Part 2

From the Royal Albert Hall, London. Presented by Martin Handley.

The Prom concludes with Thierry Fischer and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales performing music by Swiss composer Heinz Holliger. (S)irato is an anguished lament for Holliger's Hungarian teacher Sandor Veress, to whom the piece is dedicated. Fragments of Hungarian folk songs (collected by Bartok) revolve around a slowly evolving mass of orchestral sound. There's even a part for that most Hungarian of all instruments, the cimbalom.

It is followed by Prokofiev's ballet score for Romeo and Juliet, revealing all the intimacy, tragedy and tenderness of Shakespeare's drama, and which was selected by the concert's conductor.

BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Thierry Fischer (conductor)

Heinz Holliger: (S)irato (UK premiere)
Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet (excerpts).