BBC Philharmonic Proms Concert Delights with Beethoven and New 2026

The BBC Philharmonic Proms concert at the Royal Albert Hall was everything the festival does best, blending Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with a new cello concerto and Bach’s Fantasia and Fugue. Under conductor Gianandrea Noseda, the orchestra delivered a performance that united past and future in a rapt present.

A Unique Program That Worked Wonderfully

On paper, the mix of Bach, Beethoven, and Jessie Montgomery’s These Righteous Paths seemed strange. In the hall, it made absolute sense. The Bach Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, arranged by Andrew Davis, had a twinkle in its eye—dutiful strings suddenly twisted by winds, a celesta doubling the flute like a ghostly shimmer.

The New Cello Concerto: A Storytelling Triumph

The UK premiere of Montgomery’s concerto was “born through” soloist Abel Selaocoe, whose unique skills shaped its unusual form. Inspired by the composer’s mother, playwright Robbie McCauley, the three movements use poems as starting points. Selaocoe delivered wordless vocalise, mouth percussion, throat singing, and African song—less a singer or instrumentalist than a storyteller through sound. Nods to Bach and Elgar appear, but the concerto is entirely its own creation.

Comparison of Works Performed

Beethoven’s Ninth: A Fitting Finale

The concert culminated in Beethoven’s Ninth, with Schiller’s words—“All men become brothers”—resonating powerfully given Andy Burnham’s recent appointment as prime minister. The orchestra and chorus delivered a stirring performance, proving why this symphony remains a symbol of unity.

Key Takeaways

• The program mixed Baroque, contemporary, and Romantic works seamlessly.
• Abel Selaocoe’s performance redefined the cello concerto with vocal and percussive elements.
• Gianandrea Noseda’s direction brought out the best in the BBC Philharmonic.
• The concert highlighted the Proms’ ability to connect music across centuries.

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