The main guest of this year’s concert Last Night of the Proms in Cracow, recalling the beautiful annual tradition of London’s promenade concerts, will be the Russian cellist Denis Shapovalov. The artist, described by Mstislav Rostropovich as a great talent, presents Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme and his own composition Rock Variations on a Rococo Theme for electric cello. The soprano Joanna Freszel performs arias from operas by Porpora, Puccini and Szymanowski; the artists are accompanied by the Beethoven Academy Orchestra under the baton of Lee Reynolds. We will also hear excerpts from the soundtrack of Gladiator, marches by Shostakovich and Elgar, and, to finish, British songs with audience participation including Fantasia on British Sea Songs, Jerusalem, and – what else? – God Save the Queen! On 16 September, the Kraków Opera is taken over by the Royal Albert Hall!
Joanna Freszel – soprano
Denis Shapovalov – violin
Beethoven Academy Orchestra
Kraków Opera Choir
Lee Reynolds – conductor
Feliks Nowowiejski Pretorians’ March from oratorio Quo vadis
Pyotr Tchaikovsky Variations on the Rococo Theme form cello and orchestra
Nicola Porpora Nobil onda, Adelaida’s aria from opera Adelaide
Giacomo Puccini Quando m'en vo' soletta, Musetta’s aria from opera La Bohème
Karol Szymanowski Roxana’s Song from opera King Roger
Hans Zimmer Gladiator (film music suite)
Giuseppe Verdi Vedi, le fosche notturne spoglie from opera Il trovatore
György Ligeti Mysteries of the Macabre
Denis Shapovalov Rock Variations on the Rococo Theme for electric cello and orchestra
Aaron Copland Hoe Down from ballet Rodeo
Dymitr Shostakovich Waltz No. 2 from Suite for orchestra
Edward Elgar Pomp and Circumstance. March No. 1 in D major
Henry Wood Fantasia on British Sea-Songs
Thomas Arne Rule Britannia
Hubert Parry (orch. arr. E. Elgar) Jerusalem
God Save the Queen (arr. B. Britten)
Polish National Anthem
