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BBC Orchestras and Choirs

BBC Orchestras and Choirs Calendar

By Month

Mon 1 Aug 2022
- 19:30
  BBC CO: Summer at Snape
  Snape Maltings Concert Hall
  Rousing and enchanting orchestral pieces by British composers, including Ralph Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending and Arthur Bliss’ ballet score, Checkmate.
  Rousing and enchanting orchestral pieces by British composers, including Ralph Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending and Arthur Bliss’ ballet score, Checkmate.
  Programme
  Ralph Vaughan Williams
  The Wasps – overture
  The Lark Ascending
  Benjamin Britten
  Soirées musicales
  William Walton
  Coronation March ‘Crown Imperial’
  Arthur Bliss
  Checkmate
  Performers
  Nathaniel Anderson-Frank
  violin
  violin
  Barry Wordsworth
  condcutor
  condcutor
  BBC Concert Orchestra
  Composers
  Ralph Vaughan Williams
  Benjamin Britten
  William Walton
  Arthur Bliss
  Part of
  BBC Concert Orchestra 2021-2022
Wed 3 Aug 2022
- 19:00
  Prom 24: Ryan Bancroft conducts Mahler’s Fourth Symphony
  Royal Albert Hall
  Soprano Miah Persson, violinist Clara-Jumi Kang and Principal Conductor Ryan Bancroft the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in music by Mahler, Mendelssohn and Caroline Shaw.
  Soprano Miah Persson, violinist Clara-Jumi Kang and Principal Conductor Ryan Bancroft the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in music by Mahler, Mendelssohn and Caroline Shaw.
  Programme
  Caroline Shaw
  Entr’acte(13 mins)
  Felix Mendelssohn
  Violin Concerto in E minor(26 mins)
  interval
  Gustav Mahler
  Symphony No. 4 in G major(54 mins)
  Performers
  Clara-Jumi Kang
  violin
  violin
  Miah Persson
  soprano
  soprano
  BBC National Orchestra of Wales
  Ryan Bancroft
  conductor
  conductor
  Composers
  Caroline Shaw
  Felix Mendelssohn
  Gustav Mahler
  Part of
  Proms 2022
Thu 4 Aug 2022
- 19:30
  Prom 25: Shostakovich’s Last Symphony and a Concerto for Theremin
  Royal Albert Hall
  Imagine pulling music out of thin air. John Storgårds and the BBC Philharmonic perform Shostakovich’s enigmatic final symphony, alongside music by Kaija Saariaho and Kalevi Aho’s haunting Theremin Concerto Eight Seasons.
  Imagine pulling music out of thin air. John Storgårds and the BBC Philharmonic perform Shostakovich’s enigmatic final symphony, alongside music by Kaija Saariaho and Kalevi Aho’s haunting Theremin Concerto Eight Seasons.
  Programme
  Kalevi Aho
  Eight Seasons (Concerto for Theremin and Chamber Orchestra)(32 mins)London premiere
  interval
  Kaija Saariaho
  Vista(27 mins)
  Dmitry Shostakovich
  Symphony No. 15 in A major(42 mins)
  Performers
  Carolina Eyck
  theremin
  theremin
  BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
  John Storgårds
  conductor
  conductor
  Composers
  Kalevi Aho
  Kaija Saariaho
  Dmitry Shostakovich
  Part of
  Proms 2022
Fri 5 Aug 2022
- 19:30
  Prom 26: Semyon Bychkov and the Labèques
  Royal Albert Hall
  Semyon Bychkov conducts the UK premiere of Julian Anderson’s keenly awaited Second Symphony – plus Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances, and a Martinů concerto with the extraordinary Labèque sisters.
  Semyon Bychkov conducts the UK premiere of Julian Anderson’s keenly awaited Second Symphony – plus Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances, and a Martinů concerto with the extraordinary Labèque sisters.
