Prom 24: Vaughan Williams and Mahler

Live from the Royal Albert Hall, London

Presented by Christopher Cook

Donald Runnicles conducts the BBC SSO in Mahler's 9th Symphony and Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis.

Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

Mahler: Symphony No. 9

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Donald Runnicles (conductor)

Mahler's Ninth Symphony represents the composer's ultimate achievement in orchestral music. At around 80 minutes in length the Symphony is epic, seeming to encompass the very span of life and death itself. Described by Leonard Bernstein as 'terrifying, and paralyzing', tonight Donald Runnicles - chief conductor of the BBC SSO and music director of the Deutsche Oper Berlin - brings his affinity with musical drama to this mighty testament.

And to precede the vast symphony the strings of the orchestra evoke the haunting nostalgia of Vaughan Williams' reflection on the past: his Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis.

This Prom will be repeated on Friday 8th August at 2pm.