BBC Proms - 2009 - Prom 38: Ravel, Chin, Stravinsky - Part 1

From the Royal Albert Hall, London. Presented by Christopher Cook. The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra under chief conductor Ilan Volkov perform works spanning almost a century. Begun as a homage to the Viennese waltz but twisted by his wartime experiences into a darker vision of a society whirling to disaster, Ravel's La valse was actually rejected by Diaghilev - who commissioned it - and only finally staged in the year of his death, choreographed by Nijinsky's sister Bronislava. Unsuk Chin's new Cello Concerto was written specially for Alban Gerhardt, an early member of Radio 3's New Generation Artists scheme. Alban Gerhardt (cello) BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Ilan Volkov (conductor) Ravel: La valse Unsuk Chin: Cello Concerto (BBC commission: world premiere).