| Main Performers | Julie Boulianne,
Jean-Paul Fouchécourt,
Laurent Naouri - vocals |
| Orchestra or Band | Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique |
| Choirs | Monteverdi Choir
National Youth Choir of Scotland (from the gallery) |
| Set List | 'Romeo and Juliet' (sung in French), Berlioz |
| Performance Notes | When Hector Berlioz got his first taste of Shakespeare in 1827, he not only fell for the whole heaven of art in the Bards verse, he also fell madly in love with the actress Harriet Smithson. Shakespeare inspired a string of works from this most literary and dramatic of composers, including the ardent choral symphony Romeo and Juliet.
Proms debuts of Julie Boulianne and Laurent Naouri.
Recorded for broadcast on BBC Four on 31 July 2016.
There was no interval.
"The nasal and nutty timbres of early 19th-century instruments; the unexpected use of the space, with semi-choruses in the gallery and antique cymbal players popping up at the front of the orchestra; the restoration of Berlioz's discarded second prologue in Oliver Knussen's clever orchestration; all this was effective. It was Gardiner's own approach, however, that mattered most. A score sometimes dismissed diffuse and uneven suddenly seemed like one of the mightiest cornerstones of romanticism"
(The Times, 1 August 2016)
Standing ovation at the end of the concert. |
| Related Archival Material | Proms Guide (RAHE/1/2016/50),
Programme (RAHE/1/2016/69),
Mini-Guide (RAHE/6/2016/45),
Digital Photographs |