BBC Proms
The World's Greatest Classical Music Festival. The BBC Proms is a classical music festival held every summer at the Royal Albert Hall in London, and in recent years has explored an innovative series of Proms around the UK with concerts in all four nations. Its aim: to bring the best in classical music to the widest possible audience, which remains true to founder-conductor Henry Wood’s original vision in 1895. Whether you are a classical connoisseur or think classical music isn’t for you, there is something for everyone in the eight-week stretch of concerts.
Episodes
Runtime: 2h 0m
Piano superstar Yunchan Lim joins Dalia Stasevska and the BBC Symphony Orchestra for Ravel’s bluesy Concerto in G major. We also hear music by Copland, Gershwin and Finzi, alongside a world premiere from French-British composer Josephine Stephenson
Runtime: 1h 4m
A specially curated night of musical gems, from the Royal Albert Hall. Alongside Beethoven's famous symphony are Mussorgsky's A Night on a Bare Mountain and Strauss' Don Juan. Presented by Petroc Trelawny and Georgia Mann and featuring performances by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Marin Alsop and Elim Chan.
Runtime: 1h 53m
Dazzling new classical arrangements of ELP, Genesis, Mike Oldfield, Yes and more, with performances from Guy Garvey, Gruff Rhys and Jane Weaver. Performing alongside the BBC Concert Orchestra and conductor Robert Ames, more is more in this ultimate rock-classical crossover. Expect synthesisers and tubular bells in a specially curated evening presented by Stuart Maconie.
Runtime: 2h 0m
John Wilson and his Sinfonia of London return to the Proms for the first of two concerts, performing Respighi’s trilogy of Rome-inspired tone-poems alongside the Walton’s rhapsodic Cello Concerto. Norwegian cellist Jonathan Aasgaard makes his Proms debut
Runtime: 1h 26m
A night celebrating the treasured British composer with two of his most majestic works. Ryan Wigglesworth conducts the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra who take to the stage for the sweeping First Symphony. Plus a delve into the archives to look back to Sheku Kanneh-Mason's Cello Concerto performance, standing the test of time for its brilliance. Petroc Trelawny presents from the Royal Albert Hall.
Runtime: 1h 13m
The Spanish National Orchestra makes its Proms debut with a set of heat-soaked musical postcards that includes Ravel’s hypnotic Boléro and Rodrigo’s much-loved Concierto de Aranjuez with guitar phenomenon Rafael Aguirre as soloist
Runtime: 1h 2m
Rising star Sueye Park dazzles with her Proms debut, playing the Sibelius Violin Concerto. / / Joined by John Storgards and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, a wildly virtuosic exploration of the Nordic landscape clearly demonstrates how Park won the prestigious 13th International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition last year. / / The programme continues with two celebrated violinists from Proms past: Liya Petrova playing the much-loved Lark Ascending and Nicola Benedetti performing the playful, lyrical second movement of Wynton Marsalis's Fiddle Dance Suite. / / Katie Derham presents a look at some of the great performances on the violin that have graced the Royal Albert Hall stage.
Runtime: 1h 1m
This specially curated programme looks to the skies with Strauss's filmic masterpiece, teamed with Judith Weir's Moon and Star and Ravel's Alborada del gracioso.
Runtime: 59m
Featuring a stellar line-up including Richard Strauss's Also sprach Zarathustra from Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece, 2001: A Space Odyssey - performed at this year's Proms; Gustav Holst's The Planets; John Williams's scores for Star Wars and E.T.; Hans Zimmer's Interstellar and Max Richter's On the Nature of Daylight, which plays over the opening montage of Denis Villeneuve's 2016 sci-fi classic, Arrival.
