In Thursday’s (4/18) Guardian (London), Charlotte Higgins writes, “A complete Ring cycle conducted by Daniel Barenboim, making his UK debut as a Wagnerian, will be a highlight of the 119th BBC Proms season this summer—which will also be the first festival in its history to have the last night conducted by a woman. Marin Alsop will take the baton for the evening of celebration in the Royal Albert Hall on 7 September, leading the BBC Symphony Orchestra through the mix of traditional favourites, including the Londonderry Air and Parry’s Jerusalem, as well as a new work by US-based British composer Anna Clyne and star turns from violinist Nigel Kennedy and mezzo soprano Joyce DiDonato. … Renowned as a confident, warm communicator, Alsop, a New Yorker, is a former chief conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and now leads the symphony orchestras of Baltimore and São Paulo. … This year will be the first to see Proms broadcast not only on Radio 3 as usual, but also, for selected events, on Radios 1, 1Xtra, 4 Extra and 6 Music.”
Posted April 22, 2013
