BBC Proms 2012

The National Youth Orchestra

The National Youth Orchestra
Radio Times
Review by:
Patrick Mulkern

In a celebration of young talent, the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain start by Tuning Up – Varèse’s playful piece that had Prommers tittering on 4 August. Their principal conductor Vasily Petrenko, 36 and a bit of a heart-throb, then takes to the stage to corral them for the premiere of Gait; its young US composer Nico Muhly says, “Here’s what I thought of. Horses! People! Running! Walking!” Does an elephant also thunder past?

Of Messiaen’s tricky Turangalîla Symphony, Petrenko helpfully explains, “You need to understand not just the earthly but the cosmic feeling of love.” And young Brit Anna Meredith has written HandsFree for the 2012 Cultural Olympiad, which must be played with anything other than instruments.

About this programme

The National Youth Orchestra, conducted by Vasily Petrenko, performs Messiaen's Turangalîla Symphony at the Royal Albert Hall. The programme also includes Varese's musical parody Tuning Up, Anna Meredith's HandsFree, and the London premiere of Nico Muhly's Gait, inspired by the motion of horses. Introduced by Charles Hazlewood.

Cast and crew

Cast

Presenter
Charles Hazlewood

Crew

Director
Bridget Caldwell
Series Producer
Helen Mansfield
Categories
Music

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