Jamie Barton and Clay Hilley ride the waves for Mahler's epic farewell

Clay Hiller & Anja Bihlmaier
© BBC/Chris Christodoulou

Jamie Barton (mezzo-soprano)

Clay Hilley (tenor)

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

Anja Bihlmaier (conductor)

7pm, Friday 21 August 2026
BBC Proms
Royal Albert Hall, London

★★★★

El-Turk, Bushra (b.1982): Mosaic

Haydn, Joseph (1732-1809): Symphony Not 45 in F sharp minor, 'Farewell'

Mahler, Gustav (1860-1911): Das Lied von der Erde

Jamie Barton & Anja Bihlmaier
© BBC/Chris Christodoulou

El-Turk:

'A striking piece that definitely benefits from repeat listening'.

Haydn:

'The players’ gradual departure was stylishly staged and, following Bihlmaier‘s departure and a cheeky yawn and wave from the viola, the two violinists were left alone to finish'.

Mahler:

'Hilley’s operatic delivery of the Drinking Song of Earth’s Misery was gripping, full of drunken swagger. Despite initial balance issues, his repeated 'Dark is life, dark is death!' rang through with knife-edge precision'.

'Bihlmaier brought the orchestra right down, allowing Barton to colour her delivery with sensuous slides, shimmering with golden sunlight'. 

'Barton exuded warmth for 'Die liebe Erde' with mandolins again and celesta, before the final tragic 'Ewig' (Forever) repetitions brought the evening to a sombre yet peaceful conclusion'.  

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.

Beauty without the beast: BBC Philharmonic, Feldman and Bihlmaier at the BBC Proms

Tobias Feldmann, Anja Bihlmaier & the BBC Philharmonic
© BBC/Andy Paradise

Tobias Feldmann (violin)

BBC Philharmonic

Anja Bihlmaier (conductor)

 

BBC Prom 26

7.30pm, Thursday 8 August 2024

Royal Albert Hall, London

★★★

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61

 

Encore:

Edward Elgar (1857-1934): Salut d’amour, Op. 12

 

Sarah Gibson (1995-2024): warp & weft

 

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98

Anja Bihlmaier conducts the BBC Philharmonic
© BBC/Andy Paradise

Beethoven:

'A highly engaging performance from Feldmann, producing a bright, lively tone and lyrical line throughout'. 

'... a performance of great beauty, with strong orchestral playing from the woodwinds in particular, but missing bite at the more dramatic moments'.

Gibson:

'Bihlmaier steered the orchestra through the complex rhythms in a work full of interest and challenge'.

Brahms:

'Bihlmaier gave the opening, which launches without introduction, a watery flow, (think Smetana’s Vltava), setting the tone for a fluid reading'. 

'Bihlmaier shaped the progress of the unfolding variations with a strong architectural sense'. 

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.