Prom 40 – Vasily Petrenko Conducts The RPO

Part of the BBC Proms.

Following his award-winning Prokofiev symphony cycle with the Oslo Philharmonic, conductor Vasily Petrenko and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra bring the composer’s wartime Symphony No. 5 to the Proms. The music’s hope for the ‘free and happy’ human soul is tempered by twitching martial rhythms and louring brass threats. An all-American first half features the delicate, folk-infused nationalism of Copland’s Appalachian Springsuite, followed by the bluesy colours and jazz-inspired rhythms of centenary composer George Walker’s 1957 Trombone Concerto.