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Forgotten Ballet Premieres at Royal Albert Hall
23 Aug
Summary
- Reconstructed 1918 dance pieces by Edmund Thornton Jenkins premiered.
- Soprano Angel Blue performed Barber's Knoxville and other songs.
- Dvořák's Symphony No 8 concluded the concert with excitement.
The Royal Albert Hall hosted a Prom by Chineke!, marking the premiere of Edmund Thornton Jenkins' "Ballet" from 1918. This suite of reconstructed dance pieces, initially an incomplete manuscript, was brought to life under conductor Jonathon Heyward. Jenkins, a promising Black composer who died young in Paris, studied at London's Royal Academy of Music.
The "Ballet" featured a compelling "Processional" and a second movement showcasing melodic weaving, though its waltz finale felt less substantial. Soprano Angel Blue captivated the audience with Barber's "Knoxville: Summer of 1915," conveying nostalgia with her bright tone. She later performed Great American Songbook standards.
The orchestra delivered a spirited performance of Dvořák's Symphony No 8, with Heyward driving the momentum and bringing the finale to an exhilarating close.
