Proms 2012 Prom 46: Vaughan Williams – Symphonies Nos. 4, 5 & 6

Over the next few seasons Andrew Manze directs all nine Vaughan Williams symphonies with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, of which he is Associate Guest Conductor: ‘Vaughan Williams is one of those composers some people have fixed ideas about … I’m on a bit of a mission to rehabilitate him in people’s minds as an important figure in the musicmaking of this country.’

Tonight he tackles three differently powerful works of the 1930s and 1940s, which, whatever their own emotional back stories, may still be seen as chronicling our national life in troubled times.

Discover the Music Download a short audio guide published on the day about a key work in tonight’s Prom: Stephen Johnson talks about Vaughan Williams's Symphony No. 5 in D major.