The Nash and BBC Singers selected poignant vocal and instrumental works in memory of the late composer, as well as the premiere of a new Simon Holt work honouring sculptor Richard Serra

In his last UK concert as the LSO’s music director, Simon Rattle bid farewell with an outstanding and assured performance of Mahler’s final symphony. The BBC Singers’ Poulenc, beginning the Prom, was expert and impassioned

A programme ranging from Sibelius, Grieg and Britten to a world premiere by Ukrainian Bohdana Frolyak opened the Proms with conductor Dalia Stasevska engaged and outgoing.

Superbly executed Mahler was given fire by the addition of Poulenc’s work from the just saved BBC Singers – and a fierce attack on arts funding by the conductor