Summary

  • The live commentary below is your definitive guide to the Last Night celebrations

  1. A Caribbean Festivalpublished at 21:35 BST 10 September 2016

    A selection of popular Latin songs arranged by Anne Dudley now – Mucho Corazon (Too Much Heart), Piel canela (Cinnamon Skin), Guantanamera (Guantatamo Girl) and Yerberito modern (modern medicine man). 

    Mucho Corazon is so popular it exists in over 900 arrangements!  

  2. King of the High C'spublished at 21:32 BST 10 September 2016

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  3. In the name of lovepublished at 21:31 BST 10 September 2016

    Donizetti: La fille du régiment - 'Ah! mes amis'

    Military service is a feature in both of the Donizetti arias this evening. In both L'elisir d'amore and La fille du régimen, the young hero signs up to military service in order the win the heart of a woman. 

    No such sacrifice was endured by Donizetti. Unlike his brother Giuseppe, Gaetano's military service was paid off by a rich woman and he was free to stay at home and composer – maybe that's how he managed to complete 65 operas?  

  4. Vocal virtuosity: Juan Diego Flórez hits nine high Cspublished at 21:27 BST 10 September 2016

    Ah! mes amis is the ever popular but notoriously challenging aria from Donizetti's opera La fille du régiment. Listen out for very detailed vocal acrobatics and nine top Cs - right at the top of the tenor range and you'll hear why Juan Diego Flórez is known as a master of this aria. 

    In fact, his performance of Ah! mes amis is so good that he broke a 74 year old 'no encore' tradition at La Scala, Milan to sing it again. Flórez is the only tenor to have performed Ah! mes amis at the Proms, ever!

  5. If music be the food of love, play onpublished at 21:26 BST 10 September 2016

    Proms Shakespeare
    Image caption,

    Original dimensions

    From Tchaikovsky to Vaughan Williams, Mendelssohn to Duke Ellington, composers love their Shakespeare. 

    On the 400th anniversary of the Bard's death, scholar Stanley Wells explores how sound permeates word and why Shakespeare’s characters and scenarios have proved an enduring inspiration for composers across the centuries. 

    Poet, playwright, muse: Celebrating Shakespeare at the BBC Proms

  6. They serenaded you...published at 21:23 BST 10 September 2016

    That performance of Vaughan Williams' Serenade to Music has certainly wooed many in the audience.

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  7. Performed 26 times since 1939published at 21:13 BST 10 September 2016

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    Vaughan Williams used text from Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice (Act 5, Sc.1) to create this gorgeous Serenade to Music.

  8. From the archive...published at 21:11 BST 10 September 2016

    Jump to 2:40 to watch Henry Wood rehearse Vaughan Williams' Serenade to Music in the presence of the composer.

  9. Serenade to Music: Celebrating Proms founder Sir Henry Woodpublished at 21:07 BST 10 September 2016

    Ralph Vaughan Williams wrote Serenade to Music to celebrate the 50th conducting anniversary of Proms founder Sir Henry Wood. When Vaughan Williams wrote Serenade to Music in 1938, he worked with Sir Henry to handpick 16 the finest singers based in Britain for whom the piece was specifically written. Their voices were in the composer's thoughts as he wrote the music.

    The original line up included some of the most eminent singers of the day... 

    Sopranos: Dame Isobel Baillie, Lilian Stiles-Allen, Elsie Suddaby, Eva Turner

    Contraltos: Muriel Brunskill, Astra Desmond, Mary Jarred, Margaret Balfour

    Tenors: Heddle Nash, Frank Titterton, Walter Widdop, Gwynn Parry Jones

    Baritones: Harold Williams, Roy Henderson 

    Basses: Robert Easton, Norman Allin

    This evening, 16 of the most exciting singing talent have been handpicked to perform the Serenade. They are:

    Sopranos: Francesca Chiejina, Lauren Fagan, Alison Rose, Eve Daniell

    Mezzo sopranos: Marta Fontanals-Simmons, Katie Stevenson, Anna Harvey, Claire Barnett-Jones

