Prom 72 (part 1): English Music

Live from the Royal Albert Hall, London

Presented by Christopher Cook

The BBC Symphony Orchestra & Andrew Litton live at the BBC Proms in 20th century English music.: Vaughan Williams, Birtwistle & Walton's Viola Concerto with Lise Berthaud.

Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on 'Greensleeves'
Sir Harrison Birtwistle: Exody

8.10pm Interval

8:35pm
Walton: Viola Concerto
Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 4 in F minor

Lise Berthaud (viola)
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Andrew Litton (conductor)

The idyll of Vaughan Williams's Fantasia on 'Greensleeves' is soon abandoned in the composer's dark and questioning Symphony No. 4 and Birtwistle's Exody, an overwhelming musical labyrinth of sound.
This year's composer focus on William Walton continues with his much-loved Viola Concerto - a work that had its premiere at the Proms, conducted by the composer and featuring composer and violist Paul Hindemith as soloist. Powerful, often dark music that looks far beyond the pastoral stereotypes. Tonight it is performed by BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist Lise Berthaud.