BBC Proms 36 @ Royal Albert Hall, London
Originally published on my old blog.
A world premiere, a Walton viola concerto and Rachmaninov at the Proms
Not our usual gig, but a world premiere at the Royal Albert Hall was too good to miss.
Jo and I went along to the Royal Albert Hall with Roger, Mary and Sandra for BBC Prom 36, with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by David Atherton.
The night opened with a world premiere, Guto Puw's onyt agoraf y drws (... unless I open the door ...), a piece the BBC commissioned for the Proms. Then came Walton's Viola Concerto, with Lawrence Power as soloist, and Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances to finish. Walton conducted the premiere of the concerto himself, and the Rachmaninov was his last orchestral work, written with a blistering exuberance at the end of his life.
I can't pretend to have understood too much of it, other than "gee that sounds nice", but it was very pretty to listen to, and I thoroughly recommend taking in a Prom or two if you ever get the chance.
Photos from the gig
