six months ago. Not even once I've left the hall without a smile on my face. Either I'm really lucky or (more likely) the quality of music-making here is much higher than what I am used to...

[mercia]

7pm start but 7:30 on TV, with a quick change to BBC4 for part 2.

[french frank]

I look forward to reading your opinions about the concert afterwards. I've always thought that being able to share your concert-going experiences adds a lot to the enjoyment.

With the audience listening in at home, the opinions may be many and various - but for goodness sake, don't let them detract from your own enjoyment: if you enjoy it, many others will as well. And that's what matters - and welcome to the forum!

[pursuivant]

Last Night Speeches

Maybe last night speeches are not quite so memorable nowadays but it was a pleasure (and rather moving) to hear on Radio 3 this morning Sir Henry Wood's very last speech in 1944 sadly foreshadowing Sir Malcolm Sargent's in 1967 - both conductors looked forward to conducting in the following season but neither lived to do so. Was it my ears or did I hear Sir Henry Wood thanking Sir Adrian Boult and Sir Basil Cameron. I know nothing about Basil Cameron being a Knight.