Summary

  • The live commentary below is your definitive guide to the Last Night celebrations

  1. 8 reasons why the Last Night of the Proms 2016 celebrations were unforgettablepublished at 00:24 BST 11 September 2016

    Juan Diego Flórez's Inca-redible costume for Rule, Britannia
    Image caption,

    Juan Diego Flórez's Inca-redible costume for Rule, Britannia

    What a season it's been, topped off by an extraordinary finale. Take a look at our round-up article of the moments that defined a fantastic, memorable Last Night - in the Royal Albert Hall and at the celebrations across the UK.

  2. Your reactionspublished at 23:12 BST 10 September 2016

    What a spectacular night of world-class music and celebration. From these reactions it seems like some of you enjoyed yourselves too...

    Land of Hope and Glory

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    Jerusalem

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  3. Watch: The World's Biggest Classical Music Festival in 3 minutespublished at 22:43 BST 10 September 2016

    What a splendid season it's been! Sambas, serenades, Shakespeare and loads and LOADS of music. Watch our best bits from two months of incredible music making...

  4. Auld Lang Syne – Trad. arr. C. Thorpe Davispublished at 22:41 BST 10 September 2016

    It's not just for Hogmanay, join hands and sing along with Robert Burns' words of friendship.

  5. The National Anthem – Anon. arr Brittenpublished at 22:39 BST 10 September 2016

    It might sound unbelieveable but we really don't know who wrote the tune of the National Anthem. Join in with this arrangement by Benjamin Britten.

    Choirs and audience:

    Thy choicest gifts in store 

    On her be pleased to pour, 

    Long may she reign. 

    May she defend our laws, 

    And ever give us cause, 

    To sing with heart and voice, 

    God save the Queen. 

    God save the Queen. 

    God save the Queen. 

  6. Sing along with Jerusalempublished at 22:35 BST 10 September 2016

    And in case you need the words..

    And did those feet in ancient time 

    Walk upon England’s mountains green? 

    And was the Holy Lamb of God 

    On England’s pleasant pastures seen? 

    And did the Countenance Divine 

    Shine forth upon our clouded hills? 

    And was Jerusalem builded here 

    Among these dark Satanic mills? 

    Bring me my bow of burning gold! 

    Bring me my arrows of desire! 

    Bring me my spear! O clouds unfold! 

    Bring me my Chariot of Fire! 

    I will not cease from mental fight; 

    Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand 

    Till we have built Jerusalem 

    In England’s green and pleasant land.

    Blake's own engraving for plate for his poem Jerusalem
    Image caption,

    Blake's own engraving for plate for his poem Jerusalem

  7. Jam and Jerusalem, Parry and the Women's Movementpublished at 22:35 BST 10 September 2016

    Composer Hubert Parry set William Blake's text (his preface to Milton (published in 1804) a century ago. 

    Parry was a free thinking man and was happy to see Jerusalem adopted by the women's movement. It went on to become the hymn of Women Voters and the national song of the Women's Institute. It was Malcolm Sargent who first invited the audience to sing along to Jerusalem in 1953.

  8. Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 in D majorpublished at 22:24 BST 10 September 2016

    Land of Hope and Glory

    While it might conjure images of imperialism, Edward Elgar had no such intentions when he gave the title Pomp and Circumstance to his set of six marches (in the end, Elgar completed only five). 

    In fact, the title is taken from Act 3 of Shakespeare's Othello, spoken by the eponymous character.

    And now for your part... here are the words ready for when the conductor gives you your cue:

    Land of Hope and Glory, 

    Mother of the Free, 

    How shall we extol thee 

    Who are born of thee? 

    Wider still and wider 

    Shall thy bounds be set; 

    God, who made thee mighty, 

    Make thee mightier yet. 

    A. C. Benson (1862–1925)

  9. The Conductor's Speechpublished at 22:24 BST 10 September 2016

    Sakari Oramo makes the traditional conductor's speech. He paid tribute to the concert goers who have donated over £112,000 to musical charities during the 2016 Proms season.

    Oramo also celebrated the value of listening closely to music and the peace it brings. He called for unity, access and inclusion in a tribute to proms founder Sir Henry Wood.

  10. Juan Rulespublished at 22:22 BST 10 September 2016

    Here's another look at that magnificent performance...

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  11. Now, this is how to make an entrance...published at 22:15 BST 10 September 2016

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  12. Well that was Inca-redible!published at 22:13 BST 10 September 2016

    It looks like the surprise in the box was an outfit for Juan. Juan Diego Flórez was dressed as Manco Cápac, also known by the names of Manco Inca and Ayar Manco. According to some historians, Manco Cápac was the first governor and founder of the Inca civilization in Cusco, possibly in the early 13th Century.

    It's not unusual for soloists to incorporate national dress into their Last Night wardrobe, we've seen that before...

    Thomas Hampson
    Image caption,

    Baritone Thomas Hampson wears a UK / USA waistcoat and cravat at the Last Night in 1998

    Willard White
    Image caption,

    Jamaican British bass, Willard White performing at the Last Night of the Proms in 1999

  13. Nice outfit, Juanpublished at 22:13 BST 10 September 2016

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  14. Sounds like you're having good timepublished at 22:10 BST 10 September 2016

    Smiles, tears and appreciation for the people who make tonight happen (even the ones behind the scenes)... you lot are lovely.

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  15. Party balloonspublished at 21:56 BST 10 September 2016

    As the action speeds up (and speeds up a bit more) here's another joyful moment from tonight's Prom.

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  16. Fantasia on British Sea Songspublished at 21:49 BST 10 September 2016

    Sir Henry's Wood's musical gift to the Proms

    One of the best loved musical moments of the Proms is the Sir Henry Wood's arrangement of British Sea Songs, but it didn't become a tradition until the 1920s. If you've got a duck call, a car horn or any noise making device, grab it now and be ready to join in on 'Jack's the Lad' aka The Sailor's Hornpipe which builds to a sprint finish between orchestra and audience. It was a race that Sir Henry Wood said he wanted to win 'by at least two bars'.

    The actual content of the Sea Songs is flexible and this year's Last Night uses Malcolm Sargent's 1940 version of Rule, Britannia! which was originally written by Thomas Arne for his 1740 masque Alfred. This evening's arrangement is even more special. Thanks to Juan Diego Flórez's high tenor voice, tonight's Rule, Britannia! is the highest arrangement ever to be performed at the Proms.

    Henry Wood in 1935
    Image caption,

    Henry Wood in 1935

  17. When did flags first appear at the last night?published at 21:48 BST 10 September 2016

    Over the years, a number of audience and performer rituals have developed around the Last Night: some are real traditions, and some are imagined. The topic of flag waving is bound to make some news headlines tonight - but first, Katie Derham finds out about the history of flags at the Proms with cultural historian Dr. Leanne Langley.

  18. Flags at the ready, it's nearly time to sing along!published at 21:45 BST 10 September 2016

    This is the part that screams LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS, get ready for bobbing, singing, flag waving, squeaking and honking.

  19. What's in the box Juan Diego?published at 21:44 BST 10 September 2016

    So, we've just had a tenor and a teddy bear. Juan Diego Flórez has been promising another special surprise tonight... could it be in this box?

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  20. Juan Diego and his friend from Darkest Perupublished at 21:41 BST 10 September 2016

    Juan Diego Flórez is a national hero in Peru. His wedding was broadcast on TV and he's featured on a postage stamp, but who is the more famous Peruvian national here, Juan Diego or Paddington?

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