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Prom 76: Last Night of the Proms
- Date Saturday 12 September 2009
- Time 7.30pm - c10.30pm
- Venue Royal Albert Hall
- Broadcast Live on BBC Radio 3. Available as audio on demand for the following week.
The Last Night brings Alison Balsom, a former Radio 3 New Generation Artist, in a concerto by one anniversary composer (Haydn) and Sarah Connolly in a famous lament by another (Purcell), while a third (Handel) provides the main orchestral fireworks.
Oliver Knussen's own Flourish (sparked by Stravinsky's Fireworks from the First Night) is complemented by new fanfares specially written by young Proms Inspire composers, which feature in our link-up with Last Night festivities around the country.
We mark 50 years since the deaths of Albert Ketèlbey and Gerard Hoffnung (the latter in Arnold's uproarious piece including parts for vacuum cleaners, floor polishers and rifles, written for the first Hoffnung Music Festival in 1956).
And the BBC SO's David Robertson presides for the first time over the massed forces on stage and in the audience.
- Oliver Knussen Flourish with Fireworks (4 mins)
- Purcell, arr. Henry Wood New Suite (10 mins)
- Purcell Dido and Aeneas – 'Thy hand, Belinda ... When I am laid in earth' (Dido's Lament); 'With drooping wings ye cupids come' (10 mins)
- Haydn Trumpet Concerto in E flat major (15 mins)
- Mahler Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (18 mins)
- Villa-Lobos Chôros No.10, 'Rasga o Coração' (12 mins)
- interval
- Arnold A Grand, Grand Overture (8 mins)
- Ketèlbey In a Monastery Garden (6 mins)
- Piazzolla Libertango (4 mins)
- Gershwin, arr. Barry Forgie Shall We Dance – 'They can't take that away from me' BBC commission: world premiere (c5 mins)
- BBC Proms Inspire composers Fireworks Fanfares world premiere (c3 mins)
- Handel Music for the Royal Fireworks – excerpts (c10 mins)
- Arne, arr. Sargent Rule, Britannia! (8 mins)
- Parry Jerusalem (2 mins)
- Elgar Pomp and Circumstance March No.1 (8 mins)
- The National Anthem (2 mins)
- Sarah Connolly mezzo-soprano
- Alison Balsom trumpet
- BBC Singers
- BBC Symphony Chorus
- BBC Symphony Orchestra
- David Robertson conductor
- Alison Balsom is a member of Radio 3's New Generation Artists scheme.
Radio 3 live
- Listen: Radio 3
- Hear every Prom live
Watch & Listen
- BBC Proms 2009
- All Proms broadcasts - available for 7 days
2009 Calendar
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July | ||||||
| 17 | 18 | |||||
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
| August | ||||||
| 1 | ||||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| 30 | 31 | |||||
| September | ||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
See also
Within BBC Proms
On bbc.co.uk
On the web
- BBC Music Magazine: Proms Diary
- The Times: Proms
- Telegraph: Proms
- Independent: Reviews
- Guardian: Classical Music
- Proms reviews at musicOMH.com
- Proms reviews at Classical Source
- Proms reviews at Musical Criticism
- Proms reviews at Seen and Heard
- Dilettante
- the promcast
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external web sites.
© MMIX
Comments
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Well. we have not even had this on TV yet but we have to ask, Where is the Fantasia on British Sea Songs, what will the audience do with their Victorian Bicycle horns and why are there always German Flags in the Albert Hall? Why has the Last Night of the Proms become watered down to suit the politcal necessities of this once great nation? More Big Brother anyone?????
Time to move to France methinks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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and if my German Flag comment gets censored I will have made my point!!!
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And why is our National Anthem the equally shortest item in the whole event with Jerusalem (another 'British institution)
SAD NIGHT OF THE PROMS
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I always watch the proms, but cannot believe what I saw this evening with the shooting, this was so out of order had nothing what so ever to with the music. We have armed forces dying in Afghanistan, terrorists creating bombs, planes being blown up, how distasteful was this and who allowed it to be shown.
What would have happened if somebody got into the Albert Hall for real?
This has really spoilt the proms, we read enough in the paper and see on the news, how can somebody allow a pleasant evening to be tarnished
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Having already posted a comment I have to agree linstan3, where are the sea shanties and the niceness of our country, all political know which has taken all the best part of british away from us british people
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I was severely disapointed with The Last Night of the Proms this year. What reason can you give for the removal the sea shanties, which are for most people the most enjoyable part of the evening. Three generations of my family have said that this evening was spoilt by this omission. I almost wish that I hadn't watched. The night was only saved by Sarah Connolly, who was simply splendid, and Alison Balsom.
Will the Union Flag be banned next year?
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Fabulous last night. But Sarah Kennedys flag was upside down! Scotland is above Ireland as the earlier member of the union.
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Sarah Connelly! sorry
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What a sub standard program, again no fantasia of sea songs, and a considerable helping of tosh. Sir Henry and Sir Malcolm would not recognise the event today.
But well suited for a mickey mouse conductor, and twits in fancy dress.
Come back Mr Kenyon all is forgiven ...........................
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Fireworks indeed!! -- Musically- Visually- & for once, not only vibrant presentation but authentic, appropriate commentary & handover timimgs - Even Clive Anderson...often 'King of nervy twichiness' - (probably giving a new angle to 'edgy' entertainment for management to ponder?!) was relaxed, positively 'laid-back by time of the Gershwin.
Brilliant Blonde Balsom & Magical Mezzo & admirable Admiral Connolly - Sumptious sounds, brass & vocal !
Innovative, wide-ranging repertoire & programming - from Knussen, back to Purcell, through Haydn, Villa-Lobos, Piazzolla to the gorgeous Gershwin arrangement & artistes ( from 14-18 year old budding composers evolving through 30's,40's,50's & even beyond, I think, in the orchestra & chorus -real life representation !)
Fantastic OB liaison work & crossover of venues & enthusiasm - Oh, yes, & not forgetting the deligtfully irreverent & roguish 'Yank' Robertson's conducting & MDing !
FANFARES all round to Roger Wright plus all other production & music execs. involved -- One of the (few) truly outstanding last night Proms in 10 years.
I'm sure you lifted the spirits of millions round the world tonight & as a Brit., just returned from weeks of exhausting criss-crossing of Europe, my weariness was transformed to elation & pride, being alive in the last 3 hours of blissed out music-making - watching on TV,a few yards from Hyde Park & as an erstwhile toiler for the Beeb !
For pulling off such a coup-de-theatre -
Grazie, Merci, Habe Dank
My Thanks
Elise D McDougall
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