Proms 61 & 62: BBCSO/Brabbins; BBC Singers/Whitacre – review

Royal Albert Hall, LondonAfter the death of his young son in 1935, Herbert Howells spent three years composing a major musical memorial, though he took far longer in agreeing to release his initially private statement for public performance. Since its 1950 unveiling, though, the Hymnus Paradisi has gained steadily in stature. In its first Proms performance, given by the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Martyn Brabbins, it registered as a masterpiece.Though inspired by the most personal of tragedies,...

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