Boléro: Rhythms of Spain

Proms on TV, 2026
Boléro: Rhythms of Spain
Royal Albert Hall

After watching the Elgar broadcast on Friday - slop of which I've better stomached on Blackpool prom - it was time to catch up with the Spanish one on iPlayer. And I must say that I found this broadcast much more flavourful. I am watching on my Lenovo tablet; I think a part of me wants to recreate the thrill of watching them onboard the National Express coaches, like I did a couple of times during last year's run. But it is for practical reasons also, because yesterday I had my settees shampooed, and I am allowing them time to dry out.

It was the Spanish National Orchestra's Proms debut, and they present a hearty tapas. We open with Ravel's Bolero. Do I know this tune? Boy do I know it, and it is further cementing Ravel into my favourite composers list. 

Rafael Aguirre plays the guitar in the later pieces, and it is textbook nylon-stringing. 

We have the Concierto de Aranjuez - or 'orange juice,' as they call it on Brassed Off. I recognise the music from the film - it was almost its theme tune? I guess I'll be listening out for it when I watch the 30th anniversary screening at the Royal Albert Hall in October.

Needless to say, Rodrigo's Orange Juice is a welcome digestif. Spain win The Proms as well as the World Cup.

Elgar at the Proms

Proms on TV, 2026
Elgar at the Proms
Royal Albert Hall

It is another Friday evening, and I am learning that the majority of televised Proms are broadcasted belatedly, over the weekends. That is fine, though I am also learning that this year's summer diary is somewhat fuller, and I am therefore not always capable of diarising on the night. 

On Friday I managed a 7.5k run, which wasn't bad. 10k was the goal, but we roll.

This evening at the Royal Albert Hall we have Elgar - a name surely as synonymous with The BBC Proms as Holst and... et al. I am half expecting to see a premature Union Flag flapping in the stalls.

Am I allowed to say that I found the first half a bit lacking? Nothing to do with the performers, and more the music itself? For me, it is not so much the highs, but the gentle lows that redeem this piece and give it its flair. Sounds like it was something of a whimsy on Elgar's part, but I have been known to be wrong. 

After a very short intermission, we have shifted in time. There's a different conductor, and it's a reminder that these broadcasts are not live.

The cello concerto - in contrast to the first symphony - seems to have more depth to it. And I am impressed with the soloist. Reading the blurb on iPlayer now, I see this was actually a 'delve into the archives,' and so now I am feeling slightly short-changed.

Can't win 'em all.