BBC Proms 67

First Night of the Proms (2013)

The greatest classical music festival in the world gets underway from the Royal Albert Hall. Katie Derham introduces music on a sea-inspired theme by English composers Vaughan Williams and Britten and two sets of the well-known Paganini variations by Rachmaninov and Polish composer Lutoslawski. There is also the world premiere of Julian Anderson's Harmony. Sakari Oramo conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Chorus and the BBC Proms Youth Choir and soloists Stephen Hough (piano), Sally Mathews (soprano) and Roderick Williams (baritone).

Proms on Four: Orchestras of the World - Bamberg Symphony Orchestra (2013)

From the Royal Albert Hall, the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jonathan Nott perform Mahler's Fifth Symphony, opening a Thursday night season featuring Orchestras of the World at the BBC Proms. Katie Derham introduces this popular work by Mahler with its intensely lyrical fourth movement, the Adagietto, written as a love letter to the composer's young wife Alma and later made famous when featured in the film Death in Venice.

Proms on Four: Friday Night at the Proms - BBC Philharmonic Orchestra (2013)

From the Royal Albert Hall, Samira Ahmed introduces the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Juanjo Mena, who perform Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No 2 and Nielsen's Fourth Symphony. The piano soloist is the extraordinary young Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii, whose blindness is no barrier to his musical talent. Nielsen's Fourth Symphony, 'The Inextinguishable', features a battle between two sets of timpani.

Proms on Four: Orchestras of the World - Santa Cecilia Orchestra (2013)

A rare opportunity to hear the Orchestra of the Academy of Santa Cecilia, Rome conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano at the Royal Albert Hall. The Prom begins with a classical gem, Mozart's Haffner Symphony, and ends with the melancholy and high drama of Rachmaninov's Second Symphony. 18-year-old Canadian piano phenomenon Jan Lisiecki makes his Proms debut as the soloist in Schumann's Piano Concerto.

Proms on Four: Friday Night at the Proms - National Youth Orchestra USA (2013)

The newly-formed National Youth Orchestra of the USA comes to the Proms under the conductor Valery Gergiev, performing Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto with Proms favourite Joshua Bell as soloist and Shostakovich's 10th Symphony, a stirring and powerful musical protest against oppression.