Read on for an introduction to the Canadian conductor Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, who conducts Everybody Dance! The Sound of Disco (Prom 2, Sat 20 July) at the 2024 BBC Proms.
Who is Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser?
Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser is an orchestral conductor from Canada. He’s won acclaim for his shows that introduce classical and orchestral music to sectors of society that wouldn’t normally access this type of music. He’s known for blending classical music with more contemporary forms.
Where is Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser from?
The conductor hails from Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
And what's he famous for?
Bartholomew-Poyser has won acclaim for devising shows that introduce classical and orchestral music to new audiences. His shows blend classical music with more contemporary forms and are aimed at audiences who have not had much exposure to classical music so far.
What has been his biggest conducting performance to date?
Probably his performance at the Hollywood Bowl on 18 August 2023, when he was a guest conductor for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, whom we listed as one of the best orchestras in the world. Bartholomew-Poyser led an all-Tchaikovsky concert, culminating in a performance of the composer's famous 1812 Overture set to a fireworks display.
And what else does he do?
Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser also hosts Centre Stage, a weekend classical music programme on the Canadian radio network CBC Music.
What will Bartholomew-Poyser be conducting at the 2024 BBC Proms?
He'll be conducting Everybody Dance! The Sound of Disco at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday 20 July. The concert will be inspired by the sounds and style of late 1970s New York and in particular its epicentre, the nightclub Studio 54. He will lead the BBC Concert Orchestra in renditions of some of the wonderful music of that era, including hits by Chic, Gloria Gaynor, Diana Ross, Boney M. and more.