The National Youth Choir of Great Britain will take the stage on the first night of the BBC Proms for the first time in 2018. The appearance marks NYCGB’s 12th appearance in the world-renowned series since the choir’s 2000 Proms debut.
The full choir will take part in the premiere of a spectacular new work by Anna Meredith and Tony Award-winning creative studio, 59 Productions, commissioned by the World War One Centenary Art Commissions platform, 14-18 Now. Titled Five Telegrams, the work fuses the text of telegrams sent by young soldiers in 1918, an orchestral score, large-scale projected digital artworks and live participation.
The ladies of the National Youth Choir will also take part in the first-half performance of Gustav Holst’s The Planets.
Championing women composers and performers
NYCGB Artistic Director, Ben Parry, said:
‘I am thrilled that the National Youth Choir of Great Britain is returning to the BBC Proms this year to perform as part of the opening night. We at NYCGB are so grateful to the Proms for giving our young people the chance to sing at this prestigious occasion, especially in the choirs’ 35th anniversary year. We are equally delighted to be premiering a new work by Anna Meredith in a year when our organisation is championing women composers and performers across all our activities.’
The National Youth Chamber Choir will also appear in the 2018 BBC Proms series, joining the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and London Voices under conductor, Thomas Dausgaard, for the UK premiere of Danish composer, Per Nørgård’s Symphony No 3 at Prom 51 on Monday 20 August 2018.
Tickets go on general sale via the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday 12 May 2018.