Runtime: 1h 39m
More than 150 of the country's best young musicians embark on a musical journey to the underworld and back, under the watchful eye of conductor and composer, Thomas Adès. Always a highlight of any BBC Proms season, the National Youth Orchestra is at the Royal Albert Hall with a programme that opens with Liszt's intoxicating Mephisto Waltz No. 1, a whirlwind score based on Nikolaus Lenau’s epic poem Faust. Next is a rare treat of a new piece, conducted by the composer himself: Purgatorio–Dante ballet Part II is Thomas Adès’s contemplation of purgatory, the central act of his Grammy Award-winning ballet. To round off the concert, the orchestra delivers the dazzling Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz. A vast young orchestra drenches the Royal Albert Hall in this mesmerising symphony. Presented by Petroc Trelawny.
Runtime: 1h 35m
Gustavo Dudamel leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic in its first Proms appearance for more than two decades, pairing Beethoven with Gabriela Ortiz's urgent Revolución diamantina. Fresh from his surprise appearance during the FIFA World Cup Final half-time show, Dudamel conducts Beethoven's electrifying Seventh Symphony, hailed by Wagner as ‘the apotheosis of the dance’. The Symphony is paired with Gabriela Ortiz's powerful Revolución diamantina, a gripping score inspired by Mexico's 2019 Glitter Revolution, and pulsing with hypnotic rhythms and defiant energy. Presented by Georgia Mann.
Runtime: 59m
An emotional night at the Royal Albert Hall celebrating Paul Simon's era-defining album on its 40th anniversary. Ladysmith Black Mambazo, who featured prominently on the album, are joined by James Bay, Laura Mvula and others on the Royal Albert Hall stage to perform hits like You Can Call Me Al, Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes and The Boy in the Bubble. Clive Myrie presents.
Runtime: 57m
A celebration of unforgettable musical firsts from The Royal Albert Hall, presented by Katie Derham. The programme includes the UK premiere of Betsy Jolas’ evocative Tales of a Summer Sea, inspired by Shakespeare's Tempest, and music from the Spanish National Orchestra - both pieces recorded this season. Plus Soprano Angel Blue's triumphant proms debut, and the first accordion soloist to grace the Last Night of the Proms stage - Ksenija Sidorova - who transports us to the streets of Buenos Aires with her rendition of Piazzolla's Libertango.
Runtime: 1h 15m
A glorious tribute to the legendary jazz trumpeter Miles Davis, marking what would have been his centenary year. Presented by Clive Myrie in front of a packed audience at the Royal Albert Hall and featuring classic hits from Porgy and Bess, Sketches of Spain and Miles Ahead, alongside works by composers who influenced him, Joaquín Rodrigo and George Gershwin. Acclaimed American jazz trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire joins the BBC Concert Orchestra and Miho Hazama to celebrate the jazz legend.
Runtime: 1h 29m
With velvety vocals packing an emotional punch and songs straddling soul, Motown, gospel, R&B and funk, Marvin Gaye embraced a unique range spanning intimacy and protest, the physical and the spiritual. A pioneer of soul- baring songwriting, he has influenced countless artists, from Stevie Wonder and Prince to hip hop and rap artists. The BBC Concert Orchestra and Edwin Outwater pay tribute to a musical icon, joined by guest singers for new orchestral arrangements of hits Gaye recorded with close collaborator Tammi Terrell (such as 'Aint No Mountain High Enough'), as well as favourites including 'I Heard it Through the Grapevine', 'What's Going On' and 'Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing'.
Runtime: 1h 25m
Two concertos under the spotlight. Star soloist Fleix Kleiser makes a dazzling return to the Proms stage playing Mozart's endearing Third Horn Concerto. Making her Proms solo debut, Amy Harman brings the world premiere of Thea Musgrave's 'Out of the Darkness' Concerto for Bassoon. The Academy of St Martin in the Fields also brings three heavyweights of the classical repertoire – Elgar, Britten and additional Mozart. Britten's playful Simple Symphony sits alongside Elgar's lesser-known Romance for Bassoon and Orchestra, and Mozart's infamous 'Haffner' symphony. Dancing rhythms ricochet throughout the programme with a light-footed spring between these five pieces. Presented by Georgia Mann from the Royal Albert Hall.
