BBC Proms - 1981 (1981)

First of five Sunday night programmes, recorded at this year's Promenade concerts at the Royal Albert Hall. The BBC Symphony Orchestra perform Act 2 of Tchaikovsky's ballet, The Nutcracker. Presented by Richard Baker

In the second of this series of Henry Wood Promenade Concerts recorded at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Itzhak Perlman is the soloist in the Concerto for Violin and Orchestra by Edward Elgar with the BBC Symphony Orchestra leader RODNEY FRIEND conductor Gennadi Rozhdestvensky Introduced by Richard Baker

BBC2 joins with Radio 3 -JL for the whole of tonight s Prom direct from the Royal Albert Hall. In each half, a concerto for two pianos, together with Russian music including a British Premiere of some rarities unearthed by Gennadi Rozhdestvensky , chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra leader BELA DEKANY Peter Frankl (piano) Tamas Vasary (piano) Part 1 Glinka Overture: Ruslan and Ludmilla; Dances from A Life for tne Tsar , Mozart Concerto in E flat, for two Pianos and orchestra (K 365) Introduced by Cormac Rigby

Bartok Concerto for two pianos, percussion and orchestra John Chimes, James Holland (percussion) Johann Strauss Homage to the Russian People; Polka: Nothing Johann Strauss, arr Shostakovich Polka: Excursion Train Youmans, arr Shostakovich Tea for Two (Tahiti Trot)

In the third of this series of Henry Wood Promen ade Concerts recorded at the Royal Albert Hall , London Gennadi Rozhdestvcnsky conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra leader BELA DEKANY This programme of Russian music includes the opera version of Mussorgsky's A Night on the Bare Mountain; Prokofiev's witty cantata, The Ugly Duckling; and Prometheus (The Poem of Fire), Scriabin's exciting score for large orchestra, chorus and solo piano. with Elisabeth Soderstrom (soprano) David Wilson-Johnson (baritone) Victoria Postnikova (piano) BBC SINUERS director JOHN POOLE BBC SYMPHONY CHORUS conductor BRIAN WRIGHT Introduced by Richard Baker

Live from the Proms Stabat Mater for soloists, chorus and orchestra Katia Ricciarelli (soprano) Lucia Valentini-Terrani (mezzo-soprano) Dalmacio Gonzalez (tenor) Ruggero Raimondi (bass) Philharmonia Chorus chorus-master HEINZ MENDE Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Carlo Maria Giulini In one of the most eagerly awaited concerts in the 1981 season, the great Italian conductor leads a distinguished group of performers in ROSSINI'S choral masterpiece. Introduced by PATRICIA HUGHES

The fourth in this series of Henry Wood Promenade Concerts recorded at the Royal Albert Hall, London features The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain conducted by Charles Dutoit The programme includes: Roman Carnival Overture by Berlioz and Stravinsky's ballet score Petrushka in the original 1911 version and a short film shows some members of this young orchestra in rehearsal at their summer school at Ramsgate. Tonight's concert will be, for many, their first performance at the Proms. Introduced by Richard Baker

Chicago Symphony Orchestra plays Beethoven Symphony No 1. The first of three concerts featuring Sir Georg Solti. Under his direction the Chicago Symphony Orchestra has become one of the most dynamic and expressive of the world's orchestras. Tonight's programme was recorded when the orchestra made its first-ever appearance at the London Proms - where it will be returning on Friday.

with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra In another concert from the orchestra's home base in Chicago Sir Georg Solti conducts overtures to The Flying Dutchman, Tannhauser and The Master-singers, and the Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde. Directed by HUMPHREY BURTON

The last in this series of Henry Wood Promenade concerts - features the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Georg Solti in a performance of the Concerto for Orchestra by Bela Bartok Introduced by Richard Baker

Introduced by Richard Baker BBC1 joins Radios 2 and 3 in stereo for the rousing festivities of the second half of tonight's Prom, the climax of the 87th season of Henry Wood Promenade Concerts, live from the Royal Albert Hall. James Loughran conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra leader BELA DEKANY with the Halle Choir Elgar March: Pomp and Circumstance No 1, in D major Malcolm Arnold Orchestral Dances Henry Wood Fantasia on British Sea Songs Parry, orch Elgar Jerusalem

In one of the most adventurous Proms in the 1981 season at the Royal Albert Hall , the three works on the programme were linked thematically by their concern with various forms of ceremony and ritual. Tonight Malcolm Ruthven introduces an edited and adapted recording of that concert. Music for percussion by Harrison Birtwistle For 0, for 0, the Hobby Horse is Forgot played by Les Percussions de Strasbourg 8.32* Music for organ by Olivier Messiaen The Ascension played by Timothy Bond 8.55* Music from Thailand played by the Thai Classical Music Group of Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok Donald Mitchell acts as guide