As One: read the reviews

“Roof-raising”, “monumental” and “magical”… the reviews for As One are in!

Last week, teenage musicians from The National Youth Orchestra went on tour, As One, with conductor Alexandre Bloch, bringing to life Wagner’s Overture to The Flying Dutchman, Missy Mazzoli’s Orpheus Undone and Mahler’s Symphony No.1. They reached Manchester, Saffron Walden, London and beyond with a live broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and a TV broadcast on BBC Four. 

The tour culminated in an electrifying BBC Proms performance at the Royal Albert Hall, featuring a world premiere of Three, Four AND… composed by our Resident Artist, Dani Howard. 100 musicians from NYO Inspire and young people who have been nominated by music hubs and schools, joined the Orchestra from all corners of the Royal Albert Hall, with Tess Jackson conducting 250+ musicians in 360 degrees. The new work featured the As One melody, which has been uniting young people across the country, in schools and across social media

And of course… an encore! This time, NYO surprised the audience by putting their instruments down for an a cappella rendition of Farandole from Bizet’s L’Arlésienne Suite No 2.

 

Here’s what the reviewers had to say: 

... A surround-sound experience on a grand scale. Was this the largest orchestra ever heard in the Royal Albert Hall?
4/5
It was a near miraculous feat of coordination from Tess Jackson, conducting in 360 degrees.
4/5
Mahler’s First was thrilling... Towards the first movement’s end the whole orchestra cheered: an apt addition to this joyous performance.
4/5
What a delight it was to see and hear the 160 talented young musicians at this BBC Prom and in a demanding programme which saw them overcome its challenges with flying (Dutchman!) colours.
... the feeling that all's right with the world and the future of music.
5/5

For those who couldn’t attend in person or want to hear the performance again, we have great news! The BBC Proms performance is now on BBC  iPlayer.

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Photography: BBC / Chris Christadoulou