Sir Edward Downes (1924-2009) Edward Johnson writes… “The Pines of Rome was first performed in 1924 but it took all of 62 years before it received its Proms Premiere under Edward Downes in 1986. Suffice to say that the BBC Philharmonic gave it a superb roof-raising performance and showed the Prommers just what they’d been … Continue reading The Proms premiere of Respighi’s Pines of Rome – August 8, 1986 – BBC Philharmonic/Edward Downes.