The BBC Proms is the world’s largest classical music festival, and RNZ Concert is giving you a front row seat.
First Night of the Proms 2023. Photo: BBC / Chris Christodoulou
The 2023 Proms features a huge breadth of programming; from Berlioz to Bollywood, large scale symphonic and choral work to intimate chamber concerts and exciting Proms debuts.
Over the next couple of months RNZ Concert will broadcast many of these performances.
This year the Proms marks the 150th anniversary of Rachmaninov’s birth with 11 of his works performed during the season. Other composer anniversaries include Dora Pejačević, György Ligeti, Thomas Weelkes and William Byrd.
Across the season there is a wealth of opera and oratorio, with a complete performance of Berlioz’s five act grand opera The Trojans and the highly anticipated UK premiere of György Kurtág’s first opera, Endgame. Large-scale choral repertoire features throughout the season, from Rachmaninov’s The Bells to Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast.
The Last Night of the Proms will be conducted by Marin Alsop featuring cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason and soprano Lise Davidsen with a world premiere by James B. Wilson.
This is where you can hear BBC Proms on RNZ Concert:
- Days with Nick Tipping: Monday afternoons at 1pm
- Music Alive with Clarissa Dunn: Wednesday & Friday nights at 8pm
- The Opera Season: Occasional Saturdays from 7pm
- Sound Lounge – occasional Sundays from 9pm
Click here to keep an eye on music broadcast dates and times across RNZ Concert.
Here are some Proms highlights chosen for you by the RNZ Concert team:
BBC Symphony Chorus | Hallé Choir and Orchestra | Sir Mark Elder, conductor: Rachmaninov's The Bells and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5
Prom 16: https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/epvrn3
HIGHLIGHT: 150th anniversary of Rachmaninov’s birth. Also selected by BBC as one of their highlights.
BBC National Chorus of Wales | BBC National Orchestra of Wales | Ryan Bancroft, conductor | Annelien van Wauwe, clarinet: Copland's Clarinet Concerto and Adams' Harmonium
Prom 21: https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/efx6gw
HIGHLIGHT: Annalien van Wauwe will perform in New Zealand later this year.
First Night of the Proms 2023. Photo: BBC / Chris Christodoulou
BBC National Orchestra of Wales | Jaime Martin, conductor | Geneva Lewis (NZ), violin: Grace Williams' Violin Concerto and Holst's The Planets
Prom 32: https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ehnv9r
HIGHLIGHT: New Zealand violinist Geneva Lewis playing Grace Williams' Violin Concerto. Listen to our interview with Geneva Lewis here
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra | Gemma New (NZ), conductor | Pavel Kolesnikov, piano: Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2 and the European premiere of Samy Moussa's Symphony No. 2
Prom 44: https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/e2h5q9
HIGHLIGHT: New Zealand's Gemma New conducts the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Hear Gemma New talk about the role and importance of the conductor here
Philharmonia Chorus | Academy of Ancient Music | Laurence Cummings, conductor: Handel's Samson
Prom 50: https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/e3qhj5
HIGHLIGHT: NZ's Jonathan Lemalu is singing Samson’s father. Listen to Jonathan Lemalu talk about his love of singing
First Night of the Proms 2023. Photo: BBC / Chris Christodoulou
Monteverdi Choir | Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique | Dinis Sousa, conductor: Berlioz's Les Troyens
Prom 64: https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ec8fbp
HIGHLIGHT: Significant opera production
BBC Concert Orchestra | Sarah Hicks, conductor: Rufus Wainwright's Want Symphonic - Want One
Prom 66: https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ed4bc8
HIGHLIGHT: continuing the tradition of orchestral collaboration with non-classical artists with Canadian-American singer, songwriter, and composer, Rufus Wainwright.
First Night of the Proms 2023. Photo: BBC / Chris Christodoulou
