Age and youth come together for a performance of Brahms's mighty Fourth Symphony. Italian maestro Carlo Maria Giulini, who celebrated his 80th birthday earlier this year, conducts the European Youth Orchestra and beforehand talks about his approach to Brahms, and about the orchestra.
The ECYO is a unique ensemble of 140 musicians between the ages of 14 and 23 and drawn from every member state. "Working with these marvellous players has been an unforgettable experience which has enriched my life, both as a man and a musician," says Giulini. "They give their all in the service of music - perfect preparation and plentiful love and enthusiasm coupled with the joy of aspiring to express their individual musicality away from their own country's typical style of playing."
Tonight's broadcast in this "first hundred years of the Proms" season is a recording of the second half of last Saturday's Brahms Night.
Brahms was first honoured in this traditional Proms manner - an evening dedicated entirely to his music - back in 1900. It is introduced from the Royal Albert Hall by James Naughtie.

(Stereo)