The 85th season of Henry Wood Promenade Concerts opens with the mammoth Third Symphony by Mahler. Contralto soloist, women's and boys' choruses, and a huge orchestra give glorious expression to Mahler's vision of the whole chain of life and nature. Tonight's concert is relayed live in stereo direct from the Royal Albert Hall.

In the first of six programmes recorded at this year's Henry Wood Promenade Concerts the distinguished Soviet pianist Emil Gilels makes one of his rare television appearances, playing the well-loved Grieg Piano Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra leader IRVINE ARDITTI conducted by Colin Davis. The concert also includes a 20th-century masterwork Symphony in Three Movements by Stravinsky. Introduced by RICHARD BAKER.

In the second of this series of Henry Wood Promenade Concerts recorded at the Royal Albert Hall London The Halle Orchestra leader MICHAEL DAVIS is under its principal conductor James Loughran

In the third of this series of Henry Wood Promenade Concerts recorded at the Royal Albert Hall , London

In the fourth of this series of Henry Wood Promenade Concerts recorded at the Royal Albert Hall. London Simon Rattle conducts the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra leader RAYMOND OVENS in a , John Ireland centenary concert. John Ireland was born 100 years ago this month. In tonight's concert the young English pianist Philip Fowke . makes his Prom debut in a performance of one of Ireland s best-known works, the Piano Concerto in E flat.

Esther Rantzen is again the television hostess for the ever-popular Viennese Night with the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra leader DENNIS SIMONS conducted by Janos Ftirst with Teresa Cahill (soprano). The Strauss family provide most of tonight's programme, with TERESA CAHILL singing the ' Csardas ' from Die Fledermaus. There are two waltzes, the Radetzky March, and the programme opens with Suppe s overture: Light Cavalry.

BBC2 joins Radio 3 in stereo for the first half of tonight's concert of Russian music, live from the Royal Albert Hall.

In the last of six programmes recorded at the 1979 Henry Wood

Introduced by Richard Baker. BBC1 joins Radio 2 in stereo for the second half of tonight's closing concert of the 85th season of Henry Wood Promenade Concerts live from the Royal Albert Hall.