Proms 2026 Boléro: Rhythms of Spain - BBC Proms

19 Jul 2026, Royal Albert Hall

19:00 Sun 19 Jul 2026 Next Event

Boléro: Rhythms of Spain

19:00 Sun 19 Jul 2026 Royal Albert Hall

The Spanish National Orchestra makes its Proms debut with a set of heat-soaked musical postcards that includes Ravel’s hypnotic Boléro and Rodrigo’s much-loved Concierto de Aranjuez with guitar phenomenon Rafael Aguirre as soloist

Programme

- - Maurice Ravel
  - Alborada del gracioso(8 mins)
- - Manuel de Falla
  - Fantasia baetica(12 mins)orch. Francisco Coll
- - Joaquín Rodrigo
  - Concierto de Aranjuez(21 mins)
- - interval
- - Manuel de Falla
  - The Three-Cornered Hat – Suite No. 1(12 mins)
  - The Three-Cornered Hat – Suite No. 2(12 mins)
- - Maurice Ravel
  - Boléro(13 mins)

Performers

Rafael Aguirre
guitar
guitar
Spanish National Orchestra
David Afkham
conductor
conductor

Composers

About This Event

The Spanish National Orchestra makes its Proms debut under Chief Conductor David Afkham, bringing with it a set of heat-soaked musical postcards. Spanish guitar phenomenon Rafael Aguirre joins the ensemble for Rodrigo’s much-loved Concierto de Aranjuez – an elegant, idealised vision of Spain’s past. The orchestra transforms itself into a giant guitar in two Ravel classics: the pulsing seguidilla serenade Alborada del gracioso and the hypnotic thrum of Boléro. The adventures of a miller, his beautiful young wife and an amorous magistrate become a vivid series of dances in music from Manuel de Falla’s ballet The Three-Cornered Hat.

Recorded for broadcast on BBC TV and BBC iPlayer

Rafael Aguirre © Liz Isles