The Glasshouse International Centre for Music Unveils Line-Up for BBC Proms Weekend
Building on the success of last summer’s festival weekend in Gateshead, this year BBC Proms makes a resounding return to the place where music lives and grows, The Glasshouse.
The weekend in July is part of a series of BBC Proms weekends happening in July, August, and September across Gateshead, Bristol and Nottingham. They promise a musical extravaganza celebrating everything loved about classical music – inclusion, innovation, and pure joy for all ages. Audiences can dive into the magic with four unique orchestras – Royal Northern Sinfonia in Gateshead, BBC Concert Orchestra in Nottingham, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and the Paraorchestra in Bristol – at their core.
Kicking off BBC Proms at The Glasshouse on Friday 26 July, audiences are in for an unforgettable night with conductor Dinis Sousa at the helm of Royal Northern Sinfonia, performing one of the most recognisable works for violin, Sibelius’s Violin Concerto with Alena Baeva, described by the New York Classical Review as “a magnetic presence”. In the same concert, audiences will enjoy the charming elegance of Germaine Tailleferre's Petite suite pour orchestra, characterised by its subtle playfulness and graceful melodies. Then, a moment of anticipation builds during the interval for the grand finale; audiences will be swept away by the exuberance of Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 8, a breathtaking symphonic masterpiece.
And that’s just the beginning. Popular BBC presenters Sarah Mohr-Pietsch and Hannah Peel host the 11pm Night Tracks Live with Hannah Peel and Beibei Wang and Hania Rani joining the line-up, alongside a sextet from Royal Northern Sinfonia, led by Maria Włoszczowska. Expect an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for all night owls out there.
Saturday 27 July promises to be a day filled with soulful beats and contemporary collaborations as the immensely talented jazz, soul, alternative Grammy-nominated musician Jordan Rakei joins forces with Royal Northern Sinfonia and conductor Robert Ames, bringing new arrangements from his latest album The Loop and previous releases.
At 10pm that night, don’t miss the very first BBC Introducing Live at the Proms, featuring artists who’ve emerged through BBC Introducing, celebrating fresh and exciting music creation. Additionally, a BBC Introducing concourse stage will feature new independent artists from the North East and beyond.
On the final day, audiences can be uplifted by Voices of the Rivers Edge, a dynamic choir comprised of young singers from the North East, making a triumphant return. Having graced the stages of BBC Proms events for the past two years, they bring their captivating performances back to the stage. Under the direction of Ellie Slorach, their afternoon family Prom titled 'Fantasy, Myths, and Legends,' will transport audiences to a world of enchantment with music from iconic films like Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones, featuring compositions by John Williams, Mussorgsky, Joe Hisaishi, Edvard Grieg, and Howard Shore.
The weekend is wrapped up with a flourish at 3pm on the Sunday with Daniel Pioro & Friends. This performance brings together violinist Daniel Pioro with soprano Ruby Hughes, harpsichordist David Gordon, and cellist Clare O'Connell for a delightful performance.
But that’s not all. The BBC Open Music Trainees will be teaming up with The Glasshouse team to curate a Saturday evening concert like no other. They will transform the concourse into a vibrant space and utilise the Northern Rock Foundation Hall as a BBC Radio 3 broadcast hub over the weekend, as well as programming the BBC Introducing Live at the Proms concert.
Young music enthusiasts from across the North and the UK will also have the chance to participate in workshops led by a prominent composer, diving into the works of music creation.
Radio 3 will also set up shop at The Glasshouse, broadcasting during the celebratory weekend. This move lets them soak up all the excitement and buzz from performers and audiences, as well as diving into behind-the-scenes action.
Abigail Pogson, Managing Director at The Glasshouse said: “Collaborating with BBC Proms for a second festival for the North East is something to really shout about. And this year it'll be the first time as The Glasshouse International Centre for Music. Our programme brings an abundance of musical talent across musical genres with our very own orchestra Royal Northern Sinfonia at the heart of the weekend. With artists ranging from Hania Rani, Hannah Peel and Beibei Wang to Jordan Rakei, Royal Northern Sinfonia, youth choir VOTRE and emerging North East artists, there’s something for everyone. Music lives and grows at The Glasshouse and we can’t wait to welcome audiences to The Glasshouse and via BBC Radio 3 to the festival.
Sam Jackson, Controller, Radio 3 and BBC Proms said: “Following last year’s hugely successful BBC Proms Gateshead, I am delighted we’re returning for another weekend festival at the Glasshouse International Centre for Music. Audiences in the North-East of England can look forward to a programme bursting with Proms flavour and local talent, including the welcome return of the Royal Northern Sinfonia and the Voices of the River’s Edge community youth choir, and the BBC Proms debut of rising star Jordan Rakei. For those who can’t join us in Gateshead, every note will be broadcast on Radio 3 and BBC Sounds.”
BBC Proms at The Glasshouse takes place from Friday 26 July to Sunday 28 July 2024. Tickets for all events, including promming (standing) tickets, will go on sale at 12noon on Thursday 25 April.
Image: Dinis Sousa, Principal Conductor, Royal Northern Sinfonia
