Wasn’t the Last Night of the Proms from the Royal Albert Hall fantastic yesterday? We were treated to an eclectic and exuberant programme with superb instrumental players, singers and soloists joyfully conducted by Elim Chan. A thrill for participants and audience alike.
Bill Bailey’s rendition of Leroy Anderson’s The Typewriter was great fun, and Alison Balsom’s final performances outstanding . And those dresses?! Wow!
But what of the choral works?
The BBC Singers brought tranquillity and beauty to Lucy Walker’s Today. Lucy said of her work: “This piece, though small, aims to serve as a brief but poignant musical reminder that hope can overcome struggle.” Quite a contrast followed with the UK premiere of Arthur Benjamin’s Storm Clouds cantata written for a bigger choir, so the BBC Singers were joined by the BBC Symphony Chorus: “…the piece segues from its pastoral opening to its driving middle section, culminating in the cymbal crash intended to serve as an accomplice to murder”.
What an experience for the National Youth Choir! They joined the other choirs, tenor soloist Sam Oladeinde, Alison Balsom, and the legendary Sir Brian May and Roger Taylor for a Proms first: Bohemian Rhapsody. “…[a] delirious pile-up of genres and styles is Mahlerian, Ivesian and Berio-esque … and one of the most popular tracks in history”.
Not forgetting the inclusion in the programme of opera, musicals, folksongs, hymns and anthems. Such is the joy of choral singing – something for everyone, every voice type, every genre of music and for every age.
Take a look at the singing and instrumental opportunities offered in Nottingham by Music for Everyone and come for a play or sing:
Adults: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/whats-on/adult-music/
Children and Young People: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/whats-on/youth-music/
Quotations taken from the BBC Last Night of the Proms Programme notes.
Image © Mary – married to one of our tenors!