Proms 2011
The BBC’s eight-week summer season of classical music is upon us, providing punters with an opportunity to get reacquainted with the works of some of the world’s greatest composers.
Highlights include Slavic-flavoured Prom 35: Liszt / Gliere / Rachmaninov (Wed, Aug 10; 7pm) with Ukrainian Kirill Karabits conducting the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and Prom 37: Bridge / Brahms / Holst / Elgar (Thu, Aug 11; 7.30pm) conducted by the BBC Philharmonic’s Chief Guest Conductor, Vassily Sinaisky.
For something a little more accessible, check out Prom 38: Film Music Prom (Fri, Aug 12; 7pm) in which the BBC Concert Orchestra explores the rich legacy of film music from Hollywood and beyond.
Also worth a look is Prom 39: Spaghetti Western Orchestra (Fri, Aug 12; 10.15pm). These five inventive multi-taskers, fascinated by the scores of Ennio Morricone, have devised their own outside-the-box approach to the music of the man who created the epic soundtracks to Sergio Leone’s famous films. They employ conventional instruments, as well as anything else that comes to hand (beer bottles and cornflake boxes have been used in their shows).
And last but not least, comedian and rock ‘n’ roll superstar-in-his-own-mind Tim Minchin (pictured) hosts a Proms first: Comedy Prom (Sat, Aug 13; 7.30pm) featuring Sue Perkins, Kit and the Widow, soprano Susan Bullock and pianist Danny Driver, the BBC Concert Orchestra and conductor Jules Buckley.
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