This fabulously varied Prom celebrates the best of Wales, with an added focus on women. In her Proms debut, Nil Venditti conducts the BBC National Orchestra of Wales (BBC NOW), selecting as the main event the first piece she ever conducted for the orchestra: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 (1812). Venditti conducts the whole thing with pace and energy: even the iconic second movement sounds more like a dance than a funeral dirge. There is immense subtlety in the dynamic control, with phrases lifted out throughout as little nuggets of melody, particularly in the strings. Following the symphony’s climactic finale, performed with gusto at breakneck speed, the audience response is rapturous.

But for some of the audience, the real draw is in the first half: Stravaganza (2019), a concerto for soprano saxophone by Welsh composer and knight of the realm, Sir Karl Jenkins. Written for BBC Young Musician of the Year winner Jess Gillam, it is a delight to see her perform the four-movement work live; particularly the intensely virtuosic runs in “Perambulation”, which also calls for the performer to begin playing off-stage, and the beautiful stillness of “Dreams & Drones”.

As well as showcasing a female soloist and female conductor, with a female-led orchestra (Lesley Hatfield, first violin), Venditti also opts to feature two female composers to open both halves: Concert Overture (1932) by Welsh composer Grace Williams, and Overture No. 1 (1834) by Louise Farrenc, both pieces receiving their Proms premieres. Williams’ piece is immediately arresting, kicking off the Prom with a bang, whipped along by an enthusiastic Venditti who keeps the orchestra energised as well as meticulously in-time. Farrenc’s piece is not out of place with any early-Romantic repertoire, but there is a poignancy in knowing this bright, well-ordered piece never received recognition in its own time.

If anyone was in doubt as to the power of Wales and the power of women in classical music, this Prom blasts away all prejudice, like the cobwebs covering these forgotten gems.

Tickets for all 73 Proms are available from just £8 on the BBC Proms 2024 website.