Runtime: 1h 45m
A long-awaited Proms debut for the Metropolitan Opera’s Met Orchestra – praised for its ‘white-hot musical drama’ – under Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin. A sumptuous all-Strauss programme includes a suite from Der Rosenkavalier – a ravishing homage to Vienna’s golden age – as well as the autobiographical drama of Ein Heldenleben – a striving, battling ‘Hero’s Life’ brought to vivid orchestral life. Celebrated South African soprano Elza van den Heever joins the orchestra for the final scene of the composer’s Salome – a searing centrepiece for one of the world’s great opera orchestras.
Runtime: 1h 29m
Nick Mohammed has a licence to thrill, presenting a concert of iconic 007 songs like Goldfinger, Nobody Does It Better and Diamonds Are Forever. The Royal Albert Hall plays host to the timeless and instantly recognisable theme tunes from the Bond movies, plus some unmistakable soundtracks from other spy films. Performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra under the baton of Daniel Bartholemew-Poyser alongside special guest singers.
Runtime: 2h 0m
Tom Service introduces us to the classics of tomorrow in a special compilation performed at the world's greatest classical music festival: bold and brave compositions, illustrious orchestral pieces and more from the Royal Albert Hall. The programme showcases three world premieres, an exciting bassoon concerto and interviews with illustrious composers like Thomas Adès and Gabriella Ortiz, who reveal the inspiration behind their pieces. Performed by an array of the world's best orchestras, elite conductors and dazzling soloists from across the summer.
Runtime: 39m
An exclusive first-hand insight into the mind of one of the world's most renowned musical figures. The legendary conductor reflects on her history-making Last Night of the Proms in 2013 and a favourite moment from this year, Yunchan Lim's triumphant season opening performance of Ravel's Piano Concerto.
Runtime: 18m
A trio of soloists play Gershwin’s jazz infused classic like you've never heard it before.
Runtime: 1h 27m
Much-loved magical tunes from Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid and more, brought to life by the BBC Philharmonic and West End stars. Presented by Nick Mohammed.
Runtime: 1h 58m
From the urban rhythms of Bernstein's West Side Story and On the Town to Gershwin's jazz-infused Rhapsody in Blue and the wide-open landscapes of Copland’s Appalachian Spring and Moross’s The Big Country, Marin Alsop conducts this barnstorming celebration of music from her homeland. The Marcus Roberts Trio are special guests alongside the Philharmonia. Katie Derham presents.
Runtime: 1h 45m
The legendary pianist returns to the Royal Albert Hall performing Beethoven’s Second Piano Concerto, joining the Munich Philharmonic conducted by Lahav Shani. The orchestra begins the programme with Louise Farrenc’s dramatic Overture No 2 and concludes with Brahms’ warm and joyful fourth and final Symphony. Presented by Petroc Trelawny.
Runtime: 1h 29m
Dvorak’s epic, Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra and a new triple concerto for BBC Young Musician star alumni Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Jess Gillam and Ben Goldscheider.
Runtime: 1h 49m
Katie Derham and Nick Mohammed lead the celebrations live from the Royal Albert Hall as the biggest party in classical music gets under way. Superstar pianist Yuja Wang and operatic sensation Nicky Spence top the bill as Sakari Oramo conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, and the BBC Singers. Highlights include Bernstein’s sparkling Overture to Candide, Barber’s Piano Concerto and Smetana’s epic Má vlast.
Runtime: 1h 36m
Classical music’s biggest party reaches its spectacular climax, with superstar pianist Yuja Wang and world-class tenor Nicky Spence, who celebrates his homeland with a rousing medley of Scottish songs, and an unmissable rendition of Sit Down, You’re Rockin' the Boat from hit musical Guys and Dolls. Plus rousing performances of Holst’s Jupiter and all the Last Night traditions, from Land of Hope and Glory to Auld Lang Syne. Presented by Katie Derham and Nick Mohammed.
Runtime: 2h 0m
Highlights from a summer of extraordinary music at the world’s biggest classical music festival. From Berlioz to Beethoven, Miles Davis to Marvin Gaye - a special selection of the best musical moments from across the season, including performances from Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Jess Gillam, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and so many more!
