Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Part 1 | 20090803 | From the Royal Albert Hall, London. Presented by Tom Service. Principal conductor Thierry Fischer brings the BBC National Orchestra of Wales to the Proms to perform music by Berlioz as well as the premiere of a new triple concerto by his Swiss compatriot, Michael Jarrell. Co-commissioned by the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, it brings together a trio of the finest woodwind players. Sillages refers to the wake a ship makes through water, and likewise the lines of the three soloists leave a trail of orchestra sound behind them. Emmanuel Pahud (flute) Francois Leleux (oboe) Paul Meyer (clarinet) Thierry Fischer (conductor) Berlioz: Overture (Les francs-juges) Michael Jarrell: Sillages (BBC co-commission; world premiere). BBCNOW/Thierry Fischer in Berlioz: Overture (Les francs-juges). Michael Jarrell: Sillages. |
| 02 | Part 2 | 20090803 | From the Royal Albert Hall, London. Presented by Tom Service. The BBC National Orchestra of Wales' Prom continues, as the Royal Albert Hall is filled with 33 wind players, 36 brass and 20 percussionists to give full dramatic effect to Berlioz's Symphonie funebre et triomphale. Written to commemorate the fallen heroes of the French Revolution of 1830, Berlioz himself conducted it with a military band of 200 (though that was for the open air). It begins with a funeral march followed by a funeral oration given by a solo trombone, before the final hymn of praise. Emmanuel Pahud (flute) Francois Leleux (oboe) Paul Meyer (clarinet) Thierry Fischer (conductor) Berlioz: Symphonie funebre et triomphale. Presented by Tom Service. BBCNOW in Berlioz: Symphonie funebre et triomphale. |
| 03 | Part 3 | 20090803 | From the Royal Albert Hall, London. Tom Service presents the conclusion of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales' Prom, featuring a performance of Beethoven's Eroica, which was initially inspired by the composer's hero, Napoleon, directing world events at the forefront of the French Revolution. The composer baulked at giving it the title Bonaparte when Napoleon proclaimed himself Emperor, but the idea of celebrating great revolutionary ideals lived on. Emmanuel Pahud (flute) Francois Leleux (oboe) Paul Meyer (clarinet) Thierry Fischer (conductor) Beethoven: Symphony No 3 (Eroica). Presented by Tom Service. BBCNOW in Beethoven: Symphony No 3 (Eroica). |