After the death of his young son in 1935, Herbert Howells spent three years composing a major musical memorial, though he took far longer in agreeing to release his initially private statement for public performance. Since its 1950 unveiling, though, the Hymnus Paradisi has gained steadily in stature. In its first Proms performance, given by the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Martyn Brabbins, it registered as a masterpiece.
Though inspired by the most personal of tragedies, the work transcends its origins and even mourning itself; much of it is rapt and visionary – even at times ecstatic in its contemplation of perpetual light. With the BBC Symphony Chorus and London Philharmonic Choir melding their finely graded tone, and Miah Persson's radiant soprano balanced by Andrew Kennedy's focused tenor, it provided a profound counterweight to Elgar's complex but ultimately optimistic First Symphony in the second half – a performance that grew in stature as it progressed.
The BBC Singers and the Eric Whitacre Singers came together in the late-night event focusing on the US choral specialist's own works; together with his Virtual Choir initiatives, these have brought Whitacre phenomenal success on the web as well as on disc, reflected here in a large and appreciative audience.
Accompanied by ensemblebash and pianist Christopher Glynn, his new choral triathlon Higher, Faster, Stronger put the choristers through the most demanding of paces. Also new was The Listening Chair by digital diva and songwriter Imogen Heap, each self-performed minute of which apparently represents a seven-year phase of the life cycle; its blend of flamboyance and disarming innocence received a light additional dusting of sophistication through Whitacre's arrangement. Elsewhere, his expert directorial touch displayed the immaculate craftsmanship of his choral writing, while soprano Hila Plitmann's solo in a spiritual arranged by Moses Hogan scaled the concert's highpoint of intensity.
• Available on iPlayer until 5 September. If you're at any Prom this summer, tweet your thoughts about it to @guardianmusic using the hashtag #proms and we'll pull what you've got to say into one of our weekly roundups – or leave your comments below.
