World news and discussion on TalkFuse.
First Night of the Proms review – 250th anniversary of US independence takes centre stage
The Proms opened its new eight-week season at the Royal Albert Hall with a First Night programme built around the 250th anniversary of American independence, featuring works by Copland, Gershwin and Ravel alongside a new commission. Conductor Dalia Stasevska led the BBC Symphony Orchestra with characteristic energy, and the evening served as both a celebration of the "special relationship" in music and a scene-setter for the season ahead.
The concert opened with Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man before moving to a bold, brash account of Gershwin's An American in Paris. South Korean pianist Yunchan Lim then gave a precise, understated performance of Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major. The second half proved less cohesive, with a new Emily Dickinson-inspired commission from Josephine Stephenson and Finzi's For St Cecilia (featuring tenor Thomas Atkins and the BBC Singers) both judged somewhat slight, though the night closed with an unexpected mass-singalong encore of Oasis's Wonderwall.
In short
- Proms season opened with US 250th-independence-themed First Night programme
- Dalia Stasevska conducted Copland, Gershwin and Ravel with mixed second-half fare
- Pianist Yunchan Lim impressed; night ended with surprise Wonderwall encore
Explained simply
The Proms is the BBC's annual eight-week classical music festival held at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The First Night is the traditional opening concert and is watched by millions of people in Britain, making it one of the country's most significant cultural events.
This year's First Night was themed around the 250th anniversary of the American declaration of independence in 1776. The concert was conducted by Dalia Stasevska and featured works by American composers Aaron Copland and George Gershwin alongside other pieces and newly commissioned works.
Americas Culture Entertainment Music Offbeat TV Weird & Viral World