Presented by Petroc Trelawny, live from the Royal Albert Hall as the BBC Symphony Orchestra and their chief conductor launch the 113th season of Henry Wood Promenade Concerts. Tonight's concert lights the candles for the Proms' celebration of Elgar's 150th birthday with his poignant Cello Concerto. Walton's Portsmouth Point begins a series of Proms Firsts - pieces given their first performance at the Proms, and Beethoven's Choral symphony makes the first of two appearances in this year's season after its performance last year was cancelled because of a fire.

Paul Watkins (cello), Maria Haan (soprano), Patricia Bardon (mezzo), Paul Groves (tenor), Rene Pape (bass), Philharmonia Chorus, BBC Symphony Chorus and Orchestra, conductor Jiri Belohlavek

Walton Overture: Portsmouth Point

Elgar Cello Concerto in E minor

8.10 Twenty Minutes: Beethoven's Double Bass
At the heart of Beethoven's Choral symphony is the famous recitative dialogue between double bass and orchestra. It's a moment that also lies at the heart of the double bass player's repertoire and, according to Rodney Slatford, was inspired by the great bass player Dominico Dragonetti. With the help of Dragonetti's diaries and other memorabilia collected over the years, Slatford puts the case for a Dragonetti footnote in the creation of Beethoven's great musical landmark.

8.30 Beethoven Symphony No 9 in D minor (Choral)

(Repeated on Monday at 2pm)
(A delayed broadcast of this concert is on BBC2 at 8pm)
Music choices: page 134 Proms guide: page 33