In the third of four Proms recorded for BBC television, James Naughtie introduces two popular pieces of musical storytelling, Tchaikovsky's Overture: Romeo and Juliet and Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, recorded at London's Royal Albert Hall on 14 August. Valery Gergiev conducts the Kirov Orchestra which is making its first appearance at the Proms.
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BBC Proms 97 10.55pm BBC1
Passion Russian-style is the order of the day as the Kirov Orchestra plays two of the most popular and romantic narrative pieces in the repertory. Rimsky-Korsakov's symphonic suite Scheherazade has a delicate solo violin theme representing Scheherazade, which is matched by the booming stentorian motif of her husband the Sultan. It is a perfect primer for Tchaikovsky's Overture: Romeo and Juliet. The piece is based on the play without actually following the plot scene by scene. Instead, three recognisable themes can be distinguished, including the famous sweeping love theme of the finale.
Prokofiev's version of Romeo and Juliet, which he wrote as a ballet, can be seen next Saturday on BBC2.