    Tenors: Joshua Owen Mills, Oliver Johnston, James Way, Trystan Llyr Griffiths 

    Baritones: James Newby, Benjamin Lewis,  Bradley Travis (bass baritone) 

    Bass: Bragi Jónsson

  10. Colour me musicalpublished at 21:00 BST 10 September 2016

    xylophone_corbis_crop.jpg
    Image caption,

    Synaesthesia makes colour a more multi-sensory affair (Corbis)

    A number of famous artists have experienced synaesthesia – a union of the senses. BBC Culture explores its history and what it means to have the condition.

    BBC Culture: How synaesthesia inspires artists

  11. Torke: Javelinpublished at 20:56 BST 10 September 2016

    First up is Javelin, by American composer Michael Torke, which was performed at the opening ceremony of the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. 

    Michael Torke has synaesthesia, a neurological condition which blends the senses and often leads to very strong associations of musical key with colour. Other famous synaesthete composers were Leonard Bernstein, Franz Liszt and Olivier Messiaen.  

    Michael TorkeImage source, Bryan Hainer
  12. Baton at the ready!published at 20:55 BST 10 September 2016

    Take your seats, put away those sweet wrappers – the second half is about to begin...

  13. Moving musical tribute to Nicepublished at 20:49 BST 10 September 2016

    As we draw to the end of two amazing months of music, let us remember the moment that defined the Proms 2016 opening night on 15th July. 

    Almost 6,000 people stood together to remember the victims of the Nice attack that had taken place the day before. In tribute, the BBC Symphony Orchestra played La Marseillaise. This Facebook video of the moment, external has been viewed over three million times.  

  14. Proms preparationspublished at 20:44 BST 10 September 2016

    Juan Diego Flórez in the make up chair
    Image caption,

    Juan Diego Flórez in the make up chair

    Jonathan Riches (tuba) and Jenny King (violin) from the BBC Symphony Orchestra getting into the spirit
    Image caption,

    Jonathan Riches (tuba) and Jenny King (violin) from the BBC Symphony Orchestra getting into the spirit

    Radio 3 presenter Clemency Burton-Hill getting the traditional carnation in place
    Image caption,

    Radio 3 presenter Clemency Burton-Hill getting the traditional carnation in place

  15. Orchestral manoeuvres in the Parkspublished at 20:40 BST 10 September 2016

    Don’t forget you can watch video highlights of the Proms in the Park events from across the day in our other live coverage. Tune in for unmissable performances from Belfast, Colwyn Bay, Glasgow and London.

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  16. If you're good enough, you're old enoughpublished at 20:34 BST 10 September 2016

    Gwydion Rhys

    And in another remarkable story that must surely make him one of the youngest conductors at the Proms, a 13-year-old boy will conduct the orchestra for part of BBC Proms in the Park in Colwyn Bay tonight.

    Gwydion Rhys, from Bethesda, made such an impression at a workshop earlier this year, he has been invited back for the main event. Gwydion will take the conductor's podium for a special performance of Richard Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries".

  17. Some more Proms facts...published at 20:30

    The youngest conductor this season was 26 year old Alpesh Chauhan and the oldest was 89 year old Herbert Blomstedt. Take a look at some of our other vital statistics, you guys eat a LOT of ice cream!  

    Proms infographic
  18. Did you know?published at 20:28 BST 10 September 2016

    Jonathan Dove, whose piece is being performed now, is the composer behind the music for the Proms TV coverage.  

  19. Bit more Britten for you...published at 20:26 BST 10 September 2016

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  20. Jonathan Dove: Our revels now are endedpublished at 20:23 BST 10 September 2016

    We're almost at the interval, time for one more piece and it's a world premiere of this new arrangement of Our Revels Now Are Ended by Jonathan Dove

    Dove sets Prospero's words from The Tempest and it's the first of our Shakespeare-inspired pieces this evening. Originally written in 2004, Jonathan Dove has reworked the piece for larger forces this evening. Duncan Rock is the baritone.