BBC Proms to host its first turntablist

This year, the BBC Proms is to host its first ever turntablist musician at a concert by the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.
What’s more, the work in which the turntablist will perform has been composed by the grandson of legendary Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev.
Gabriel Prokofiev, who is a DJ, producer and composer, will show off his 2004 work Concerto for Turntables and Orchestra on August 6th, featuring DJ Switch and led by Vladimir Jurowski.
The piece is in five movements and combines hip-hop and classical, with a range of turntable techniques like mixing and scratching.
Speaking to the Guardian, Prokofiev explained the work: “In the 19th century when the modern design of the piano fully emerged and you had people like Liszt … and it was really all about showing off – the same with the violin and Paganini.
“It feels like when an instrument is really emerging, there’s this thing of showing off the extremes of what it can do. Turntables have entered that era.”
Indeed, the composer spends a lot of time bringing the two genres together through his label Nonclassical, in the hope that young people will find an avenue in which to access classical music and find it relevant to them.
Also featuring at the Proms 30 will be extracts from Romeo and Juliet, perhaps Prokofiev senior’s most famous work.
Prokofiev junior told the Guardian of living up to his grandfather’s name and talent: “Sometimes I think the name might make people write me off straight away because, like, what descendents of successful composers have gone on to become successful composers themselves?”
All of the music performed on the night will be by young musicians who have had to audition for their coveted desk at the National Youth Orchestra.
One double bass player, 17-year-old Martin Ludenbach, has taken a 12-week course to learn the music for the night.
“I’ve never had the chance to play with such a massive orchestra of 170 people and playing at the BBC Proms – there’s nothing quite like it,” he told North Wales Weekly.