91Èȱ¬

Live at 91Èȱ¬ Prom 61: Kevin John Edusei conducts Chineke! in George Walker's heartfelt song cycle Lilacs with soloist Nicole Cabell and Beethoven's joyous Ninth Symphony.

Presented by Georgia Mann, live from the Royal Albert Hall, London.

George Walker: Lilacs

7.50pm - INTERVAL: Dedicated in 1922, the Lincoln Memorial is a neoclassical temple built to honour the 16th president of the United States. Lisa Mullen discovers why America chose to mark the man who led the nation in the civil war and issued the Emancipation Proclamation that freed slaves forever. Michael Goldfarb, Professor Sarah Churchwell and Dr Joanna Cohen discuss how the Lincoln Memorial became the backdrop for the continuing civil rights movement.

Also, we'll hear from Keelan Carew about his Proms highlights in the last week.

8.15pm - Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, 'Choral'

Nicole Cabell (soprano)
Raehann Bryce-Davis (mezzo-soprano)
Zwakele Tshabalala (tenor)
Ryan Speedo Green (bass-baritone)
Chineke! Chorus and Orchestra
Conductor Kevin John Edusei

‘Be embraced, all you millions!’ Since the earliest days of the Proms, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony has had a special place in each season – and with its climactic choral ‘Ode to Joy’, it’s one of those works that takes on a new meaning every time it’s played. This year, it’s performed by Chineke! – Europe’s first majority Black and ethnically diverse orchestra, along with Chineke! Voices. 91Èȱ¬ Cardiff Singer of the World Nicole Cabell leads a world-class team of solo singers, and opens the Prom with the haunting Lilacs, the heartfelt song cycle with which George Walker became the first African American composer to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music.