Radio 2 At The Proms

~Radio 2 At The Proms - Ken Bruce and Petroc Trelawny prove that Wednesday Night is Music Night as they present a treasure of British light music classics performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra live from the BBC Proms.

Have you brushed the dust off your wellies from Glastonbury? Good - then get ready for a whole new musical taste experience as Radio 2 takes you to the Proms. Never been before? Scared of classical music? Well don't be - as Radio 2's own Ken Bruce is on hand with Radio 3's Petroc Trelawny to guide you through some of our finest British light music.

This year the Proms will be broadcast on more BBC platforms than ever. BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra, Radio 2, Radio 3, 4 Extra, 6 Music and the Asian Network are all hosting their own BBC Proms.

Tonight's concert has a regal theme to tie in with the 60th anniversary of the Queen's Coronation and has music fit for every royal occasion. The programme includes: - Elgar's Nursery Suite dedicated to the royal princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose and their mother the then Duchess of York; Crown Imperial by William Walton - originally sketched out as a Coronation March for Edward VIII but then following the abdication hastily re-shaped for the Coronation of George VI and then used again at the Queen's Coronation in 1953.

There is also music from Eric Coates' Three Elizabeth Suite - three movements each depicting a musical picture of a royal Elizabeth - Elizabeth I; Elizabeth of Glamis and the young Princess Elizabeth. Plus a performance of a piano concerto composed by Malcolm Arnold for three hands at two pianos. Arnold wrote it for his friends husband and wife duo Cyril Smith and Phyllis Sellick after Cyril lost the use of his left side following a stroke.

The concert draws to a fine conclusion with a Friday Night is Music Night favourite - Gordon Langford's medley - Say It With Music - a paean to the radio signature tune with memorable themes like The Archers; Hancock's Half Hour; Monday Night at Eight;Music While You Work; Mrs Dale's Diary; the Navy Lark; ITMA and Two Way Family Favourites.

The BBC Concert Orchestra is conducted by their conductor laureate Barry Wordsworth and the piano soloists are Noriko Ogawa and Kathryn Stott.

Ken Bruce and Petroc Trelawny present British light music treasures.

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