Synopsis
Exploring light and dark, life and loss, through the music of Beethoven, Brahms and the contemporary composer Tansy Davies, this Prom sees the BBC Philharmonic led by youthful principal guest conductor Ben Gernon. Proms regular Paul Lewis returns for Beethoven's evergreen final piano concerto, the Emperor, having played the complete cycle of five concertos in the 2010 season. And Beethoven's influence is strong in Brahms's sunny, pastoral Second Symphony that follows. Opening the evening in contemplative mode, the world premiere of Tansy Davies's orchestral suite What Did We See? reframes material from her acclaimed opera Between Worlds. Inspired by the events of 9/11 and the ordinary people caught up in it, this is a work of both remembrance and healing.