Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Tom McKinney live from the Royal Albert Hall

Tom McKinney opens the doors on 麻豆社 Proms 2026, live from the Royal Albert Hall as the day, and anticipation, begins to build.

The sound of summer pours from your radio in Proms Countdown 2026. From first light to the very first note of the 麻豆社 Proms, Radio 3 broadcasts live from the Royal Albert Hall. Tom McKinney, Georgia Mann, Mark Forrest and Katie Derham take you behind the scenes as excitement builds for the opening night 鈥� from unlocking the doors to the moment the performers step on stage.

Proms Countdown is your access-all-areas pass, with exclusive interviews from Proms performers, backstage stories and live performance 鈥� a front-row seat to the sounds and stars of the world鈥檚 greatest classical music festival.

The day begins as the Royal Albert Hall awakens, with the first sounds drifting from the Grand Organ, performed live by organist Richard Pearce.

3 hours

Music Played

  • Arthur Benjamin

    Hyde Park Galop (An Ideal Husband)

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • Chandos.
  • William Sterndale Bennett

    Piano Concerto No 6 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Simon Callaghan. Conductor: Martin Yates. Orchestra: Royal Northern Sinfonia.
    • William Sterndale Bennett: Piano Concertos Nos. 4 & 6.
    • Lyrita Recorded Edition.
    • 5.
  • Benjamin Britten

    Hymn to St Cecilia Op.27

    Choir: The Sixteen. Director: Harry Christophers.
    • COLLINS CLASSICS.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Fantasia in G BWV572

    Performer: Richard Pearce.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Clarinet Quintet in A major, K.581 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Anthony McGill. Ensemble: Pacifica Quartet.
    • Cedille.
  • Trad.

    Amazing Grace / Nearer My God to Thee

    Choir: Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
    • In Harmony.
    • Gallo Record Company.
    • 16.
  • Jacques Offenbach

    Harmonies des bois: Jacqueline's Tears

    Performer: Sheku Kanneh鈥怣ason. Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Mirga Gra啪inyt臈鈥怲yla.
    • Inspiration.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 9.
  • Kate Bush

    This Woman's Work

    Performer: Jess Gillam. Music Arranger: Geoff Lawson. Orchestra: 麻豆社 Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Richard Balcombe.
    • Decca.
  • Jean Sibelius

    Violin Concerto in D minor (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Vilde Frang. Orchestra: WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne. Conductor: Thomas S酶nderg氓rd.
    • Sibelius Prokofiev: Violin Concerto.
    • EMI.
    • 3.
  • Steve Reich

    Clapping Music

    Performer: Steve Reich. Performer: Colin Currie.
    • COLIN CURRIE RECORDS.
  • William Byrd

    This sweet and merry month of May

    Choir: The Gesualdo Six. Director: Owain Park.
  • George Antheil

    Hot-Time Dance

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Storg氓rds.
    • Antheil: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 6, Spectre of the Rose Waltz, Archipelago & Hot-Tim.
    • Chandos.
    • 106.
  • Fr茅d茅ric Chopin

    Etude No 5 "Black Keys"

    Performer: Yunchan Lim.
    • Chopin: 脡tudes, Opp. 10 & 25.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
  • William Walton

    Crown Imperial

    Performer: Richard Pearce.
  • Louis Vierne

    Carillon de Westminster

    Performer: Richard Pearce.
  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Romeo and Juliet: The Young Juliet

    Conductor: Vasily Petrenko. Orchestra: Oslo Philharmonic.
    • Romeo and Juliet.
    • Lawo Classics.
    • 10.
  • Miles Davis

    Milestones

    Ensemble: Quatuor 脡b猫ne.
    • Milestones. The Jazz Album.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 2.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Serenade to Music

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Manze.
    • Onyx.
  • Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

    The Flight of the Bumble Bee

    Performer: Evelyn Glennie. Orchestra: National Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Barry Wordsworth.
    • Rhythm Song.
    • RCA Red Seal.
    • 5.
  • Joaquim Malats

    Serenata espa帽ola

    Performer: Rafael Aguirre.
    • Guitar Recital: Rafael Aguirre.
    • Naxos.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No 6

    Orchestra: Sim贸n Bol铆var Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel.
    • Beethoven 6 - Dudamel.
    • Gustavo Dudamel.
    • 4.
  • Gustav Mahler

    R眉ckert-Lieder No 2 "Ich atmet' einen linden Duft!"

    Singer: Joyce DiDonato. Conductor: Maxim Emelyanychev. Ensemble: Il Pomo d鈥橭ro.
    • EDEN (Deluxe Edition).
    • Warner Classics.
    • 3.
  • Anton铆n Dvo艡谩k

    Symphony No 9 (2nd mvt)

    Conductor: Semyon Bychkov. Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic.
    • Dvo艡谩k: Symphonies Nos. 7, 8 ,9.
    • Pentatone.
    • 202.

Broadcast

  • Fri 17 Jul 2026 06:30