BBC Proms facts
The BBC Proms is the world’s biggest and longest-running music festival and features many of the world’s greatest artists and orchestras. This year, over its two months, there are 76 concerts in the Royal Albert Hall and 12 in Cadogan Hall, as well as four Proms in the Park celebrations around the UK on the Last Night. There are also daily FREE Proms Plus talks, workshops, performances and family events.
How can I find out what's on and when?
BBC Proms 2014: The Official Guide, available in bookshops, online and across the UK from 24 April, contains full details of the festival along with articles about the music and artists, priced £6.50. Full season details are also available at bbc.co.uk/proms from 2.00pm on 24 April. For the second year, the Guide is also availableas an ebook for platforms including Apple and Android, from online retailers, priced at £4.49.
Why is it called the ‘Proms’?
‘Proms’ is short for Promenade concerts, informal and inexpensive concerts where Promenaders (‘Prommers’) stand to listen. Promming tickets in 2014 are £5 for the ninth year running. The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts, now known as the BBC Proms, has up to 900 Prommers standing in the central Arena and a further 500 standing, sitting or even lying down in the Gallery.
Where is the Proms held?
Since the first home of the Proms, the Queen’s Hall, was destroyed in 1941, concerts have been held in the Royal Albert Hall, though the BBC has the responsibility of running the Proms and for devising its artistic programme. There are also events at Cadogan Hall and a daily programme of FREE Proms Plus events at the Royal College of Music.
When did the Proms begin?
Henry Wood, who conducted almost every concert for nearly half a century, lifted his baton for the first time on Saturday 10 August 1895. Even then, Prom concerts were not a new idea: they started in France in the 1830s and were introduced to the UK shortly afterwards.
Whose idea was it?
The Proms was the brainchild of impresario Robert Newman, whose ambition was to enable people to enjoy ‘serious music’. Henry Wood, founder-conductor of the Proms, believed in making the best-quality classical music available to the widest possible audience and that ambition remains central to the BBC Proms today.
How many people attend the Proms?
In 2013 over 300,000 people attended concerts at both the Royal Albert Hall and Cadogan Hall, average attendance for the main evening Proms in the Royal Albert Hall was 93%, and a record 57 of 75 concerts in the Royal Albert Hall sold out, six more than in 2012. More than 32,000 people bought tickets for the first time and over 8,400 18s and under attended concerts across the season.
How can I access the Proms?
Every Prom is broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and in HD sound via the website at bbc.co.uk/radio3. It is also possible to ‘listen again’ for seven days after broadcast at bbc.co.uk/proms. Selected Proms are televised on BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four and CBeebies throughout the season. Proms information can also be found via Facebook (facebook.com/theproms) and Twitter (@bbcproms / #bbcproms).
How many people watch and listen to the Proms?
In 2013 the BBC Proms reached 16 million viewers in the UK across all BBC television platforms. BBC Radio 3 reaches 2 million people each week and has a huge international audience through its broadcasts online.
How much do tickets cost?
There are eight different price bands for concerts, ranging from £7.50 to £68 (excluding the Last Night)*. Arena and Gallery Promming tickets cost just £5 each. A Whole Season Promming ticket costs £200, bringing the cost of attending each concert to less than £2.65. (Half Season tickets are also available at £120.) Persons aged 18 and under will be able to buy half-price tickets for all Proms, except the Last Night.
How can I book tickets?
Tickets go on sale at 9.00am on Saturday 17 May 2014. The online Proms Planner at bbc.co.uk/proms enables you to plan your concert attendance across the season before tickets go on sale. This will be available from 2.00pm on Thursday 24 April until midnight on Friday 16 May. From 9.00am on 17 May customers can also phone 0845 401 5040** or buy tickets in person at the Royal Albert Hall. In 2014 Promming Season Tickets and Weekend Promming Passes will be available to purchase online, by phone and in person on Friday 16 May at 9.00am.
Who runs the Proms and how much does it cost?
The Proms is entirely run and funded by the BBC through the licence fee. The total cost of the Proms season, including hire of the Royal Albert Hall, artistic costs, management and extra events, not including Proms in the Park, is around £9 million with an expected £4 million gained back through box office income.
*A booking fee of 2% of the total value (plus £1.50 per ticket up to a maximum of £20.00 per booking) applies.
** Calls cost up to 5p/min from most landlines (an additional connection fee may also apply). Calls from mobiles may cost considerably more. All calls will be recorded and may be monitored for training and quality-control purposes.
