The BBC Proms is an iconic and internationally renowned music festival which has captivated audiences for 128 years. Founded in 1895, this annual eight-week summer event held in London showcases a diverse range of musical performances, from classical masterpieces to contemporary compositions.
With its rich history, electrifying atmosphere, and commitment to accessibility, the Proms continues to inspire and enchant music lovers from around the world.
This year’s concerts will run from Friday 14 July to Saturday 9 September. The principal venue is The Royal Albert Hall in Kensington, London, although chamber music concerts are also held at Cadogan Hall, in Chelsea. The last night of the season is also relayed to open-air events in London’s Hyde Park and other locations around the UK.
History
‘Promenade’ concerts in parks, where the audience was free to stroll around while the orchestra was playing, had been a feature of metropolitan life since the mid-18th century. In 1895, impresario Robert Newman, in conjunction with established orchestral conductor Sir Henry Wood, staged the first summer season of daily promenade concerts in the Queen's Hall, London.
The BBC
In 1927, the BBC, located conveniently adjacent to the Queen's Hall, in Langham Place, took over the running of the concerts. During the second world war, the venue was destroyed by bombing and, in 1941, the event was transferred to the Royal Albert Hall in London’s Kensington. Sir Henry was mainly responsible for building the traditional repertoire and a bust, recovered from the ruins of the bombed-out Queen's Hall, now has a permanent place in front of the great Royal Albert Hall organ.
Programme
The primary focus of the BBC Proms is to present exceptional music in all its forms. With a vast array of concerts, the festival offers a platform for world-class orchestras, renowned conductors, and virtuoso soloists. Each year, the programme features a broad repertoire, encompassing symphonies, concertos, choral works, and chamber music by classical composers such as Holst, Wagner, Handel, Strauss and Ravel, together with more contemporary works. This year’s programme even includes a concert devoted to the music of Stevie Wonder.
We reported earlier on the Glastonbury Festival, which has become almost an equivalent ‘Proms’ for the world of contemporary music.
Promming
The promenade tradition is acknowledged in the present-day Royal Albert Hall performances, where the standing areas in the arena and gallery offer considerably more affordable ticket prices for the ‘prommers’ or ‘promenaders’. This broadens the audience and encourages a sense of community, allowing music enthusiasts of all backgrounds to experience the magic of the Proms first-hand.
Last Night of the Proms
Undoubtedly the highlight of the festival, the Last Night of the Proms is a tradition cherished by both performers and audiences alike. This grand finale of musical unity features a mix of popular classics and patriotic pieces, such as Edward Elgar's ‘Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1’ (Land of Hope and Glory) and Sir Henry’s own ‘Fantasia on British Sea Songs’ (the sea shanties). Then, Thomas Arne's ‘Rule, Britannia!’ and Hubert Parry's ‘Jerusalem’. The concert concludes with the national anthem, but the prommers take it upon themselves to end the proceedings with an acapella ‘Auld Lang Syne’.
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