Success in London with the world premiere of Out of the Darkness
Robbie Guthrie
On Sunday August 23, the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields and soloist Amy Harman gave a triumphant premiere of Musgrave’s new Horn Concerto, Out of the Darkness at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the 2026 BBC Proms season. The work includes several dramatic staged elements, beginning with the hall in total darkness with lights slowly rising as Harman gradually made her way from behind the orchestra around to the usual soloist position.
The first performance of Out of the Darkness emerged from a dark grumble of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields’ percussion and bass instruments, which bassoonist Amy Harman answered from the back of the stage, weaving a warm, baritonal vocalise through the orchestral duskiness. - The Guardian (Flora Wilson, Aug 24, 2026)
…written with characteristic elegance and fluency … Musgrave’s Bassoon Concerto compels interest for the concentration of ideas.
- Colin’s Column (Colin Anderson Aug 24, 2026)
If you are UK-based you can listen back to the broadcast here, or watch the concert at BBC iPlayer here.
Thea also spoke with Kate Molleson for BBC Radio 3 ahead of the Proms premiere. You can listen to their discussion here.
Photo: BBC/Chris Christodoulou