Proms 2011 Prom 8: Dvořák & Smetana - BBC Proms

20 Jul 2011, Royal Albert Hall

19:30 Wed 20 Jul 2011 Next Event

Prom 8: Dvořák & Smetana

19:30 Wed 20 Jul 2011 Royal Albert Hall

A Czech evening as Jean-Guihen Queyras plays Dvořák’s Cello Concerto and Proms favourite Jiří Bělohlávek leads the BBC Symphony Orchestra in a surprising Proms first as the six symphonic poems of Má vlast are performed complete and in sequence.

Programme

- - Antonín Dvořák
  - Cello Concerto in B minor(40 mins)
- - Johann Sebastian Bach
  - Cello Suite No 2 in D minor(5 mins)No. 4 Sarabande (encore)
- - interval
- - Bedrich Smetana
  - Má vlast(72 mins)

Performers

Composers

About this event

Dvořák's Cello Concerto is full of melody and heartfelt sentiment, to which French cellist Jean- Guihen Queyras will bring both youthful urgency and intimacy, if his recording with tonight's conductor is anything to go by.

The work is widely regarded as the finest concerto ever written for the instrument. Nostalgia turns to nationalism in the second half, moving from a Proms staple to a Proms premiere.

This is the first time the six symphonic poems of Má vlast have been given complete and in sequence at the Proms. Together they constitute a glorious musical touchstone for 'the resurrection of the Czech nation, its future happiness and glory'.