BBC Proms 1997: Episode Guide & Ratings

The BBC Proms season opens at the Royal Albert Hall with a live transmission in simultaneous broadcast with Radio 3 of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, the first of ten concerts screened on BBC TV this summer. Guest conductor Bernard Haitink returns to the Proms to conduct the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and BBC Singers, with soloists Karita Mattila (soprano), Catherine Wyn-Rogers (mezzo-soprano), Herbert Lippert (tenor) and Anthony Michaels-Moore (baritone). Introduced by James Naughtie.

The BBC Proms season continues tonight from the Royal Albert Hall in London with this live transmission, introduced by Michael Berkeley. Principal guest conductor Jiri Belohlavek conducts the BBC Symphony Chorus and Orchestra in Johannes Brahms's Song of the Fates and Franz Schubert's Mass in Flat Major. The soloists are Rosa Mannion (soprano), Stella Doufexis (mezzo-soprano), Toby Spence (tenor) and Nathan Berg (bass baritone). Between these two pieces, the French pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet plays Chopin's folk-inspired Piano Concerto No 2 in F Minor.

In the first of four Proms recorded for BBC television, James Naughtie introduces a concert performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta, given at London's Royal Albert Hall last Saturday. Their last great collaboration, The Gondoliers tells a story of baby-swapping, kidnapping and mistaken identity in exuberant and colourful style, and remains one of their most popular works. Including songs such as Take Pair of Sparkling Eyes and Dance a Cachucha. Featuring the BBC Singers and Concert Orchestra conducted by Barry Wordsworth.

In the second of four Proms recorded for BBC television James Naughtie introduces Beethoven's Symphony No 6 in F (Pastoral), recorded at the Royal Albert Hall on 30 July, and David Attenborough talks about the enduring relationship between music and nature. Mark Wigglesworth conducts the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in Beethoven's sensitive portrait of the countryside, integrating birdsong, peasant dancing and storms into a highly sophisticated symphony that has become one the favourites of the concert repertoire.

In the third of four Proms recorded for BBC television, James Naughtie introduces two popular pieces of musical storytelling, Tchaikovsky's Overture: Romeo and Juliet and Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, recorded at London's Royal Albert Hall on 14 August. Valery Gergiev conducts the Kirov Orchestra which is making its first appearance at the Proms.

The BBC Proms season continues with this live broadcast from the Royal Albert Hall. Tonight's concert features the Dallas Symphony Orchestra on its first European tour, conducted by Andrew Litton, the new music director. The orchestra performs Roy Harris's Symphony No 3, Samuel Barber's beautiful Violin Concerto, featuring the charismatic young soloist Joshua Bell, and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No 5 in E minor. The interval, filmed in Dallas, shows how the orchestra has made its mark on this all-American city.

The last of four Proms recorded for television at London's Royal Albert Hall, introduced by James Naughtie. One of the most popular and challenging pieces in the concert-pianist's repertoire, Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor, is performed by Leeds International Piano Competition winner Ilya Itin, with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Vassily Sinaisky. As a contrast to the Scandinavian folk themes of Grieg's work, the concert also includes Capriccio italien, Tchaikovsky's portrait of a trip to Southern Europe.

Michael Berkeley introduces a live broadcast from the Royal Albert Hall , London, featuring the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, conducted by their music director Riccardo Chailly. The orchestra performs the UK premiere of Three Preludes by Tristan Keuris, a leading Dutch composer who died last year, and Rachmaninov's popular Piano Concerto No 2 in C minor, with the talented young Russian pianist Arkady Volodos in the spotlight. The evening concludes with The Dance of the Seven Veils from the Richard Strauss opera Salome, preceded by Bartok's Miraculous Mandarin. The interval, filmed partly in Budapest, explores the background to Bartok's spectacular ballet score.

The BBC Proms season continues with this live broadcast from the Royal Albert Hall. Georg Solti, one of the world's greatest conductors, returns to the Proms to conduct Verdi's Requiem, with soloists Michele Crider (soprano), Olga Borodina (mezzo-soprano), Frank Lopardo (tenor) and Rene Pape (bass), the London Voices, the London Symphony Chorus and the London Symphony Orchestra. Introduced by James Naughtie.

James Naughtie hosts the annual classical-music celebration live from London Royal Albert Hall. In this first instalment there are traditional favourites by Wagner, Handel, Brahms -the centenary of whose death is this year- and Messiaen. Scottish composer Judith Weir 's choral work Sanctus is also premiered.

James Naughtie with live coverage of the second half oftonight's concert. The BBC Symphony Orchestra under Andrew Davis perform Fanfare for Orchestra by John Adams , Gershwin's Variations on "/ Got Rhythm" Britten's Irish Reel, and an aria from Weber's opera Der Freischutz. Then it's the traditional finale including Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No 1 in D, Sir Henry Wood 's Fantasia on British Sea-Songs, Arne's Rule Britannia! and Parry's Jerusalem before the National Anthem brings the night to a close.