The BBC has announced plans to hold a new BBC Proms festival in Melbourne in April 2016. The four-day event will see two of Australia's main orchestras – the Queensland Symphony and Melbourne Symphony - perform, feature new commissions from Australian composers, and bring international artists to Australia. British conductor Sir Andrew Davis, who has conducted more Last Nights of the BBC Proms than any other living conductor, will lead the event. The Mexican Alondra de la Parra, who has recently been appointed musical director of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, will also conduct performances.
“It’s hugely exciting to be launching BBC Proms Australia in Melbourne,’ says Edward Blakeman, who directed this year's BBC Proms in the UK. ‘I hope this taster of what the BBC Proms is about - bringing great classical music to the widest audience - will be a fantastic musical adventure.’
The last night of the Melbourne BBC Proms will emulate the London tradition, with performances of Rule Brittania and Jerusalem concluding the event. Also in keeping with tradition, prommer tickets at $20 a head will be available for every concert.
The full programme for BBC Proms Melbourne is as follows:
Wednesday 13 April, 7.30pm - Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Nigel Westlake Dream of Flying
Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor
Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique
Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis
Cello: Laura van der Heijden
Thursday 14 April, 7.30pm – Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Gordon Hamilton Thum Prints the Concerto for Beat Box and Orchestra
Alberto Ginastera Piano Concerto No. 1
Gershwin Cuban Overture
Bernstein West Side Story Symphonic Dances
Conductor: Alondra de la Parra/Gordon Hamilton (Thum Prints)
Piano: Sergio Tiempo
Beat Box: Tom Thum
Friday 15 April, 7.30pm & Saturday 16 April, 2pm– Life Story, Queensland Symphony Orchestra
One for the nature-lovers, this Prom is inspired by the landmark Sir David Attenborough BBC series Life Story. The concert will feature excerpts from Murray Gold’s original score performed by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra along with sequences of footage on the big screen.
Conductor: Jeremy Holland-Smith
Saturday 16 April, 7.30pm – Last Night of the Proms
Come in fine voice one and all, and prepare to revel in patriotic glory for a Best of British special event! It's the Last Night of the Proms with iconic British conductor Sir Andrew Davis, Chief Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Embellish yourself with red, white and blue and fly your flag high with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis
Contralto: Liane Keegan