Details out this morning of the third Bristol Proms, a Universal-backed alternative to the BBC menu:

(press release)

Bristol Old Vic, 27^th July – 1^st August

Tickets on sale now from £5

 

The most innovative classical music festival in the UK – Bristol Proms – returns to Bristol Old Vic this July to bring together today’s leading musicians for imaginative and accessible performances of the highest creative standards.

 

Now in its third year, Bristol Proms has firmly established itself in the cultural calendar of Bristol and the UK as an unmissable opportunity to see world famous classical musicians perform in the exquisite environment of Bristol Old Vic, the oldest continuously open theatre in the UK.

 

For another year, the primary media partner for Bristol Proms is Classic FM.  The station will be based in Bristol all week, with presenters Tim Lihoreau, John Suchet, Anne-Marie Minhall and John Brunning broadcasting live from Bristol Old Vic. There will also be extensive online coverage of the festival at ClassicFM.com, including video interviews with all headline performers.

 

Bristol Proms 2015 will open in suitably bold and rousing style with the first performance anywhere of the winner of the Bristol Fanfare Competition, making Bristol the first city in the country to have its very own official fanfare. Commissioned by Bristol Proms, the fanfare is Bristol Proms’ very special gift to its home city to honour Bristol’s upcoming 800^th birthday.

 

This year’s programme builds further on Bristol Proms’ growing reputation for giving leading artists the space and freedom to engage with audiences of all ages and all levels of experience of classical music. Demonstrating the popularity and distinctive appeal of Bristol Proms to artists as well as audiences, for many of this year’s performers their appearance at Bristol Proms 2015 marks a return visit.

 

Highlights of Bristol Proms 2015 include:

• Miloš Karadaglić makes his Bristol Proms debut with ‘From Bach To The Beatles’, an intimate insight into the world’s most charismatic classical guitarist with a programme including a Bach Chaconne, Spanish classics, cool Latin music and brand new Beatles arrangements.
• The UK’s top trumpeter Alison Balsom will headline Bristol Proms 2015’s Wednesday nightprogramme with a performance in which she will be accompanied by a quartet featuring two trumpets, a cello and a harpsichord.
• Following her show stopping performance of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas by candlelight last year Pumeza Matshikiza returns for ‘My Life In Song’, a musical conversation and performance with Charles Hazelwood and his Bristol Proms Chamber Orchestra, including arias from Turandot, Carmen and Madam Butterfly, timeless South African folk songs and Pumeza’s own Xhosa poetry.
• Violinist Daniel Hope who once more returns to Bristol Proms, this year performing with a hand-picked ensemble of five to play the story of the fierce rivalry between Tchaikovsky and Brahms.

 

A full list of confirmed performances for Bristol Proms 2015 is below. Further artists and special events will continue to be announced in the coming months, ensuring that Bristol Proms 2015 is the most successful yet, keeping alive the spirited and vivid traditions of the 18^th and 19^thcentury Proms held at Bristol Old Vic to bring exciting and accessible music to life with ticket prices starting at just £5.

 

Tom Morris, Artistic Director of Bristol Old Vic: “Bristol Proms was imagined 3 years ago as a bold experiment to find ways to reintroduce classical music as an art form which touches the hearts of anyone who listens.  We’ll use any tactics: state of the art technologies to access music in different ways, live interactive evenings, or intimate performances in total darkness.  Nothing is out of bounds at Bristol Proms.  This year, we’re pushing this further – taking music into the city, schools and to the next generation of artists and audiences. All this alongside some of the world’s greatest living musicians in the magical setting of our historic theatre.”

 

Dickon Stainer, President of Global Classics, Universal Music Group, said: “Bristol Proms has become an essential fixture and a beloved event in the UK cultural calendar. The feedback we’ve seen from our artists has been incredibly positive, demonstrating amply that Bristol Proms truly is something special. Bristol Proms is a wonderful festival for classical artists and classical music and I congratulate Tom Morris, Ingrid Sutej and the U-live team on another outstanding programme.”

 

Sam Jackson, Managing Editor, Classic FM, said: “Once again, Classic FM will play a central role in Bristol Proms. This world-class festival shares our vision and passion to make classical music available to everyone and we look forward to broadcasting live from Bristol Old Vic in July.”

 

Bristol Proms 2015 runs from 27^th July to 1^st August and features some of the world’s finest musicians including Alison Balsom, Miloš Karadaglić, Pumeza Matshikiza and Daniel Hope. More details of Bristol Proms 2015 can be found at:  www.bristolproms.com.

 

BRISTOL PROMS 2015 CONFIRMED PERFORMANCES

 

Monday 27^th July

 

DANIEL HOPE: TCHAIKOVSKY VS BRAHMS

 

Mr Bristol Proms returns to play the story of the fierce rivalry between two musical giants of the 19^th century Tchaikovsky and Brahms. The programme for this intimate performance will include Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence and Brahms’ String Quintet Opus 111, heard in the context of an ideological war that went to the heart of the romantic movement.

