Synopsis
The first of two Proms featuring youth orchestras being televised this year, presented by James Naughtie. The European Union Youth Orchestra is caught both off and on duty on the last night of a six-country tour. Some of the 140 musicians selected from European Union countries talk about their rehearsal and tour period. Led for the first time by conductor Sir Colin Davis, who is known for his interpretations of Jean Sibelius, they play the composer's Symphony No 2 and complement it with Richard Strauss's portrait of a lover, Don Juan. Sir Colin says: "I wanted to give the orchestra something challenging so they can show what they've got in them. Don Juan is a good showpiece but the Symphony No 2 is not as straightforward as it might seem. There's age-old suffering embedded in Sibelius - how will these gifted young musicians respond to that?" Director Simon Broughton; Executive producer David Willcock