The 2012 BBC Proms sees Daniel Barenboim direct the remarkable West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in his first Beethoven symphony cycle in London - and become the first conductor since Henry Wood in 1942 to survey all nine symphonies in a single Proms season. The release of the complete Beethoven symphonies on Decca sees Barenboim continue his life's passion: to communicate his love of music and its power to change lives. You can hear this sense of urgency in every note he conducts. Just listen to the blazing Finale of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and revel in the joy he creates. If ever there were a conductor trying to tell us something vital, human and true, it's Barenboim.
Symphony No.5 in C minor, Op.67: IV. Allegro is taken from the album Beethoven For All - Symphonies 1 - 9 (Decca).
Soprano Sophie Bevan will join Toby Spence, Simon Callow and the Hallé under Sir Mark Elder in a Prom entitled 'Glamorous Night'. She is currently wowing the critics as Hyacinthus in ‘Apollo et Hyacinthus', the first in an epic series of Mozart operas from the acclaimed Classical Opera. Gramophone described the company's peformance thus: 'with inspiriting conducting, lissom and, where apt, punchy orchestral playing, and first-rate singing from company regulars, their performance of this thoroughly charming intermedio could hardly be bettered.'
Apollo et Hyacinthus - Prologus - V. No. 2, Aria: Saepe terrent Numina is taken from the album Mozart: Apollo et Hyacinthus (Linn).
Pianist Benjamin Grosvenor has come a long way since he made his name as an 11 year old prodigy when he performed at the BBC Young Musician Final. Benjamin returns to the Proms following his sensational debut appearances last year in a performance of Saint-Saëns's bristling Piano Concerto No. 2. His debut recording on Decca was phenomenally successful; it was named 'Editor's Choice' in Gramophone Magazine, 'Instrumental Choice' in BBC Music Magazine and narrowly missed out on a 2012 BBC Music Award.
Scherzo No.1 In B Minor, Op. 20 is taken from the album Chopin, Liszt, Ravel (Decca).
Robin Ticciati's Proms performance is a taster of what is to come when the Scottish Chamber Orchestra Principal Conductor takes over from Vladimir Jurowski at Glyndebourne in 2014. Earlier this year Robin made an unforgettable Linn debut as he directed the award-winning SCO in an all Berlioz programme which saw the young conductor take on the majestic Symphonie Fantastique. The recording was named 'CD of the Week' by Classic FM Radio, 'Classical CD of the Week' by The Sunday Times, Critics' Choice 'Sound of 2012' by The Independent, 'Record of the Month' by Hi-Fi News and 'Disc of the Week' by BBC Radio 3 'CD Review'.
Symphonie Fantastique - IV. Marche au supplice is taken from Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique (Linn).