Last Night of the Proms

Overview

The traditionally festive finale to the Proms season. In this second half Kiri Te Kanawa sings a trio of operatic arias including Ebben? ... Ne andrb lontana by Catalini, familiar from the film Diva. As always the musical celebrations reach a climax with Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No 1, Wood's Fantasia on British Sea-Songs, Arne's Rule, Britannia!and Parry's Jerusalem. Before that, there are overtures by Brahms and Sullivan, and Peter Maxwell Davies's Orkney Weddingwith Sunrise featuring George McIlwham on bagpipes. The BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and the BBC Singers are conducted by Andrew Davis , who says: "I always enjoy a knees-up but, as well as having a party, we try on the last night to reflect the eclectic nature of the whole season. I think tonight's programme is suitably diverse but also full of energy and joie de vivre." Introduced by Richard Baker.