This summer will see contralto Jessica Dandy and conductor Domingo Hindoyan debut at the BBC Proms – they join 15 other Askonas Holt artists at “the world’s largest music festival”, which announced its 2021 season this morning. Jessica performs Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music and a James MacMillan new commission with the BBC Symphony on the First Night (30 July), while Domingo’s debut doubles as his inauguration as the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic’s new Chief Conductor (5 September).

Vocal highlights include Simon O’Neill's Tristan – the Glyndebourne import is conducted by Robin Ticciati (31 August). Christine Rice and Nicky Spence offer dramatic snapshots as part of the BBC Philharmonic’s opera gala (16 August), while elsewhere sopranos Miah Persson and Lucy Crowe sing Berg’s Sieben frühe Lieder (4 September) and Beethoven’s Ah! Perfido (26 August) respectively. Lucy performs with BBC Scottish Symphony who partner with Benjamin Hulett for Stravinsky’s Pulcinella (6 August). Over in Chelsea, Cadogan Hall pairs Malcolm Martineau with Ema Nikolovska for a Chamber Prom (6 September).

Returning maestros include Sir Simon Rattle who gives an all-Stravinsky programme with the London Symphony (22 August), Jonathan Cohen who leads Arcangelo in Bach’s St Matthew Passion (9 September), and Kirill Karabits whose Bournemouth Symphony Prom features Johannes Moser in Elgar’s Cello Concerto (9 August). Nicola Benedetti - last year’s Last Night soloist - also returns to perform Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No.2 with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain (7 August).

Composer-conductor George Benjamin and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra complete the line-up with the only concert to feature a visit by an international ensemble. Brought to London by Askonas Holt’s touring team, the performance features Knussen, Purcell and a world premiere by Sir George. Like all Proms it will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3.

The full season line up can be viewed here, with further concerts to be announced.