Bernard Herrmann "Salammbo's Aria" - Venera Gimadieva, soprano; John Wilson conducts

Bernard Herrmann was one of the finest Hollywood composers and his first film score was written for one of the greatest movies to have come out of America, Orson Welles's 'Citizen Kane' (1941). In the film, millionaire publishing tycoon Kane meets and marrries a young girl who is taking singing lessons in the hope of being an opera star, even though she is quite hopeless as a singer. Kane builds her an opera house and it is this aria that she attempts to sing.

Herrmann wrote it in the 'grand style' and, extracted from the movie, it sounds quite marvellous when taken up by great sopranos. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa recorded it at the start of her career and here is another debut. This performance from the 2013 "Hollywood Rhapsody" Prom, given at the Royal Albert Hall by John Wilson and his Orchestra. Making her UK debut was the Russian soprano, Venera Gimadieva, who brought the roof down with her final top note. This was her only appearance in this programme so hopefully she will soon be seen again, as she made a striking success singing Herrmann's music from memory. (With acknowledgements to the John Wilson Orchestra.)