The 122nd season takes place in London’s Royal Albert Hall and Cadogan Hall over eight weeks

BBC-Proms-2016

New BBC Proms director David Pickard yesterday revealed the festival’s 122nd programme of more than 90 concerts, taking place in London’s Royal Albert Hall and Cadogan Hall over eight weeks from 15 July to 10 September.

The season this year includes a cello focus, with works ranging from Elgar’s Cello Concerto performed by Sol Gabetta (15 July) to the world premiere of Huw Watkins’s Cello Concerto written for and performed by his brother, Paul Watkins (12 August). Also performed will be Dvorák’s Cello Concerto by Alban Gerhardt (3 August), Dutilleux’s ‘Tout un monde lointain’ by Johannes Moser (9 August), the world premiere of Charlotte Bray’s ‘Falling in the Fire’ by Guy Johnston (14 August), Thomas Adès’ ‘Lieux retrouvés’ by Steven Isserlis (15 August), Colin Matthews’ ‘Berceuse for Dresden’ by Leonard Elschenbroich (16 August), Haydn’s Cello Concerto no.1 by Narek Hakhnazaryan (21 August) and Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto no.1 by Truls Mørk (25 August).

Other string players appearing this year include violinists Vadim Gluzman, Augustin Hadelich, Tai Murray, Baiba Skride, Esther Yoo, Thomas Zehetmair and Nikolaj Znaider, and cellist Alisa Weilerstein.

The season also celebrates the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, the legacies of musical pioneers David Bowie and Pierre Boulez, and includes a Latin American Focus. In addition, four special ‘Proms at…’ concerts take place in one-off venues - the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe, Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, Bold Tendencies Multi-Storey Car Park in Peckham and the Roundhouse in Camden.

For full details visit bbc.co.uk/proms.

Read: Cellist Alban Gerhardt on the importance of open string practice

Photo: Bryn Terfel, Katie Derham, Mirga GražinytÄ—-Tyla and Leonard Elschenbroich, who appear at the Proms 2016 © Jonathan Ford