Barenboim Conducts the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra BBC Proms

APPLAUSE Tonight one of the world's greatest

conductors returns to the Proms to his celebrated Orchestra of young

Arabs and Israelis. Hell low. The hall is packed as we await the

arrival of Daniel barn boil to con-- Barenboim to conduct West West we. A

unique emaccept bell that have become quite a... It is it will be

one of the most anticipated performances of the season, from

Martha Argerich and following his performs of the in 2013, they'll end

from music from three of Wagner's Orchestras. We start with Con Brio

by Jorg Widmann. It's inspired by the fast movement of Beethoven's 7th

and 8th symphonies but full of instrumental technique from a sound

world unimaginable when Beethoven was writing. Which hadman has called

it - Widmann has called it an exercise in fewer quli and rythmic

insistence. Here comes Daniel Barenboim to open the Proms with Con

Brio by Jorg Widmann. Jorg Widmann's Con Brio performed by

West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Barenboim.

And Con Brio means "with liveliness." Widmann's shows it

because as well as reflecting the music, it is used by Beethoven as a

tempo independencation of his 7th and 8th symphonies, win spired this

work. -- tempo indication. Which inspired this work.

Next tonight, an unbeatable combination, one of the world's

greatest pianists, Martha Argerich, joining the West-Eastern Divan

Orchestra in the dazzling Liszt's Piano Concerto No 1. They are

long-standing friends and musical colleagues. Amongst them any musical

collaborations, they recorded an album of you know Dureaus together

recently. Martha Argerich started playing the piano at the age of

three and gave her debut concert at eight. But it was in her 20s that

her phenomenal talent was wicked night. In 1960s New York, the young

Martha Argerich was described by tonight's conductor is like a

beautiful painting without a frame. But after coming through a period of

depression, she was to become one of the world's most renowned and

enduring performance. Ladies and gentlemen, will you please welcome

one of the world's truly great pianists, Martha Argerich...

Playing here with Andre Previn in 1977 Prokofiev's piano concerto

number three, which has become one of her most admired interpretations.

But her repertoire is wide and varied, especially her chamber

performances. And she will put her hands to need solar recital and

concerto. Virtuosic on stage, she shuns the limelight offstage,

granting very few interviews. But she has spoken of her loneliness is

so low performer. It is almost at sea travelling. And when one is

playing with orchestras, the relationship you have is very

superficial, and with conductors as well.

The fact that one is vulnerable appeals to the audience, because one

wants to see the soloist as someone you can identify with. I like to see

vulnerability are that does not mean always disaster, on the contrary. At

of course, whilst her worldwide appeal continues, one remarkable

thing is in her longevity. She was last filmed at the BBC Proms in

2001. Now, she makes a welcome return. Martha Argerich - and what a

piece she is returning with, Liszt's Piano Concerto No 1. It was

premiered by the composer himself in 1855, with none other than Hector

Berlioz conducting. Franz Liszt's own ability as a pianist was

astounding. He would hold audiences captivated, and his breathtaking

skill was such that he is still considered to be the founder of

modern technique. Perhaps it is a surprise that the concerto we're

about to hear was only published when he was 46, after years of

drafts. So, now, here comes Martha Argerich and conduct a Daniel

Barenboim to perform Liszt's Piano Concerto No 1 with the West-Eastern

Divan Orchestra. Not surprisingly, rapturous applause

and a hug and a kiss for Martha Argerich, the soloist in the Piano

Concerto No 1, E flat major, Frans Liszt, conducted by Daniel

Barenboim. CHEERING AND

APPLAUSE And that's the first triangle player

taking a special bow, too. APPLAUSE Well, Barenboim and and

Martha Argerich's friendship must now from the fact that they come

from families where musicians used to meet every Friday evening

together for recitals. CHEERING AND

APPLAUSE In December this year, she'll be

receiving the prestigious Kennedy Centre honours from President Obama,

which celebrates outstanding artistic and cultural achievement.

Receiving awards with her will be the Eagles. Al Pacino, and mafs

Staples and the singer-songwriter, James Taylor. -- Mavis Staples.