 

Bristol Old Vic Theatre: 7.30pm

 

SACCONI QUARTET: BEETHOVEN’S OPUS 131 IN THE DARK

 

Continuing Bristol Proms tradition of kicking off the week with an intense auditory indulgence, the Sacconi Quartet perform Beethoven’s dramatic Opus 131 from memory in the dark and the half-light.

 

Bristol Old Vic Studio: 6.45pm

 

JON JAMES: BEETHOVEN UNWRAPPED

Bristol Proms associate Jonathan James returns to deliver six talks in the Bristol Old Vic Studio, exploring the beauty and secrets of this year’s programme and providing fascinating insights into the worlds of music and artistry for both newcomers and aficionados alike.

 

Bristol Old Vic Studio: 5.45pm

 

Tuesday 28^th July

 

PUMEZA: MY LIFE IN SONG

 

An emotional journey through the unique musical life of the virtuoso soprano Pumeza Matshikiza.  Reflecting upon her South African roots Pumeza will share her folk music heritage as well as launch into the operatic repertoire that made her famous.  Pumeza will be joined by her early collaborator Charles Hazlewood and his Bristol Proms Chamber Orchestra. The programme will include arias from Turandot, Carmen and Madam Butterfly as well as timeless South African folk songs such as O Lili Lili Ha Lulu and Pumeza’s own Xhosa poetry.

 

Bristol Old Vic Theatre: 7.30pm

 

JON JAMES: A HISTORY OF CLASSICAL MUSIC IN 60 MINS

 

Fascinating insights for newcomers and the initiated.

 

Bristol Old Vic Studio: 6pm

 

Wednesday 29^th July

 

LATE NIGHT TRUMPET WITH ALISON BALSOM

 

A late evening of immersive trumpetry, conceived by Alison Balsom and Adam Wright, featuring the music of Franceschini, Bach, Handel, Britten and Stravinsky and played on up to a dozen trumpets with harpsichord & cello continuo.

 

Bristol Old Vic Theatre: 9.30pm

 

PURE MINIMALIST BAROQUE: HAKON AND MARI SAMUELSEN WITH SINFONIA CYMRU

 

The new embaces the old in this astonishing programme interweaving the pure melodic structure of Bach with the intricate patterns of Philip Glass and Giovanni Sollima.  The evening is conceived by the meteoric Samuelsen siblings from Norway, accompanied by the virtuosic young talent of Sinfonia Cymru.

 

Bristol Old Vic Theatre: 7.30pm

 

JON JAMES: PATTERNS IN MUSIC

 

Fascinating insights for newcomers and the initiated.

 

Bristol Old Vic Studio: 6pm

 

Thursday 30^th July

 

ORCHESTRA OF THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT: THE NIGHT SHIFT

 

The Night Shift comes to Bristol Proms for the very first time. Two 30 minute sets from the musicians of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment featuring the music of one of England’s finest composers – Henry Purcell. This is music that’ll make your feet tap, stir your soul and touch your emotions, and importantly also accompanies a nice ale very well – Henry was after all, a great fan of the pub. It’s all set inside the Bristol Old Vic’s atmospheric Paintshop which will be transformed into a cabaret club complete with its own bar.

 

Bristol Old Vic Paintshop: 9.45pm

 

Friday 31^st July

 

MILOŠ KARADAGLIĆ: FROM BACH TO THE BEATLES

 

A unique insight into the process, journey and musical passions of the world’s most charismatic classical guitarist, Miloš Karadaglić. The programme for this very special performance will include Spanish classics, cool Latin, a Bach Chaconne plus a brand new Beatles arrangement.

 

Bristol Old Vic Theatre: 7.30pm

 

JON JAMES: THE STORY OF THE GUITAR, FROM MANDOLIN TO STRATOCASTER

 

Fascinating insights for newcomers and the initiated.

 

Bristol Old Vic Studio: 6pm

 

Saturday 1^st August

 

THE EREBUS ENSEMBLE: SONGS OF HOPE – IN 40 VOICES

 

The grand finale performance of Bristol Proms 2015 is a luscious experiment in surround-sound choral music inspired by the revolutionary polyphonic Tallis piece Spem in Alium (Hope in Any Other) for 40 voices: composed in an age where 4 or 5 voices was the norm. The Erebus Ensemble return to wrap the audience in rousing polyphony and alongside the magnificent ancient songs of Tallis and Striggio the programme will feature brand new commissions composed especially for this evening and this unique surround-sound experience.

 

Bristol Old Vic Theatre: 7.30pm

 

JON JAMES:

 

Fascinating insights for newcomers and the initiated.

 

Bristol Old Vic Studio: 6pm

 

JOHN RUTTER:  IN CONVERSATION WTH JOHN SUCHET.

 

In the year of his seventieth birthday, the great British choral Composer John Rutter will select some of the pieces of music which have most inspired him, and some of his own compositions which now seem to him the cornerstones and turning points of an extraordinary career in composition.

 

Interviewed and hosted by the great musical wit and raconteur John Suchet, and resented in association with Classic FM.