A new work by Anna Meredith and 59 Productions, Five Telegrams draws on communications sent by young soldiers in 1918 and features specially-produced digital projections, creating a unique spectacle. With the BBC Proms Youth Ensemble conducted by Sakari Oramo.
Richard Slaney, Managing Director of 59 Productions, says: “59 Productions are thrilled to be transforming the iconic facade of the Royal Albert Hall with bespoke projections, and in doing so hope to bring a taste of the BBC Proms to a brand new audience. The Telegrams and communication themes from the First World War have proved extremely rich source material, and in combination with Anna’s score we hope that audiences find this opening event both boldly eye-catching as well as thought-provoking.”
Anna Meredith says: “I’m so excited that we are bringing Five Telegrams to both the inside and outside of the RAH. It’s been such a privilege to work with 59 Productions, who are world leaders on these kinds of large-scale events, and we’ve worked hard to produce a piece designed to work on this huge canvas. I’ve loved writing with these kinds of big gestures in mind and hope that this event will be a dramatic start to the Proms season as well as opening it up to new audiences.”
Five Telegrams: Sender is both an audio and visual work that draws upon contemporary responses to the communication infrastructure of the First World War as the BBC Proms commemorates the end of the ‘Great War’ in its centenary year. The work is a joint commission for the BBC Proms, Edinburgh International Festival and 14-18 NOW, the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary, in collaboration with the Royal Albert Hall.