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Ulster Orchestra at the BBC Proms
 The Ulster Orchestra head to the Royal Albert Hall to perform at the BBC Proms on 4 August. | 1 August 2012 Ulster Orchestra at the BBC Proms Ulster Orchestra players and their junior counterparts in the Ulster Youth Orchestra head to London this Friday (3 August) for the BBC Proms, where they will combine – along with Sir James Galway – to give the world première of local composer Elaine Agnew’s work Dark Hedges. Working on the piece for two orchestras and solo flute has been challenging, especially as it contains a total of 160 separate orchestral parts. However, its composer, County Antrim–born Elaine Agnew, says, “I am so excited about having a world première at the Proms. This is my first ever performance in the Royal Albert Hall, and to have the première at such a major event is massively thrilling!” She continues, “My starting point for the piece and its title is the ancient avenue of mature beech trees near the village of Armoy, County Antrim. Over the past 250 years or so, the trees have guarded both sides of the road, reaching up and across to each other, becoming heavily intertwined to create a mystical arched tunnel where shadows and light play through the branches.” Equally excited is JoAnn Falletta, the Orchestra’s Principal Conductor: “There surely is no music festival anywhere that is as prestigious, or cherished as the Proms,” she says. “Our August 4 performance will certainly be a benchmark in my artistic life, and I am proud to appear as the principal conductor of the superb Ulster Orchestra making its 11th Proms appearance.” Over the course of the weekend, the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland will perform jointly with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and the National Youth Orchestra of Wales will perform with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain plays on the evening of 4 August, with the Northern Irish players performing that afternoon.The Ulster Youth Orchestra will open the concert with a performance of Chabrier’s España, followed by the Ulster Orchestra and Sir James Galway giving a performance of Mozart’s famous Flute Concerto in D. The Ulster Youth Orchestra will then join their professional counterparts with Sir James for the world première of Dark Hedges by Elaine Agnew, and will then end the concert with Stravinsky’s Firebird (1911 version.) The Concert is at 2pm and will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and on BBC iPlayer.
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