  Programme
  Julian Anderson
  Symphony No. 2, ‘Prague Panoramas’(28 mins)BBC co-commission: world premiere of complete symphony
  Bohuslav Martinů
  Concerto for Two Pianos(23 mins)
  interval
  Sergey Rachmaninov
  Symphonic Dances(35 mins)
  Performers
  Katia & Marielle Labèque
  pianos
  pianos
  BBC Symphony Orchestra
  Semyon Bychkov
  conductor
  conductor
  Composers
  Julian Anderson
  Bohuslav Martinů
  Sergey Rachmaninov
  Part of
  Proms 2022
Sat 6 Aug 2022
- 20:00
  Opening Concert of the Edinburgh International Festival 2022
  Usher Hall, Edinburgh
  Our Conductor Emeritus Sir Donald Runnicles returns to launch the 2022 EIF with Carmina Burana.
  Our Conductor Emeritus Sir Donald Runnicles returns to launch the 2022 EIF with Carmina Burana.
  Programme
  Ottorino Respighi
  Pines of Rome
  Carl Orff
  Carmina burana
  Performers
  BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
  Edinburgh Festival Chorus
  NYCoS National Girls Choir
  Meechot Marrero
  soprano
  soprano
  Sunnyboy Dladla
  tenor
  tenor
  Thomas Lehman
  baritone
  baritone
  Donald Runnicles
  Conductor
  Conductor
  Composers
  Ottorino Respighi
  Carl Orff
  Part of
  BBC SSO 2021-22 Season
Mon 8 Aug 2022
- 19:00
  Prom 30: The Tredegar Band s BBC NOW
  Royal Albert Hall
  Ryan Bancroft unleashes the full power of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique, and s forces with the Tredegar Band for the world premiere of Gavin Higgins’s new Concerto Grosso for Brass Band and Orchestra.
  Ryan Bancroft unleashes the full power of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique, and s forces with the Tredegar Band for the world premiere of Gavin Higgins’s new Concerto Grosso for Brass Band and Orchestra.
  Programme
  Gavin Higgins
  Concerto Grosso for Brass Band and Orchestra(33 mins)BBC commission: world premiere
  interval
  Hector Berlioz
  Symphonie fantastique(49 mins)
  Performers
  Tredegar Band
  BBC National Orchestra of Wales
  Ryan Bancroft
  conductor
  conductor
  Composers
  Gavin Higgins
  Hector Berlioz
  Part of
  Proms 2022 Classical for starters
Tue 9 Aug 2022
- 11:00
  Edinburgh International Festival
  The Queen's Hall, Edinburgh
  The BBC Singers and Chief Conductor Sofi Jeannin violinist Laura Samuel for a mystical reimagining of Vaughan Williams' 'The Lark Ascending'. Listen live on BBC Radio 3 on Tue 9 Aug, 11am.
  The BBC Singers and Chief Conductor Sofi Jeannin violinist Laura Samuel for a mystical reimagining of Vaughan Williams' 'The Lark Ascending'. Listen live on BBC Radio 3 on Tue 9 Aug, 11am.
  Programme
  Frank Martin
  Mass for Double ChoirInterspersed with Mendehlsson and Ešenvalds' pieces below.
  Felix Mendelssohn
  Six Motets op.79
  Ēriks Ešenvalds
  Ancient Prairie
  interval
  William Henry Harris
  Bring us, O Lord God
  Ralph Vaughan Williams
  The Lark Ascendingarr. Drayton
  Cecilie Ore
  Toil & Trouble
  Trad.
  Slängpolska efter Byss-Kalle
  Performers
  BBC Singers
  ensemble
  ensemble
  Sofi Jeannin
  conductor
  conductor
  Laura Samuel
  violin
  violin
  Composers
  Frank Martin
  Felix Mendelssohn
  Ēriks Ešenvalds
  William Henry Harris
  Ralph Vaughan Williams
  Cecilie Ore
  Trad.
