Prom 37 - Philip Glass

Synopsis

From the Royal Albert Hall, London. Presented by Verity Sharp.

In the first Prom devoted exclusively to the music of American minimalist composer Philip Glass, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and BBC Symphony Chorus are joined by violinist Gidon Kremer and conductor Dennis Russell Davies, both long-term advocates of Glass' music.

Harmonic, pulsing and with constant repetition of small figures or phrases, minimalism blossomed from a small underground movement on the west coast of the United States in the 1960s, becoming one of the most popular forms of late 20th century music. Philip Glass, one of its early pioneers, is one of the most prolific, influential and instantly identifiable composers of our age.

This concert showcases two of his most important works for full orchestra: his first major orchestral score - the Violin Concerto of 1987 - and the Toltec Symphony of 2004, which takes its title from the ancient pre-Columbian culture that reigned in Mesoamerica long before the coming of the Europeans.

Gidon Kremer (violin)
BBC Symphony Chorus
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Dennis Russell Davies (conductor)

Philip Glass: Violin Concerto; Symphony No 7 (A Toltec Symphony - UK premiere).