Proms to kick off with an all-English menu
The Proms start today, and so begins London’s most impressive yearly cultural festival. Naturally, rather than be eclipsed by that other London event this year, something to do with sport, the Proms has joined forces with it, forming a key part of the the London 2012 Festival. Opening night of the Olympics, then, will be heralded with Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony conducted by Daniel Barenboim, the culmination of a week of Beethoven symphonies.
Other highlights this year include the Berlin Philharmonic with Simon Rattle and the Vienna Philharmonic with Bernard Haitnik. Tonight is grandly British, though: Elgar, Delius, Tippett and a world premiere from Mark-Anthony Turnage. www.bbc.co.uk/proms