Last Night of the Proms - Part 1 BBC Proms

It's BBC Music's biggest party and the culmination of the world's

largest music festival. Welcome to the Last Night of the Proms 2014.

After 75 concerts here in the Royal Albert Hall, it is time to celebrate

a traditional style, with new works, classic masterpieces and old

favourites. Tonight, two classical superstars join the BBC Symphony

Orchestra. From the Netherlands comes Janine Jansen and representing

Britain, our very own Roderick Williams. The celebrations are

spilling out beyond the Albert Hall to Proms in the park events

throughout the UK. In Belfast, Swansea, Glasgow and over the road

in Hyde Park. We will be visiting them later in the company of stars

such as Bryn Terfel and Katherine Jenkins. Press your Red Button to

watch highlights at any time tonight, or choose a Park, watch it

live through bbc.co.uk/promsinthepark. Here at

the Royal Albert Hall, we have got some British classics, from musical

knights Sir Malcolm Arnold and Sir William Walton, as well as a cantata

by Richard Strauss, then in the second half on BBC One, there will

be a chance for all the flag-waving favourites. So, on with the music.

The magnificent BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and the BBC

Singers are all on stage. The orchestra is set for a brand-new

fanfare, especially written for tonight by Gavin Higgins, and it is

called Velocity. Gavin wanted to write some fast, driven and punchy.

And you are hearing applause there for Sakari Oramo, all the way from

Finland, the new Chief Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Velocity by Gavin Higgins, our curtain-raiser to our 2014 Last

Night of the Proms. The BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sakari Oramo,

already enjoying himself. And there is the composer, Gavin Higgins,

taking a bow. He dedicated this piece to his family. He said he knew

the title as soon as he got the commission. He describes the music

as optimistic and celebratory, cheering, whooping, exciting music.

Next, more British music, this time from Sir Malcolm Arnold, his

Peterloo Overture. It is a special choral arrangement with new lyrics

by Sir Tim Rice. Sir Malcolm Arnold's Peterloo

Overture, performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, with

the BBC Singers, the lyrics by Tim Rice, who you can see there. He

normally watches this on the telly, so he is very excited to be here.

Malcolm Arnold himself was a trumpeter and sometimes played with

the Symphony Orchestra. We are going to hear the Popular Song from Sir

William Walton's Facade. to hear the Popular Song from Sir

just recognise this. MUSIC: Popular Song

By Sir William Walton The Popular Song from Facade, by Sir

William Walton, the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sakari Oramo

and if you were wondering where you had heard that before, it was the

theme tune to that BBC quiz in the '60s and '70s, Face the Music. Well,

next up we move beyond the shores of Blighty, we move over to France for

Ernest Chausson's piece Poeme. Tonight's soloist is the Dutch

violinist Janine Jansen, making her Last Night debut this year, but

she's no stranger to the Proms, she's performed here eight times,

which isn't bad! We caught up with her yesterday in rehearsals. The

Last Night of the Proms is very exciting. I have done a First Night.

The Last Night must be something very special. When Chausson composed

this piece, the first title he had was (in French) but you can imagine

with the first title it is a very passionate and very emotional piece

about love. One of the most magical places in the piece is the last

trill of the violinist, maybe the last 45 seconds of the piece. It is

a very high trill, somewhere up THERE. It ends with a grand

resolution, the most perfect piece you can imagine.

Janine Jansen there, our wonderful soloist tonight. What a superstar

she is. Here she comes in a striking gown. She is going to be performing

Chausson's Poeme with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by

Sakari Oramo. Shaking the hand there of tonight's Guest Leader, Natalie

Chee. MUSIC: Poeme

By Ernest Chausson A wonderful performance there of

Ernest Chausson's Poeme, played here at the Last Night of the Proms by

the celebrated Dutch violinist, Janine Jansen. Gorgeous, wasn't it?

Taking a bow with her friend, tonight's Chief Conductor, Sakari

Oramo. And we would like to apologise for those of you who had

any problems with the sound a little earlier.

Of course, that is not the last we will be seeing of Janine Jansen, we

will be hearing from her in the second half of tonight's Last Night

of the Proms. Next, we have a chance to hear the

BBC Singers commemorate and celebrate the life of one of our

nation's greatest composers, Sir John Tavener, who died last year.

The piece we are going to hear was played at the funeral of Diana,

Princess of Wales, Song of Athene. It was chosen, not only because it

was perfect in tone and mood, it includes the words "Give rest, O

Lord, to your handmaid, who has fallen asleep." But also because Sir

John Tavener and the Prince of Wales were great friends and the composer

dedicated a number of works to the Prince. Well, Sir John Tavener died

last year, a remarkable man. He started out as an avant-garde

radical in the '60s but he became a devout Orthodox Christian and his

music became profoundly sacred, and you can hear that in works like the

one we are going to hear next. Song of Athene will be conducted by

Sakari Oramo and the BBC Symphony Orchestra are about to play.

# May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest

# Remember me, O Lord, when you come into your kingdom

# Give rest, O Lord, to your handmaid, who has fallen asleep.

# The Choir of Saints have found the well-spring

# Of life and door of Paradise

# Weeping at the grave creates the song

# Come, enjoy rewards and crowns I have prepared for you

And the silence at the end of that performance, I think, said it all.

