Nail-biting Shostakovich from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Kostas Smoriginas, Ryan Bancroft and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Benjamin Grosvenor

The BBC National Chorus and Orchestra of Wales

By Dominic Lowe, 17 August 2025

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“dangerous times and a dangerous score, which... throbbed with menace”

Reviewed at Royal Albert Hall, London on 15 August 2025

Gubaidulina, Revue Music for Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Band (UK premiere)

Ravel, Piano Concerto in G major

Prokofiev, Piano Sonata no. 7 in B flat major, Op.83: Precipitato

Shostakovich, Symphony no. 13 in B flat minor, "Babi Yar", Op.113

Benjamin Grosvenor, Piano

Kostas Smoriginas, Bass-baritone

Synergy Vocals

BBC National Chorus of Wales

BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Ryan Bancroft, Conductor

Bancroft and BBCNOW at the Proms: a deeply satisfying Mahler 3

David Karlin, 11th August

Bancroft and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales provide a Mahler 3 of exceptional clarity and forward momentum, with terrific posthorn solos from Corey Morris and Beth Taylor an outstanding soloist.

****1

Exciting Bacewicz and Lutosławski from Tadaaki Otaka and the BBC NOW

Nick Boston, 30th July

Strong performances of Bacewicz and Lutosławski in Tadaaki Otaka's final outing with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales at the Proms, with technically commanding and sincere Rachmaninov from Vadym Kholodenko.

***11

Nil Venditti impresses in BBC Proms debut

Christopher Woodley, 12th August

Beethoven and Sir Karl Jenkins receive top-notch performances from Nil Venditti and the BBC NOW.

****1

A choral treat to savour: Verdi’s Requiem at the BBC Proms

David Karlin, 23rd July

An outstanding choral performance by nearly 300 singers of the BBC National Chorus of Wales and the Crouch End Festival Chorus lights up Verdi’s hybrid of opera and devotional music.

*****

Music that eats into you: Schoenberg and Zemlinsky at the BBC Proms

Alexander Hall, 22nd July

The Proms are often very clever at recreating musical events from the past. Here, two works originally premiered in 1905 are given a fresh outing by Ryan Bancroft and BBC NOW.

****1

Playfulness and horror: Beethoven and Shostakovich in Cardiff

Simon Cummings, 11th February

Ryan Bancroft and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales give an extraordinary, terrifying account of Shostakovich’s Thirteenth Symphony, preceded by a Classical-Romantic tussle in Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto.

*****

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Dominic Lowe

Dominic Lowe recently completed a degree in Classics, and one of his great interests is the reception of Greece and Rome in opera. A regular opera-goer since his very early teens, he is particularly keen on the hidden operatic gems of the 19th century. He is largely based in the South of England.

Nail-biting Shostakovich from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales at the Proms