An alien taking their seat at the Hull City Hall on Thursday evening might possibly have wondered what the tuneless racket was, emanating from the group of musicians on the stage.
Of course, we Earthlings knew better; the noisy crew were extremely talented members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra warming up their instruments for the Last Night of the Proms.
Yet, at the stroke of 7.30pm, when award-winning conductor Nicolò Umberto Foron raised his baton to bring the noisemakers to order, my goodness, the aforementioned racket turned into music so glorious, it gave me goose pimples on my goose pimples.
As is the norm at any concert at this grand venue, the stage is set in the shadow of the magnificent organ – all 5,505 pipes of it. Built by the Hull firm of Forster and Andrews, it was completed in March 1911, and I can vouch for the fact it sounded just as good on Thursday evening, at the fingertips of Nicholas Morris, as it would have done all those years ago.
The night got off to a lively start with the orchestra playing Don Juan, by Strauss. Then on stage stepped soprano, Elizabeth Watts, resplendent in a blue ball gown, singing O mio babbino caro, the much-loved aria from Gianni Schicchi, the third of Puccini’s trio of operas, Il trittico.
Her wonderful voice mesmerised everyone in the packed hall, until her last note, then rapturous applause broke out. Of course, our applause was for the orchestral accompaniment, too.
Staying with Puccini, Elizabeth delighted us with Si, mi chiamano Mimi, from La Bohème.
Leading up to the interval, we had compositions by Dvorak, Britten and Strauss II, whose Die Fledermaus: Overture was, famously, highlighted on TV by those two famous cartoon characters, Tom & Jerry.
After a 20-minute interval, in a delightful room reserved for VIPs (ahem), we retook our seats, and with Union and St George flags in hand, the excitement grew as we waited for those Prom favourites that always elicit a wave (pardon the pun) of patriotism from any audience.
Portsmouth Point, by Walton, kicked off the second half and then a real highlight – Elizabeth Watts singing a Lerner/Loewe classic, I Could Have Danced All Night.
She brought the house down; this was a song everyone knew and loved, and Elizabeth’s amazing voice raised it to another level.
Tunes by Smyth and Lehár swiftly followed then, if I’m honest, the part of proceedings I was itching to sing and wave my flags along to.
When the recognisable strains of Henry Wood’s Fantasia on British Sea Songs filled the air, I was in my element.
And when Foron conducted the orchestra in faster and faster renditions of Hornpipe, my night was complete. I just love that.
The icing on this mouthwatering Prom cake was Arne’s Rule, Britannia!, followed by Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No1 and, finally, Parry’s Jerusalem followed by the National Anthem which everyone respectfully stood for.
My arm ached from flag waving, but nothing was going to stop me showing my appreciation for this most wonderful orchestra, led by a youthful, energetic and talented conductor, aided and abetted by a soprano with a voice to die for.
Plus, the fact the Proms are a celebration of all things that are good about Britain. What’s not to love.
Any classical music buff reading this review will quickly twig on I don’t know my crotchet from my quaver but, hey ho, I just loved what I saw and heard on the Hull City Hall stage on the night. That’s all any theatregoer can hope for.
My only gripe was that the mics used by Watts and Foron to talk to us, didn’t fully reach my ears on row P. However, I did glean that the auburn-haired Foron was half Italian, half German and lived in a fishing village in Italy – making him feel quite at home here in Hull, he revealed. Also, he started learning how to conduct at the age of 10 (I Googled that bit). Wow!
But, sadly, none of Elizabeth’s chat was audible enough for me to confidently repeat it here, although her singing voice came across loud and clear.
But none of that spoiled a nano second of a very memorable night in the presence of musical greats. The ensuing standing ovation was no surprise at all.
The Last Night of the Proms ran on September 18th at Hull City Hall. Visit www.hulltheatres.co.uk www.rpo.co.uk
Reviewer: Jackie Foottit
Reviewed: 18th September 2025
North West End UK Rating:
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