The Last Night of the Proms 2011 on BBC HD channel last night

Conductor Edward Gardner and the BBC Symphony Orchestra in front of the audience in the Albert Hall.

One reason why I always look forward to the Christmas season, is that the European television channels include so many fine classical music and opera performances in their programme schedule. In addition to the great live broadcasts - e.g. from Vienna, Dresden, Berlin and Venice - there are also many rebroadcasts of older favourites, like the Last Night of the Proms 2011, shown on the BBC HD channel last night.

What a great evening, with the young conductor Edward Gardner in charge of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Chorus and the soloists Susan Bullock (soprano) and Lang Lang!

Particularly I enjoyed Benjamin Britten's The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, and Britten's wonderful arrangement of the British National Anthem.

Soprano Susan Bullock was quite a sight when she sung Rule Britannia!

Edward Gardner was the youngest conductor since Henry Wood to conduct the Last Night of the Proms.

The "father of the Proms", Henry Wood.

There is no audience like the audience on the Last Night of the Proms!

PS

Just in case you are interested:

The 2014 Proms Season launches on 24 April
and the booking opens on 17 May.