For the opening night of its Electric Proms, the BBC booked an American music legend whose venerable status almost makes The Rolling Stones seem like a bunch of young upstarts in
comparison.

Still, Burt Bacharach looked pretty incredible for 80 years of age, with the relaxed air of a retired tennis coach. And there were some youthful guest stars, too, so it lived up to the Electric Proms’ remit of “new moments in music”.
Bacharach clearly inspired awe among the many musicians on stage, but with one hand in his pocket as he addressed the audience, he was the personification of urbane charm.

Careful to give credit to the lyricist Hal David, he also coolly pointed out that all these famous tunes were composed by “the same person — the piano player here”.

In fact, between songs Bacharach was about as relaxed as it’s possible to be without nodding off. But when he performed at the piano with a troupe of vocalists and musicians as well as the marvellous BBC Concert Orchestra, you saw him striving for perfection, often out of his seat and conducting the players.

Perhaps the first 20-minute medley was too much, too soon, as a run of favourites originally sung by Dionne Warwick flashed by: What The World Needs Now Is Love, Walk On By, I Say A Little Prayer, and more.

The show settled down with a stirring take on Anyone Who Had A Heart, featuring a blasting saxophone solo, and Jamie Cullum sang a creditable version of Make It Easy On Yourself.

Some of Bacharach’s hits now seem sugary, particularly The Carpenters’ (They Long To Be) Close To You, but most of this 90-minute set was evidently the work of a major songwriter.
The other guests were on song, too, with Beth Rowley’s gutsy performance of Gene Pitney’s 24 Hours From Tulsa, while Adele sang Baby It’s You without any fear that she was following The Beatles.

The soundtrack section revisited Tom Jones’s What’s New Pussycat? And the veteran was happy to air early material he admitted sounded like somebody else had written it, such as Magic Moments, recorded by Perry Como more than 50 years ago.

Occasionally Bacharach voiced some of his own songs, too. “Nothing’s worrying me,” he sang delicately on the encore of Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on my Head, before strolling off.
Few artists combine poignant and cool in one package, but Burt Bacharach is that man.

Until 26 October, www.bbc.co.uk/electricproms