BBC orchestras and choirs
The BBC Orchestras and Choirs remain the backbone of the festival, appearing in a total of 30 Proms across the season, as well as performing across the UK as part of the Last Night festivities.
Published: 20 April 2017
The BBC Symphony Orchestra gives 12 Proms, including the First Night under the baton of Edward Gardner and the Last Night with Chief Conductor Sakari Oramo (pictured); both include the voices of the BBC Symphony Chorus. Other highlights include Sir Andrew Davis (one of the orchestra’s two Conductors Laureate) leading a recreation of Malcolm Sargent’s 500th Prom (24 July); and the European premiere of Missy Mazzoli’s Sinfonia (For Orbiting Spheres) under Karina Canellakis (5 September).
The BBC Singers deliver rich programmes in five varied Proms, including Proms At… Southwark Cathedral with the world premiere of Judith Weir’s In The Land Of Uz (12 August), led by David Hill; they will also appear in a Reformation Day celebration with conductor Sofi Jeannin (20 August).
Debuts
Debut ensembles and orchestras include:
- Pygmalion (31 July)
- Il Pomo d’Oro (7 August)
- Dunedin Consort (20 August)
- Orchestra of La Scala, Milan (25 August)
- Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (27 August)
- London Contemporary Orchestra (6 September)
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales performs in five Proms, including the first ever Relaxed Prom (29 July). The Orchestra gives concerts under the baton of Principal Conductor Thomas Søndergård (17 and 18 July), and performs alongside the BBC National Chorus of Wales with both their Principal Guest Conductor, Xian Zhang (above) (30 July), and guest conductor Ryan Wigglesworth
(9 August).
The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra gives four concerts: one with new Associate Guest Conductor John Wilson (25 July); one with its Principal Guest Conductor Ilan Volkov (26 July); and two with Chief Conductor Thomas Dausgaard (12 and 13 August).
The BBC Philharmonic gives four concerts with repertoire including Beethoven’s Fidelio (21 July) and the London premiere of Mark Simpson’s The Immortal (27 July); Juanjo Mena leads these concerts, with Mark Wigglesworth (29 July) and John Storgards (10 August) also conducting the orchestra this season.
The BBC Concert Orchestra performs in two concerts. Under Principal Conductor Keith Lockhart (above) it pays tribute to three music greats: John Williams (20 July) and Ella Fitzgerald and Dizzy Gillespie (4 August).
