Rapture captured: instrumentalists and singers at the 2019 BBC Proms

A second selection of Chris Christodoulou's more telling shots from full houses last year

share this article

Nicola Benedetti with Mark Wigglesworth and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain in 2019's Prom 12
All images by Chris Christodoulou

As two weeks of livestreamed Proms begin tonight, we just want to be there in the Royal Albert Hall. The exuberance of our lead picture tells one story of a Prom which had to be witnessed live to be believed: the annual visit of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain last year, with brilliant Auerbach and Prokofiev under Mark Wigglesworth, and much-loved Nicola Benedetti uniting with them in Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto.

Chris Christodoulou is always in a unique position, usually putting his camera unnoticed through the velvet curtains at the top of various sets of stairs to the Albert Hall stalls. This year he'll be one of the few people in the hall other than the singers, players and conductors, and they'll find it hard to touch the ecstasy spots without the Prommers in front of them, but fingers crossed there will be some more memorable captures of what it means to perform together. Click on the images below for the full picture.

Add comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
Name that you would like to appear as the author of the comment
This year Chris Christodoulou will be one of the few people in the hall other than the performers

rating

0

share this article

the future of arts journalism

You can stop theartsdesk.com closing! 

We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d

And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

more classical music

Subtle, introspective 'Harold in Italy' followed by over-punchy 'Symphonie fantastique'
Semi-staged version brings a heightened appreciation of the symphony's jostle of voices
Cellist/singer with friends and top quartet make welcome returns to the DICMF
Striking performances by a quartet with a strong sense of identity
Life-enhancing Danish piano music and a trio of epic symphonies
'Santtu' clearly loves 'Symphonia Domestica', the composer's family mock-epic
The Norwegian soprano has arrived as a great recitalist in partnership with a vivid pianist
Veteran American singer in fine voice, complemented by characterful accordion
Luxurious sonic experience and tonal beauties in a moving Mahler 6
Baroque keyboard music in new colours, a celebration of a great English composer and Russian fairytales
Stunning collaboration between actors and musicians typifies this bracing enterprise