For Voices and Instruments

A television recording from the Henry Wood Promenade Concert on 23 July of the European premiere of Sir Michael Tippett's latest work.

Words written and compiled by the composer.

Michael Tippett's The Mask of Time

Sunday Night at the Proms

Proms 84: Opening Night: Part 2

Outside broadcast cameras join in the opening of the 90th season of Henry Wood Promenade Concerts live from the Royal Albert Hall, London, with two major works by British composers.

In part 1 Elgar's song-cycle 'Sea Pictures' is his setting of five poems about the sea first performed in 1899. Soloist Janet Baker (mezzo-soprano)

Proms 84: Opening Night: Part 1

Belshazzar's Feast - Walton's dramatic choral work first performed at the Leeds Festival in 1931 with words compiled from the book of Daniel by Osbert Sitwell.  With Stephen Roberts (baritone), BBC Singers, BBC Symphony Chorus, London Philharmonic Choir, BBC Symphony Orchestra, leader Bela Dekany, conductor Sir John Pritchard. Introduced by Richard Baker.

The first of six regular Sunday-night relays from the 90th season of Henry Wood Promenade Concerts features

Tchaikovsky's Symphony No 5, in E minor, Op 64 played by the BBC Symphony Orchestra leader MAURICE BRETT conducted by Marek Janowski

Tchaikovsky himself conducted the first performance of his symphony in St Petersburg (Leningrad) in 1888 in the presence of Brahms.

Introduced by Richard Baker

he second in a regular series of relays from the 90th season of Henry Wood Promenade Concerts.

Brahms Violin Concerto in D, Op 77 Ida Haendel (violin), with the London Symphony Orchestra leader MICHAEL DAVIS conducted by Jukka-Pekka Saraste Brahms' only violin concerto was composed in 1878 for the great violinist Joseph Joachim. Tonights soloist first appeared at the Proms in 1937 and Sir Henry Wood became one of her staunchest admirers: Ida Haendel , upon whose shoulders the mantle of great violin playing has surely descended - keep on going on! Introduced by Richard Baker

The third in the regular series of relays from the 90th season of Henry Wood Promenade Concerts.

Haydn's Mass in D minor (Nelson)

Shortly after completing the Mass, in 1798, Haydn learned of Nelson's victory at the Battle of the Nile, prompting him to add the trumpet calls at the end of the Benedictus. Nelson himself heard a performance in 1800 and, although not a direct tribute to the Admiral, the work acquired 'The Nelson Mass' as a nickname. Eiddwen Harrhy (soprano)

Carolyn Watkinson (mezzo-soprano) Philip Langridge (tenor) Malcolm King (bass)

Schutz Choir of London London Classical Players leader JOHN HOLLOWAY conductor Roger Norrington Introduced by Richard Baker

Fourth in the weekly series of relays from the 90th season of Henry Wood Promenade Concerts. Tonight two works by Handel. 'The king shall rejoice', one of the four anthems written for the coronation of George II in 1727 is, like its companion 'Zadok the priest', a brilliant work for chorus and orchestra.

'Music for the Royal Fireworks' celebrates the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle which ended the prolonged war of the Austrian succession. The fireworks display in London's Green Park in 1749 cost a staggering £8,000. The English Concert leader SIMON STANDAGE director Trevor Pinnock

Introduced by Richard Baker

Continuing the weekly series from the 90th season of Henry Wood Promenade Concerts. Tonight, as a tribute to Gustav Hoist, who died 50 years ago, a performance of his popular orchestral work, The Planets. This marvellously orchestrated suite of seven movements was inspired by the astrological characters of the planets in our solar system.

Last in the weekly series of relays from the 90th season of Henry Wood Promenade Concerts.

Tonight: two works by Mozart

Symphony No 35, in D (Haffner) (K385)

Composed in 1782, the symphony was dedicated to Mozart's great friends the Haffners and was originally used as music for family festivities at their house in Salzburg.

Piano Concerto No 27, in B flat (K 595)

Mozart's last piano concerto, first performed in Vienna in March 1791 not long before his death. soloist Alfred Brendel with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra leader JOHN TUNNELL conducted by Wilfried Boettcher Introduced by Richard Baker

Introduced by Richard Baker

As the 90th season of Henry Wood Promenade Concerts draws to an end, BBC1 joins with Radio 3 to relay, in stereo, all the traditional festivities of this world-famous occasion direct from the Royal Albert Hall.

James Loughran conducts BBC Symphony Orchestra leader RODNEY FRIEND with the BBC Singers director JOHN POOLE

BBC Symphony Chorus

Chorus-master BRIAN WRIGHT Elgar March: Pomp and Circumstance, No 1

Sullivan, arr Mackerras Suite: Pineapple Poll, in D major

Henry Wood , arr Sargent

Fantasia on British Sea Songs Parry, orch Elgar Jerusalem Sound

Last Night of the Proms

Richard Baker introduces two excerpts from this year's 90th season of Henry Wood Promenade Concerts

Ida Haendel plays Brahms's Violin Concerto in D, Op 77

London Symphony Orchestra, leader Michael Davis, conducted by Jukka-Pekka Saraste

Brahms's only violin concerto was composed in 1878 for the great violinist Joseph Joachim. The soloist on 27 July first appeared at the Proms in 1937, and Sir Henry Wood became one of her staunchest admirers.

At 4.30* Tchaikovsky's Symphony No 5, in E minor, Op 64

BBC Symphony Orchestra led by Maurice Brett, conducted by Marek Janowski from an all-Russian concert given on 26 July.

Tchaikovsky himself conducted the first performance of his symphony in St Petersburg (Leningrad) in 1888 in the presence of Brahms.

Proms Double Bill

The World's Greatest Classical Music Festival.  The BBC Proms is a classical music festival held every summer at the Royal Albert Hall in London, and in recent years has explored an innovative series of Proms around the UK with concerts in all four nations. Its aim: to bring the best in classical music to the widest possible audience, which remains true to founder-conductor Henry Wood’s original vision in 1895.  Whether you are a classical connoisseur or think classical music isn’t for you, there is something for everyone in the eight-week stretch of concerts.

Michael Tippett's The Mask of Time

Seasons80

Season 38 Episodes11

Discussion

Episode Summary