Our History

August 1985 – Ulster Orchestra makes its Proms debut

On 20th August 1985, the Ulster Orchestra took its place among the leading orchestras in the world when it performed at the Henry Wood Proms for the very first time.

The Royal Albert Hall, as viewed from the Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens. Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

The orchestra, conducted by Bryden Thomson, took to the Royal Albert Hall stage with a varied and robust programme, featuring Nielsen’s Helios Overture, Lizst’s Piano Concerto No. 2, played by Barry Douglas, and Sibelius’ Symphony No. 3 in C major.

The orchestra also performed a world premiere of a BBC commission, Next Year In Jerusalem, composed by Malcolm Williamson and sung by Belfast-born soprano Heather Harper.

Click here to see all of Ulster Orchestra’s BBC Proms performances on the BBC Proms website.

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