Judith Schrut previews this summer’s Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.
If you’re a classical music lover, it doesn’t get much better than the BBC’s summer Promenade Concerts, affectionately known as the Proms. The world’s greatest festival of classical music and a British national treasure since Victorian times, the Proms roared into London’s Royal Albert Hall this week, setting off 90 concerts and two months of non-stop musical feasting.
The original Proms’ promise, to create a joyous celebration of music and reach the widest possible audience, means there are plenty of affordable options, including half-price for under 18s and 1300 ‘promming’ (standing) tickets for every Prom at just £6 each.
Each Prom Season gets bigger and more imaginative. This year welcomes a gobsmacking choice of musicians from around the globe, 42 world premieres, intimate late night Proms, lunchtime Proms, Prom ‘Extras’ and loads of free concerts and events. As well as generous helpings of Beethoven, Bach and Mozart, amongst this year’s delights are a Tango Prom, Havana meets Kingston Prom, a Folk Music Prom, New York: Sound of a City Prom and a jazzy evening with the multi-instrumentalist sensation, Jacob Collier (pictured below).
Reach outs to other venues include Gilbert and Sullivan staged in the beautifully restored Victorian Theatre at Alexandra Palace in North London. This year’s Proms offer a massive salute to American composer, conductor and musical personality Leonard Bernstein, who would have been 100 this year, including celebratory performances of West Side Story and On the Town.
Every Proms season culminates in the bizarre but beloved British ritual known as the Last Night of the Proms, complete with with traditional fancy dress, party poppers, balloons and flag-waving sing-a-longs to ‘Rule, Britannia!’ and ‘Land of Hope and Glory.’ In addition to the Royal Albert Hall finale, you can choose from four open air Proms in the Park spectacles nationwide, join the party via giant video screens around the UK or sing along by telly, tablet, smartphone or radio, thanks to the BBC.
The BBC Proms continue until 8 September 2018 at the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW72 AP. Proms in the Park take place on 8 September 2018. Tickets and more at bbc.co.uk/proms.
