The Chineke! Foundation is sad to report that Sir Simon Rattle is unable to conduct our BBC Proms concert on Saturday 5 September. It is with regret that Sir Simon must withdraw from his upcoming performances at the BBC Proms with Chineke! Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra. Sir Simon must undergo surgery for a hernia in the next few days, and we wish him a full and speedy recovery.
Chineke! is hugely grateful to Jonathon Heyward, who will be stepping in to conduct this performance. Regarded as one of the most exciting conductors on the international scene, he currently serves as Music Director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and as the Director of the Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center.
Jonathon’s history with Chinke! dates to 2017 when he conducted our very first concert outside of London. In 2021, his much-acclaimed debut at the Proms was hailed by The Guardian as, “ferociously committed and incisive,” “fast and fearless,” and “exuberant, exhilarating stuff.” The Chineke! ethos of championing underrepresented composers and musicians on the global stage is strongly reflected in Jonathon’s career and artistry.
Our programme will now include the European premiere of James Lee III’s Visions of Cahokia which replaces George Walker’s Pageant and Proclamation. The rest of the programme remains the same. You can listen to the concert live on BBC Radio 3 and if you're in the UK you can watch the concert on BBC Four - Sunday 7th September.
- The Chineke! Foundation