  Part of
  BBC Singers 2022-23
Wed 10 Aug 2022
- 19:30
  Prom 33: Holst’s The Planets
  Royal Albert Hall
  Ryan Wigglesworth brings a composer’s ear to Holst’s The Planets, and British baritone Roderick Williams premieres Matthew Kaner’s haunting new commission Pearl – in which an ancient lament unlocks emotions that transcend time.
  Ryan Wigglesworth brings a composer’s ear to Holst’s The Planets, and British baritone Roderick Williams premieres Matthew Kaner’s haunting new commission Pearl – in which an ancient lament unlocks emotions that transcend time.
  Programme
  Richard Strauss
  Death and Transfiguration(23 mins)
  Matthew Kaner
  Pearl(25 mins)BBC commission: world premiere
  interval
  Gustav Holst
  The Planets(51 mins)
  Performers
  Roderick Williams
  baritone
  baritone
  BBC Symphony Chorus
  BBC Symphony Orchestra
  Ryan Wigglesworth
  conductor
  conductor
  Composers
  Richard Strauss
  Matthew Kaner
  Gustav Holst
  Part of
  Proms 2022 Classical for starters
Thu 11 Aug 2022
- 19:30
  Prom 34: Thorvaldsdottir, Elgar and Sibelius
  Royal Albert Hall
  Three composers in three landscapes. Eva Ollikainen and the BBC Philharmonic Kian Soltani in Elgar’s hugely popular Cello Concerto – alongside powerful Scandinavian soundscapes from Sibelius and Anna Thorvaldsottir.
  Three composers in three landscapes. Eva Ollikainen and the BBC Philharmonic Kian Soltani in Elgar’s hugely popular Cello Concerto – alongside powerful Scandinavian soundscapes from Sibelius and Anna Thorvaldsottir.
  Programme
  Anna Thorvaldsdottir
  ARCHORA(20 mins)BBC co-commission: world premiere
  Edward Elgar
  Cello Concerto in E minor(27 mins)
  interval
  Jean Sibelius
  Symphony No. 2 in D major(43 mins)
  Performers
  Kian Soltani
  cello
  cello
  BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
  Eva Ollikainen
  conductor
  conductor
  Composers
  Anna Thorvaldsdottir
  Edward Elgar
  Jean Sibelius
  Part of
  Proms 2022 Classical for starters Proms on TV
Mon 15 Aug 2022
- 19:30
  Prom 39: Mark-Anthony Turnage, Vaughan Williams and Elgar
  Royal Albert Hall
  Elgar’s First Symphony, Vaughan Williams’s Tuba Concerto and a swinging new showpiece from Mark-Anthony Turnage: music that could have been made for the BBC Symphony Orchestra and its Chief Conductor Sakari Oramo.
  Elgar’s First Symphony, Vaughan Williams’s Tuba Concerto and a swinging new showpiece from Mark-Anthony Turnage: music that could have been made for the BBC Symphony Orchestra and its Chief Conductor Sakari Oramo.
  Programme
  Mark-Anthony Turnage
  Time Flies(24 mins)BBC co-commission: UK premiere
  Ralph Vaughan Williams
  Tuba Concerto(13 mins)
  interval
  Edward Elgar
  Symphony No. 1 in A flat major(50 mins)
  Performers
  Constantin Hartwig
  tuba
  tuba
  BBC Symphony Orchestra
  Sakari Oramo
  conductor
  conductor
  Composers
  Mark-Anthony Turnage
  Ralph Vaughan Williams
  Edward Elgar
  Part of
  Proms 2022
Wed 17 Aug 2022
- 19:30
  Prom 41: Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto with Behzod Abduraimov
  Royal Albert Hall
  Nielsen’s ebullient Sinfonia espansiva, Ravel’s La valse and Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto – played by pianist Behzod Abduraimov at the heart of a supercharged Prom from Thomas Dausgaard and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
  Nielsen’s ebullient Sinfonia espansiva, Ravel’s La valse and Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto – played by pianist Behzod Abduraimov at the heart of a supercharged Prom from Thomas Dausgaard and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
  Programme
  Maurice Ravel
  La valse(12 mins)
  Ludwig van Beethoven
  Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major(36 mins)
  interval
  Carl Nielsen
  Symphony No. 3, ‘Sinfonia espansiva’(39 mins)
  Performers
  Behzod Abduraimov
  piano
  piano
  Elizabeth Watts
  soprano
  soprano
  Benjamin Appl
  baritone
  baritone
  BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
  Thomas Dausgaard
  conductor
  conductor
  Composers
  Maurice Ravel
  Ludwig van Beethoven
  Carl Nielsen
  Part of
  Proms 2022 Classical for starters
Thu 18 Aug 2022
- 19:30
  Prom 42: Sibelius, Beethoven and Nielsen
  Royal Albert Hall
  ‘Music is life’: Sibelius and Nielsen take the 20th century head-on while Beethoven looks inward in his Fourth Piano Concerto. Thomas Dausgaard conducts the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, with Jan Lisiecki as pianist.
