BBC Proms · Season 43 · Episode 1

First Night of the Proms

Friday, July 21

The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts return tonight live in stereo from the Royal Albert Hall. The opening concert features a popular Beethoven Symphony and a powerful Stravinsky work written in collaboration with Jean Cocteau. With the BBC Symphony Orchestra, led by Bela Dekany, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen. Part 1 Beethoven Symphony No 4 in B flat major 8.05* Interval feature: Jean Cocteau (1889-1963) Jean Cocteau, one of the most eclectic and colourful of French artists, was born 100 years ago this month. Roger Nichols looks at his often bizarre relationship with his contemporaries and traces his collaboration with Stravinsky. 8.25* Part 2 Stravinsky Oedipus Rex (sung in Latin with English subtitles) BBC Singers (men's voices) Chorus master Malcolm Hicks Introduced by Richard Baker