BBC celebrates 150th Proms with return of audiences
May 27, 2021
The BBC says that this year’s Proms heralds “a summer of live music on a scale not seen since before the pandemic”.
With 52 concerts over 44 days featuring 30 orchestras and ensembles, over 100 soloists and conductors and more than 2,000 musicians, this ambitious season celebrates the 150th anniversary of the event.
Audiences will be welcomed back in person to enjoy a live music in the Royal Albert Hall, and every note of the festival will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds, with 20 concerts broadcast on BBC TV and iPlayer for audiences to enjoy at home.
The BBC Proms will his year feaure some of the best known British artists as well as emerging stars, including Nicola Benedetti, Karen Cargill, Lucy Crowe, Sir Mark Elder, Benjamin Grosvenor, Steven Isserlis, Sally Matthews, Sir Simon Rattle, Christine Rice, Roderick Williams and Sir John Eliot Gardiner in his 60th Proms appearance.
For the first time ever, the Proms will have four unprogrammed mystery Proms to be revealed at a later date, allowing the festival to respond to the changing times.
David Pickard, Director of the Proms, says: “Planning a Proms season in a pandemic isn’t easy. We have relied on the creativity and collaboration of many people to offer a programme of such ambition, scale and quality, and are proud to celebrate so much outstanding British talent this summer. We are looking forward to welcoming live audiences back to the Royal Albert Hall in its 150th anniversary year, and to sharing six weeks of live music with audiences in the Hall and at home on BBC Radio 3 and on BBC TV. I hope you will join us for a summer filled with music.”
The 2021 Proms run from July 30th to September 11th.