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First Night of the Proms 2026

Live at the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Proms: piano superstar Yunchan Lim joins conductor Dalia Stasevska and massed Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ forces to launch the 2026 season in a concert of Copland, Gershwin and Ravel.

Live at the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Proms: piano superstar Yunchan Lim joins the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Symphony Chorus and Orchestra, the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Singers and conductor Dalia Stasevska in a concert of Copland, Gershwin and Ravel.

Presented by Petroc Trelawny and Georgia Mann, live from the Royal Albert Hall, London.

Aaron Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man
George Gershwin: An American in Paris
Maurice Ravel: Piano Concerto in G major

c.7.40pm
Interval: Georgia and Petroc chat to the some of the artists in tonight's opening concert.

c.8.00pm
Josephine Stephenson: That the sunrise not leave us unmoved - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ commission: world premiere
Gerald Finzi: For St Cecilia

Yunchan Lim, piano
Thomas Atkins, tenor
Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Singers
Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Symphony Chorus
Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Symphony Orchestra
Dalia Stasevska, conductor

Dalia Stasevska and massed Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ forces launch the 2026 season with an American accent. The widescreen vision of Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man zooms in to teeming city streets in Gershwin’s ‘rhapsodic ballet’ An American in Paris, before piano superstar Yunchan Lim performs Ravel’s bluesy Concerto in G major, a musical postcard inspired by the composer’s time in the States. The second half sees a world premiere from French-British composer Josephine Stephenson and finishes with Finzi’s ode to the patron saint of music, premiered in this same hall nearly 80 years ago.

2 months left to listen

2 hours, 45 minutes

Last on

Fri 17 Jul 2026 19:00

Music Played

  • Aaron Copland

    Fanfare for the Common Man

    Orchestra: Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Dalia Stasevska.
  • George Gershwin

    An American in Paris

    Orchestra: Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Dalia Stasevska.
  • Maurice Ravel

    Piano Concerto in G major

    Performer: Yunchan Lim. Orchestra: Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Dalia Stasevska.
  • Joseph Kosma

    Autumn Leaves

    Performer: Yunchan Lim. Orchestra: Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Dalia Stasevska.
  • Josephine Stephenson

    That the sunrise not leave us unmoved

    Choir: Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Symphony Chorus. Choir: Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Singers. Orchestra: Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Dalia Stasevska.
  • Gerald Finzi

    For St Cecilia

    Choir: Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Symphony Chorus. Choir: Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Singers. Orchestra: Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Dalia Stasevska.
  • Noel Gallagher

    Wonderwall

    Orchestra: Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Dalia Stasevska.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    String Quartet No. 16 in F major, Op. 135

    Ensemble: Calidore String Quartet.
    • The Complete Beethoven String Quartets.
    • Signum Records.
    • 68-71.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Partita No. 1, BWV 825: 4. Sarabande

    Performer: Rafael Aguirre.
    • Bach, Schumann & Schubert: Transcriptions.
    • KSG Exaudio.
    • 5.
  • Trad.

    Nana de Sevilla; Sevillanas del siglo XVIII (Canciones españolas antiguas)

    Performer: Rafael Aguirre. Music Arranger: Federico García Lorca. Singer: Fatma Said.
    • WARNER CLASSICS.
  • Frédéric Chopin

    Etude in C sharp minor Op.25 No.7

    Performer: Yunchan Lim.
    • Chopin: Études, Opp. 10 & 25.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 19.

Broadcast

  • Fri 17 Jul 2026 19:00