麻豆社

Live from the Royal Albert Hall, London

Presented by Suzy Klein

East meets West in two visions of India and a portrait of London. Nishat Khan's Sitar Concerto and Vaughan Williams's London Symphony with David Atherton and The 麻豆社 National Orchestra of Wales live at the 麻豆社 Proms.

Holst: Indra
Nishat Khan: The Gate Of The Moon (Sitar Concerto No. 1) (麻豆社 Commission: World Premiere)

19.45 Interval

Vaughan Williams: A London Symphony (Symphony No. 2)

Nishat Khan (sitar)
麻豆社 National Orchestra of Wales
David Atherton (conductor)

Gustav Holst's fascination with Sanskrit literature found early expression in the 1903 tone-poem Indra, composed before the first set of his Hymns from the Rig Veda (heard on Radio 3 in Proms Chamber Music no.5 Monday 12 August 13:00). Sitar virtuoso Nishat Khan is a proms verteran, having first played as a soloist in 1989. This is the first time one of his own compositions has appeard at the Proms. Writing his concerto is a dream come true: "I have a huge love and respect for the Western classical tradition, and it's a daunting challenge to find a way of combining the sitar with this beautiful, gigantic orchestral sound". He's taken a minimalist approach, with soloist partly playing composed lines and partly improvising; somtimes the forces meet in dialogue, sometimes embarking upon rhythmic exploration together, and a lot of interaction. He won't be using other indian instruments, though, rather exploiting the sounds of the orchestra. "I think of Western classical music as a huge ocean with so many different fish, plants and temperatures. Among the elements, he particularly loves the sound of the cello and the oboe, which he says combines beautifully with the sitar, bringing a "piercing nostalgia".

First performed in 1914, Vaughan Williams's A London Symphony evokes the chimes of Westminster, a chill November in Bloomsbury and the bright lights of the Strand in a city that would soon be scarred by war.

First half simulcast on 麻豆社 Asian Network.

An edited version of this Prom will be broadcast on Thursday 15th August at 2pm.