Sir John Tavener's Song of Athene, performed at the Last Night of the

Proms by the BBC Singers, conducted by Sakari Oramo. Tavener's music

does create the most extraordinary atmosphere, doesn't it? The Choir

singing words from the Orthodox Funeral Service along with the

closing lines of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Tonight's star soloist, the

baritone, Roderick Williams, is making his Last Night debut. We

caught up with him earlier this week to find out how he is preparing for

his big moment later in part two. Singing Rule Britannia at the Last

Night of the Proms, you may think the main concern is hitting the high

notes or remembering the words, but actually the most important decision

is, "What am I going to where?" Back in the olden days, when the world

was in black and white, the options were limited. Here's the earliest

televised Last Night from 1957, with Constance Shacklock in... Grey! It

was a time of highs and lows - and I'm not just talking about the

notes! Then, in 1985, Sarah Walker made a splash with her game-changing

frock, designed by none other than Dame Edna's dressmaker. The Proms

would never be the same again. Gwyneth Jones made use of her shield

taping the words to the back of it. I wish I had thought of that! Since

then, we have had a couple of sporty numbers from Welsh rugby shirts, to

Olympic rowers, and our fair share of British icons, Britannia herself

and a cross-dressing Sarah Connolly as Admiral Lord Nelson. For those

venturing on the high-seas, whether you choose couture or comedy, you

have to make sure you are shipshape. As for me? You will have to wait and

see! The tension is killing! Well, next,

we are going to be celebrating another great composer in the finale

to the first half of the Last Night of the Proms, Richard Strauss, whose

150th birthday would have been this year. His operas have featured

heavily in this year's Proms, but tonight we will hear his cantata

Taillefer. Taillefer was a Norman juggler who travelled to England in

1066 with William the Conqueror. At the Battle of Hastings, he recited a

poem whilst juggling his sword - no mean feat! And an English soldier

ran out and challenged him to fight, Taillefer killed him, he charged the

England lines and helped win the battle and the course of history was

changed forever! That is what we will be hearing about next in this

extraordinary piece by Richard Strauss. Actually, it is fair to say

this is the biggest piece that has ever been staged at the Last Night

of the Proms. The stage will be packed. Lots of fun and games still

to come, of course, after the Strauss piece. Then, we move on into

the second half of the Last Night of the Proms, some of the traditional

fun and games, the flag-waving and so on and Sakari Oramo, who is

clearly thoroughly enjoying his debut as the Chief Conductor of the

BBC Symphony Orchestra, his first Last Night of the Proms, he said to

me earlier, "I'm looking forward to when somewhere in the second half

things get a bit out of hand!" Well, we are all looking forward to that,

too. As you can see, the BBC Symphony Orchestra are tuning for

this massive piece that we are going to hear, written by Richard Strauss.

It is not just the Orchestra, the Corus, -- the Chorus, the Singers,

we have a number of people appearing. Elizabeth Watts there,

John Daszak, Roderick Williams and they, along with Sakari Oramo, are

about to perform Strauss' epic medieval cantata, Taillefer.

MUSIC: Taillefer By Richard Strauss

Richard Strauss' cantata Taillefer. A slightly amusing story of the

juggling Norman knight in some ways. An unlikely subject. Performed by

the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, the BBC Singers, Elizabeth

Watts, John Daszak, Roderick Williams and all conducted by Sakari

Oramo. They are being given gifts there, another Last Night of the

Proms tradition. The dedicated Prommers presenting the soloists

with their gifts tonight. The audience there showing their

appreciation of that extraordinary medieval tale.

Elizabeth Watts wearing a terrific dress. Strangely he doesn't feature

on the Bayeux tapestry. What an epic way to finish the first half of

tonight's concert. Part two continues on BBC One at 9.10pm. The

fun tonight isn't confined to the Royal Albert Hall. The celebrations

continue all over the UK with Proms in the Park events in Swansea,

Belfast, Glasgow and in London's Hyde Park. Just a few minutes ago,

Bryn Terfel took to the stage at Proms in the Park in Swansea. He

really was Home on the Range. # Bind me not to the pasture,

chain me not to the plow. # Set me free to find my calling and

I?ll return to you somehow. In Belfast the crowd have been some

enjoying some jazz in the hands of Dana Masters.

# It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing

# It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing

# Well, it makes no difference if it's cool or hot

# Cos you just got to give that rhythm everything you've got

# Doo-ah doo-ah doo-ah doo-ah doo-ah! #

In Glasgow, there wasn't a dry eye in the park when Katherine Jenkins

performed her rendition of Elgar's Nimrod.

And in Hyde Park, just across the road from the Royal Albert Hall,

Rufus Wainwright wowed the crowds. # Men reading fashion magazines

# Oh what a world # It seems we live in

# Straight man # Oh what a world

# We live in # Why am I always on a plane or a

fast train # Oh what a world my parents gave me

# Always # Travelling but not in love

# Still I think I'm doing fine # Wouldn't it be a lovely headline

# Life is # Beautiful on a New York Times

# Why am I always on a plane or a fast train

# Oh what a world my parents gave me # Always

# Travelling but not in love # Still I think I'm doing fine

# Wouldn't it be a lovely headline # Life is

# Beautiful on a New York Times Some of the great events happening

all over the country to celebrate the Last Night of the Proms. Of

course, tonight's Prom is the last of a season of many concerts,

stretching back to mid-July and the First Night of the Proms. Here are

some highlights of BBC Proms 2014. People would come and stand in the

queue for hours. That shows you you are doing something really right.

# Take me # Won't you take me

# Take me... # What passing bells for thee who die

as cattle? Only the monstrous anger of the guns... Only the stuttering

rifles rapid rattle can patter out...

The very best of BBC Music here at the 2014 Proms. And that is all for

now here on BBC Two. Join me in a few minutes at 9.10pm on BBC One, as

the festivities continue with all the