APPLAUSE CONTINUES And it looks as if an

additional music stool is coming on for the piano. So, I think we can

expect an encore. CHEERING AND

Martha Argerich and Daniel Barenboim playing Rondo in A, by Franz

Schubert. And what a wonderful celebration of a profound and

enduring musical friendship. Well, three years ago, Daniel

Barenboim conducts the Richard Wagner's complete ring cycle here.

Tonight, with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, he is back with more

Richard Wagner, conducting music free of the composers operas,

Tannhauser, The Mastersingers of Nuremberg and excerpts from

Gotterdammerung. It might surprise you if you know which composer has

been the biggest presence at the Proms. Well, over the festival award

in 122 year history, it may not be who you would expect. I would get

Beethoven's. Elgar. I would have to say Beethoven's. One man has had

almost twice as many performances of his works as his closest rival. He

clearly takes the crown. Or should that be the Ring? Wagner was given

pride of place in the calendar by Sir Henry would. For decades, the

Wagner Monday was a pillar of the programme. I1914, there was a

fashion for abr concert versions of larger works, and Wagner had amassed

more than 2500 performances of his works. With the First World War,

there was a public dislike of all things German, Wagner included. It

was Hitler's championing of Wagner which has made his works in

revocable controversial, especially for Jewish musicians. The Monday

Wagner nights were banned. But it was not long before he had people

queueing to see his works more regularly. Gradually, Wagner's

position among the giants of the Proms has grown once again.

In 2013, Daniel Barenboim conducted the Ring Cycle over four evenings at

the Proms - quite a departure from those abr performances a century

earlier. Barenboim returns tonight with a reprise of Wagner, proving

that the old sorcerer will continue to conjure up the crowds. The music

of Wagner at the Proms. And tonight we will be adding to that history.

Here comes Daniel Barenboim to conduct the West-Eastern Divan

Orchestra in the overture or two Tannhauser. After that, the Funeral

March from Gotterdammerung. And finally, the overture or two The

Mastersingers of Nuremberg. Wagner's overture, performed by the

West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Barenboim.

APPLAUSE CHEERING AND

APPLAUSE And next dawn and Seigfried's Rhine

journey. And before that you heard

Gotterdammerung Dawn and Siegfried's Rhine Journe.

And they are going to continue with the extracts from Wagner.

The overture to The Mastersingers Of Nuremberg, crowning that powerful

selection of music from Wagner's operas, performed by the

West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, conduct this by Daniel Barenboim,

which was conducted entirely from memory. You will have noticed no

music score in front of him. Wagner himself sanctioned the performance

of selected highlights from his operas. In the case of the Ring

Cycle, this was when fully staged performances were not possible.

Barenboim is one of the world's leading interpreters of Wagner's

music. He first conducted in 1981 and return to to the same venue

every summer for 18 years. And Daniel Barenboim is returning to the

stage. Encouraging his young musicians to

take another bowl. Thank you very much, ladies and

gentlemen. From this wonderful applause, I can tell that you know

the overture, The Mastersingers Of Nuremberg, very well. So we are not

going to play the rest of the first act! Or so we are not going to play

the second act! But we will go directly to the preview to the third

act. Thank you. The Prelude to Act 3 of The

Mastersingers Of Nuremberg, performed as an encore. That was

Daniel Barenboim with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra.

Well, tonight according from is part of a six concert tour across Europe

for the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. They have been in

Salzburg and Berlin, among other venues, and they will finish in

Seville The audience still won't let Daniel

Barenboim go. And he IS coming back on stage now. I think we can extract

a little more Wagner perhaps. CHEERING AND

APPLAUSE. Well, appropriately a jubilant

finish to the Proms. The Prelude to Act 3.

It was first performed in 1850. It makes an interesting link, this

evening to the spell-binding performance of Liszt's first piano

Concerto we heard marg marg marg play earlier -- Martha Argerich play

earlier. That is it for tonight. Make sure you tune in to BBC Four on

Friday, when we'll hear the 7th symphony. But for now, from me,

Samira Ahmed and from Daniel Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan

Orchestra and all of us at the Royal Albert Hall. Good night.