  ‘Music is life’: Sibelius and Nielsen take the 20th century head-on while Beethoven looks inward in his Fourth Piano Concerto. Thomas Dausgaard conducts the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, with Jan Lisiecki as pianist.
  Programme
  Jean Sibelius
  Symphony No. 7 in C major(22 mins)
  Ludwig van Beethoven
  Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major(35 mins)
  interval
  Carl Nielsen
  Symphony No. 4, ‘The Inextinguishable’(36 mins)
  Performers
  Jan Lisiecki
  piano
  piano
  BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
  Thomas Dausgaard
  conductor
  conductor
  Composers
  Jean Sibelius
  Ludwig van Beethoven
  Carl Nielsen
  Part of
  Proms 2022 Classical for starters
Fri 19 Aug 2022
- 19:00
  Prom 43: Handel’s Solomon
  Royal Albert Hall
  ‘Thy harmony’s divine, great king’: Handel’s lavish 1749 oratorio Solomon, performed by The English Concert and the BBC Singers, starring Iestyn Davies as the music-loving King of Israel.
  ‘Thy harmony’s divine, great king’: Handel’s lavish 1749 oratorio Solomon, performed by The English Concert and the BBC Singers, starring Iestyn Davies as the music-loving King of Israel.
  Programme
  George Frideric Handel
  Solomon(145 mins)
  Performers
  Iestyn Davies
  Solomon
  Solomon
  Anna Dennis
  Solomon’s Queen/First Harlot
  Solomon’s Queen/First Harlot
  Benjamin Hulett
  Zadok
  Zadok
  Ashley Riches
  A Levite
  A Levite
  Wallis Giunta
  Queen of Sheba/Second Harlot
  Queen of Sheba/Second Harlot
  BBC Singers
  The English Concert
  Sofi Jeannin
  conductor
  conductor
  Composers
  George Frideric Handel
  Part of
  Proms 2022 BBC Singers 2022-23
Sat 20 Aug 2022
- 19:30
  Prom 44: Ethel Smyth’s Mass in D major
  Royal Albert Hall
  Ethel Smyth wasn’t especially religious, but her majestic Mass in D major is one of the crowning glories of the British choral tradition. Sakari Oramo and the BBC Symphony Orchestra give the first Proms performance since the composer’s own lifetime.
  Ethel Smyth wasn’t especially religious, but her majestic Mass in D major is one of the crowning glories of the British choral tradition. Sakari Oramo and the BBC Symphony Orchestra give the first Proms performance since the composer’s own lifetime.
  Programme
  Claude Debussy
  Nocturnes(24 mins)
  interval
  Ethel Smyth
  Mass in D major(60 mins)
  Performers
  Nardus Williams
  soprano
  soprano
  Bethan Langford
  mezzo-soprano
  mezzo-soprano
  Robert Murray
  tenor
  tenor
  Božidar Smiljanić
  bass-baritone
  bass-baritone
  BBC Symphony Chorus
  BBC Symphony Orchestra
  Sakari Oramo
  conductor
  conductor
  Composers
  Claude Debussy
  Ethel Smyth
  Part of
  Proms 2022
Thu 25 Aug 2022
- 19:30
  Prom 51: Lalo, Brahms and Franck
  Royal Albert Hall
  Fabien Gabel conducts César Franck’s imioned Symphony in D minor – a 200th-anniversary tribute, in a concert that also showcases the young Swedish violinist Daniel Lozakovich in Brahms’s gloriously songful Violin Concerto.
