Joan Bakewell introduces part of one of the concerts of British music that opened this year's Jubilee season at the Henry Wood Proms.
Henry Purcell's Hail, bright Cecilia: a song for St Cecilia's Day - a setting in praise of the patroness of music heard first in 1692. Before the performance the composer, Sir Michael Tippett, a lifelong devotee of Purcell's music and joint editor of the version performed at this concert, talks to the conductor, Nicholas Cleobury, who is making his debut on television.
FELICITY LOTT (soprano) JAMES BOWMAN (counter-tenor) CHARLES BRETT (counter-tenor) IAN PARTRIDGE (tenor) STEPHEN ROBERTS (baritone) DAVID THOMAS (bass-baritone) Continuo: STEPHEN CLEOBURY (organ) DAVID ROBLOU (harpsichord) NIGEL NORTON (theorbo) STEPHEN ORTON (cello)
Schola Cantorum of Oxford
The Purcell Orchestra leader ROGER GARLAND conducted by Nicholas Cleobury