{"id":3520,"date":"2017-04-20T16:10:45","date_gmt":"2017-04-20T15:10:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.larkreviews.co.uk\/?p=3520"},"modified":"2017-04-20T16:11:41","modified_gmt":"2017-04-20T15:11:41","slug":"bbc-proms-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/?p=3520","title":{"rendered":"BBC Proms 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"
122 years since it was founded and 90 years since the BBC took over the running, financing and broadcasting of the world\u2019s largest classical music festival, the BBC Proms today announces its 2017 season. Presenting over eight weeks of events and more than 90 concerts the festival continues its founder-conductor Henry Wood\u2019s aim of bringing the best classical music to the widest audience.<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n

The festival marks major composer anniversaries<\/b> in 2017, including Monteverdi at 450<\/b>, Handel\u2019s Water Music<\/i> at 300<\/b> and John Williams at 85<\/b>.\u00a0 The birthdays of two pioneers of American Minimalism are also celebrated – John Adams<\/b>\u2019 70th<\/sup> birthday is marked throughout the festival including the First and Last nights, and Philip Glass<\/b>\u2019 80th<\/sup> birthday is celebrated with the first complete live performance of Passages<\/i>, the 1990 studio album he created with Ravi Shankar, performed by the Britten Sinfonia, conducted by Karen Kamensek with sitar soloist Anoushka Shankar.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Following its launch last year, the \u2018Proms at\u2026\u2019 <\/b>series <\/b>returns, matching music to five different venues and for the first time in recent history travels outside of London to Stage@TheDock in Hull<\/b>, the UK\u2019s 2017 City of Culture, for a concert inspired by the 300th<\/sup>anniversary of the first performance of Handel\u2019s Water Music<\/i>. As well as eight Proms Chamber Music concerts at Cadogan Hall<\/b>, the series presents choral music at Southwark Cathedral<\/b>, music theatre at Wilton\u2019s Music Hall<\/b>, new and experimental music at the Tanks at Tate Modern<\/b>, and returns to Bold Tendencies Multi-Storey Car Park <\/b>in Peckham for a wide-reaching programme featuring The Multi-Story Orchestra <\/b>and Youth Choir<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Proms explores the ways in which politics has inspired and influenced composers across the ages through two big historical anniversaries in 2017 – one hundred years since the Russian Revolution<\/b>, featuring the music of Shostakovich, Prokofiev and Rachmaninov, and the 500th<\/sup> anniversary of the Protestant Reformation<\/b>, which is marked with a special day of concerts curated by Bach specialist John Butt<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Engaging new audiences<\/b><\/span> remains a vital part of the BBC Proms mission <\/span>as the festival opens its doors through special initiatives<\/span>including the first ever Relaxed Prom<\/b>. Presented in collaboration with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales<\/b> (BBC NOW) and the Royal Albert Hall Education & Outreach team<\/b>, the concert offers an informal environment for people with autism, sensory and communication impairments and learning disabilities as well as individuals who are Deaf, hard of hearing, blind or partially sighted. The Prom, which follows BBC NOW\u2019s first ever Relaxed concert in Cardiff on 2 July, is led by conductor Grant Llewellyn and musician Andy Pidcock. Other concerts designed especially to present classical music to new audiences include Gerard McBurney\u2019s Beyond the Score<\/i><\/b>, which combines actors, projections and live musical examples who explore the history of Dvo?\u00e1k\u2019s \u2018New World\u2019<\/i> Symphony, and Beethoven\u2019s \u2018Eroica\u2019<\/i> Symphony, deconstructed live on stage by Tom Service<\/b> and conductor Nicholas Collon<\/b>, before a performance from memory by the Aurora Orchestra<\/b>. A series of weekend matinees<\/b> also offer engaging concerts that present the perfect introduction to classical music at a time of day that is convenient for those who may not be able to attend evening events.<\/span><\/p>\n

As always the Proms presents a wide range of the very best music<\/b>, with jazz and soul music a focus in the 2017 season. The festival marks 100 years since the births of Ella Fitzgerald<\/b> and Dizzy Gillespie<\/b> with a concert starring vocalist Dianne Reeves<\/b> and trumpeterJames Morrison<\/b>.\u00a0 The music of jazz giant Charles Mingus<\/b> is celebrated by conductor Jules Buckley<\/b> and his Metropole Orkest<\/b>, BBC Radio 2 presenter Clare Teal <\/b>returns with bandleaders Guy Barker<\/b> and Winston Rollins<\/b> for a concert celebrating big band legends including Duke Ellington, and Jools Holland & His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra<\/b> pay tribute to the legendary Stax\/Volt Revue<\/b>, credited for its championing of Southern and Memphis soul music.<\/span><\/p>\n

The refreshed Proms website<\/strong> \u2013 bbc.co.uk\/proms<\/a> – reflects the entire festival offering. The \u2018Proms Unplucked\u2019 <\/em>Podcast, presented by comedian and composer Vicki Stone, offers a unique backstage view of the whole festival.<\/p>\n

Tickets are available via bbc.co.uk\/proms<\/a> or 0845 401 5040 and in person at the Royal Albert Hall as follows:<\/p>\n