Esa-Pekka Salonen conducted a joint student orchestra drawn from London's Royal Academy of Music and New York's Juilliard School at the Royal Albert Hall, part of an exchange scheme funded by Elton John, an Academy alumnus. The Proms concert, following closely on the National Youth Orchestra's own appearance, showcased three major 20th-century orchestral works and confirmed the ensemble as another impressive showcase for young musicians, even if the performance took time to find its full character.

The programme opened with Stravinsky's Symphony in Three Movements, played precisely but lacking some buoyancy and colour. Vilde Frang was the soloist in Berg's Violin Concerto, praised for seamless, soulful playing, notably a striking moment where she turned to face each string section in turn during the closing elegy. Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra brought the ensemble fully to life, with rich strings, characterful winds and dynamic brass, while an encore of Stravinsky's Galop from Suite No 2 finally let the young players cut loose with the larger-than-life energy that had been missing earlier.