NPO Klassiek presenter, Ab Nieuwdorp, celebrates all things English in his podcast England my England. In the episode Last Night of the Proms Special, Nieuwdorp meets two Brits with not only the same surname but also a proud Welsh heritage: Baritone, Roderick Williams and my friend, recently retired Suffolk dentist, Peter Williams who has attended numerous BBC Proms concerts over the years and can often be spotted in the audience on the televised Last Night of the Proms wearing his Panama hat and accompanying Welsh flag!
Arriving in London for the 2023 Last Night of the Proms concerts, Nieuwdorp interviewed a number of prommers as they queued outside the Royal Albert Hall, sharing some of the special traditions and memories associated with this most unique concert series.
Peter’s interview it seems did not make the final podcast, but it did feature in a short reel for AVROTROS. A lovely example of music bringing people together from all over the world.
The very next day, Peter and his wife Claire headed to the Netherlands to embark on a grand European tour to celebrate his 70th birthday. Arriving at my house in Enschede for dinner, we heard the story of an encounter the night before with a Dutch radio host…
Memories of the 2014 Last Night of the Proms
Also featured in the podcast is British baritone Roderick Williams who takes us back to his 2014 Last Night of the Proms performance when he gave an emotional rendition of Ol’ Man River from the 1927 musical Showboat; chosen because this was a song he knew very well and he feared he might forget the words on such a momentous occasion. Williams’ wonderfully sonorous bass notes are mesmerising.
Williams is know to Dutch audiences after appearing in Dutch National Opera productions of Alice In Wonderland, After Life, Blank Out and Upload.
Thank you Ab Nieuwdorp for this trip down memory lane .
Much of the episode is in English, so if you have a moment, do listen to hear about Ab Nieuwdorp’s love of everything English.
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