Fresh from the release of its debut recording, the dynamic Manchester Collective makes its Proms debut alongside genre-defying harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani.

Live from the Royal Albert Hall, London
Presented by Elizabeth Alker

Górecki: Harpsichord Concerto, Op. 40
Edmund Finnis: The Centre is Everywhere
Julius Eastman: The Holy Presence of Joan d'Arc

8.15: Interval: Elizabeth Alker is joined by the Lancashire born music journalist and radio presenter Stuart Maconie to discuss genre crossing, music and silence.

Dobrinka Tabakova: Suite in Old Style, ‘The Court Jester Amareu’
Joseph Horovitz: Jazz Harpsichord Concerto

Mahan Esfahani, harpsichord
Manchester Collective
Rakhi Singh, violin/director

Fresh from the release of its debut recording, the dynamic Manchester Collective makes its first appearance at the Proms with a programme that draws on the musical past to help imagine a bold musical future. Award-winning harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani explodes stereotypes around his instrument in concertos by Joseph Horovitz and Górecki – the former a witty fusion of jazz colours and textures with Classical forms, the latter a musical ‘prank’, motoric and defiantly playful. Also looking back to the 18th century is Dobrinka Tabakova’s Suite in Old Style – a musical homage to Rameau (alias Amareu) that blends folk and Baroque details in its five contrasting movements. The concert also includes music by the black American avant-garde post- Minimalist and gay activist Julius Eastman and Novello Award-nominated composer Edmund Finnis.