  Fabien Gabel conducts César Franck’s imioned Symphony in D minor – a 200th-anniversary tribute, in a concert that also showcases the young Swedish violinist Daniel Lozakovich in Brahms’s gloriously songful Violin Concerto.
  Programme
  Édouard Lalo
  Le roi d’Ys – overture(11 mins)
  Johannes Brahms
  Violin Concerto in D major(38 mins)
  interval
  César Franck
  Symphony in D minor(37 mins)
  Performers
  Daniel Lozakovich
  violin
  violin
  BBC Symphony Orchestra
  Fabien Gabel
  conductor
  conductor
  Composers
  Édouard Lalo
  Johannes Brahms
  César Franck
  Part of
  Proms 2022
Sat 27 Aug 2022
- 14:00
  Prom 53: Earth Prom
  Royal Albert Hall
  A stunning audio-visual celebration of the BBC’s world-famous Natural History Unit, from David Attenborough’s pioneering adventures through to the landmark series of the 21st century – with live music by Hans Zimmer and George Fenton.
  A stunning audio-visual celebration of the BBC’s world-famous Natural History Unit, from David Attenborough’s pioneering adventures through to the landmark series of the 21st century – with live music by Hans Zimmer and George Fenton.
  Programme
  Murray Gold
  Overturearr. Jeremy Holland-Smith; from Life Story
  Sarah Class
  Giraffe Fightarr. Elizabeth Purnell; from Africa
  Ben Salisbury
  David Attenborough Storyarr. Elizabeth Purnell; from Life of Mammals
  George Fenton
  Sardine Runfrom Blue Planet I
  Nitin Sawhney
  Wonders of the Monsoonarr. Ben Palmer; from Wonders of the Monsoon
  George Fenton
  Snow GeeseFrom Planet Earth I
  Barnaby Taylor
  Our Changing Planetarr. Ed Watkins; from Nature's Great Events
  Murray Gold
  Puffer Fisharr. Jeremy Holland-Smith; from Life Story
  interval
  Hans Zimmer
  Iain Farrington
  Jacob Shea
  David Fleming
  Earth SymphonyDevised, arranged, orchestrated and additional compositions by Iain Farrington; BBC commission: world premiere; BBC commission: world premiere
  Performers
  BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
  Ben Palmer
  conductor
  conductor
  Chris Packham
  presenter
  presenter
  Megan McCubbin
  presenter
  presenter
  Composers
  Murray Gold
  Sarah Class
  Ben Salisbury
  George Fenton
  Nitin Sawhney
  Barnaby Taylor
  Hans Zimmer
  Iain Farrington
  Jacob Shea
  David Fleming
  Part of
  Proms 2022 Classical for starters For Families
- 19:30
  Prom 54: Earth Prom
  Royal Albert Hall
  A stunning audio-visual celebration of the BBC’s world-famous Natural History Unit, from David Attenborough’s pioneering adventures through to the landmark series of the 21st century – with live music by Hans Zimmer and George Fenton.
  A stunning audio-visual celebration of the BBC’s world-famous Natural History Unit, from David Attenborough’s pioneering adventures through to the landmark series of the 21st century – with live music by Hans Zimmer and George Fenton.
