After weeks of uncertainty the 1980 Henry Wood Promenade Concerts were launched last week at the Royal Albert Hall , London, with a performance of the Symphony No 4 by Mahler BBC Symphony Orchestra leader BELA DEKANY , with Jessye Norman (soprano) conducted by John Pritchard.

The long-awaited start of the 1980 Henry Wood Promenade Concerts came last week at the Royal Albert Hall in London. In the first of four recorded Sunday night programmes on BBC1 Sir Charles Groves conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (leader BARRY GRIFFITHS ) in the Symphony No 6, in B minor (Pathetique) by Tchaikovsky. Introduced by FRAN MORRISON.

In tonight's recording from the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts the young Italian conductor Riccardo Chailly makes his Prom debut in two rarely heard orchestrations by Ravel of piano pieces by Debussy: Sarabande and Danse. The concert also includes Chopin's Piano Concerto No 2, in F minor, played by the distinguished Hungarian pianist Tamas Vasary with the London Philharmonic Orchestra - leader Roy Gillard

In the third of this series of Henry Wood Promenade Concerts recorded at the Royal Albert Hall , London, Colin Davis conducts the London Symphony Orchestra leader MICHAEL DAVIS in the first performance of Michael Tippett 's Concerto for violin, viola, cello and orchestra, with Gyorgy Pauk (violin), Nabuko Imai (viola) and Ralph Kirshbaum (cello). The programme also includes the tone poem En Saga by Sibelius. Introduced by ROBERT TEAR.

BBC2 joins with Radio 3 in stereo for a live relay of the first half of tonight's Henry Wood Promenade Concert from the Royal Albert Hall, London. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, leader BARRY GRIFFINIS , is under the baton of their newly-appointed principal conductor Walter Weller. John Lill is the soloist in the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No 2, a refreshing alternative to the often-heard No 1. The concert opens with the Overture Manfred by Schumann. Introduced by CORMAC RIGBY.

Walter Weller conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, of which he has recently been appointed principal conductor, in Symphony No 7, in D minor, by Dvorak. John Amis introduces this recording made at last night's Henry Wood Promenade Concert. Before the performance Walter Weller talks about his international career and his approach to one of the noblest of Dvorak's nine symphonies.

In the fourth of this series of Henry Wood Promenade Concerts recorded at the Royal Albert Hall, London, Kiril Kondrashin , making his first appearance at the Proms, conducts the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra leader THEO OLOF Prokofiev Symphony No 1, in D major (Classical) Bartok Piano Concerto No 3 soloist Theo Bruins. Introduced by SHEILA TRACY.

Introduced by Richard Baker. BBC1 joins Radio 3 in stereo for the second half of tonight's closing concert of the 86th season of Henry Wood Promenade Concerts live from the Royal Albert Hall. Sir Charles Mackerras conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra, leader Rodney Friend Elgar March: Pomp and Circumstance No 1, in D major Grainger Shepherd's Hey, Brigg Fair, Colonial Song, Molly on the Shore Judith Rees (soprano) Gareth Roberts (tenor) Henry Wood Fantasia on British Sea Songs Arne, orch Sargent Rule, Britannia Parry, orch Elgar Jerusalem with Anne Collins (contralto) BBC Singers, director John Poole BBC Symphony Chorus, conductor Brian Wright