Prom 65: "A riot of orchestral colour?"

By Tom Hancox, 04 September 2011

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Reviewed at Royal Albert Hall, London on 3 September 2011

Elgar, Cockaigne (In London Town) - overture for orchestra, Op.40

Berkeley, Organ Concerto (London première)

Rachmaninov, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in A minor for piano and orchestra, Op.43

Kodály, Háry János orchestral suite

Marc-André Hamelin, Piano

David Goode, Organ

BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Jac van Steen, Conductor

Nail-biting Shostakovich from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Dominic Lowe, 15th August

Before a searing performance of Shostakovich's Thirteenth from Ryan Bancroft and his Welsh forces, Benjamin Grosvenor delivers a terrific performance of Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major.

****1

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

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Tom Hancox

Graduating with a double-first from St Peter's College, Oxford, Thomas is a flautist who has performed with Trevor Pinnock, the Allegri and Sacconi Quartets, and the London Handel Orchestra. Formerly the Junior Editor of the British Flute Society's journal, he now acts as Ambassadors' Co-ordinator for Cavatina.