  Programme
  Murray Gold
  Overturearr. Jeremy Holland-Smith; from Life Story
  Sarah Class
  Giraffe Fightarr. Elizabeth Purnell; from Africa
  Ben Salisbury
  David Attenborough Storyarr. Elizabeth Purnell; from Life of Mammals
  George Fenton
  Sardine Runfrom Blue Planet I
  Nitin Sawhney
  Wonders of the Monsoonarr. Ben Palmer; from Wonders of the Monsoon
  George Fenton
  Snow GeeseFrom Planet Earth I
  Barnaby Taylor
  Our Changing Planetarr. Ed Watkins; from Nature's Great Events
  Murray Gold
  Puffer Fisharr. Ed Watkins; from Nature's Great Events
  interval
  Hans Zimmer
  Iain Farrington
  Jacob Shea
  David Fleming
  Earth SymphonyDevised, arranged, orchestrated and additional compositions by Iain Farrington; BBC commission: world premiere; BBC commission: world premiere
  Performers
  Chris Packham
  presenter
  presenter
  Megan McCubbin
  presenter
  presenter
  BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
  Ben Palmer
  conductor
  conductor
  Composers
  Murray Gold
  Sarah Class
  Ben Salisbury
  George Fenton
  Nitin Sawhney
  Barnaby Taylor
  Hans Zimmer
  Iain Farrington
  Jacob Shea
  David Fleming
  Part of
  Proms 2022 Classical for starters Proms on TV For Families
Tue 30 Aug 2022
- 20:00
  Prom 58: Public Service Broadcasting – This New Noise
  Royal Albert Hall
  Retro-futurist rockers Public Service Broadcasting perform This New Noise: a joyously eclectic, album-length celebration of 100 years of BBC Radio, told with visuals, soundscapes and a little bit of help from the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
  Retro-futurist rockers Public Service Broadcasting perform This New Noise: a joyously eclectic, album-length celebration of 100 years of BBC Radio, told with visuals, soundscapes and a little bit of help from the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
  Programme
  Public Service Broadcasting
  This New Noise(50 mins)BBC commission: world premiere
  Performers
  Seth Lakeman
  Public Service Broadcasting
  BBC Symphony Orchestra
  Jules Buckley
  conductor
  conductor
  Composers
  Public Service Broadcasting
  Part of
  Proms 2022 Classical for starters Proms on TV
Thu 1 Sep 2022
- 19:30
  Prom 60: The Dream Prom
  Royal Albert Hall
  Co-created by BBC Open Music artists, this storytelling spectacle transforms the Royal Albert Hall by a series of dreamscape projections and live music, following the story of Sky, played by Omari Douglas.
  Co-created by BBC Open Music artists, this storytelling spectacle transforms the Royal Albert Hall by a series of dreamscape projections and live music, following the story of Sky, played by Omari Douglas.
  Programme
  Lars Møller
  Indian Skies(7 mins)
  Claude Debussy
  Clair de lune(5 mins)arr. Arthur Luck
  Trad.
  Sinnerman(4 mins)arr. Sam Hyken
  Sarah s Jenkins
  Music and Meditation(9 mins)
  Max de Wardener
  Payesh(6 mins)
  Maurice Ravel
  Mother Goose – Laideronnette, Impératrice des Pagodes(5 mins)
  Katherine Priddy
  The Summer Has Flown(7 mins)arr. Pippa Murphy and Jon Hargreaves
  Alberto Ginastera
  Malambo(5 mins)
  Bill Withers
  Skip Scarborough
  Lovely Day(3 mins)
  Performers
  Katherine Priddy
  singer
  singer
  Kala Ramnath
  violin
  violin
  Gurdain Rayatt
  tabla
  tabla
  Ruth Mariner
  creative director / scriptwriter
  creative director / scriptwriter
  Alex Groves
  sound designer
  sound designer
  Omari Douglas
  Sky
  Sky
  BBC Concert Orchestra
  Kwamé Ryan
  conductor
  conductor
  Composers
  Lars Møller
  Claude Debussy
  Trad.
  Sarah s Jenkins
  Max de Wardener
  Maurice Ravel
  Katherine Priddy
  Alberto Ginastera
  Bill Withers
  Skip Scarborough
  Part of
  Proms 2022 BBC Concert Orchestra at the Proms 2022