 | Press Releases78% of main evening concerts sold out at 2008 BBC Proms |
 78% of main evening Proms sold out
4% increase in total audience 90% average attendance for main evening Proms As the BBC Proms 2008 draws to a close with the world-famous Last Night Of The Proms celebrations tomorrow, the new Director, Roger Wright, announced that 78% of the main evening Proms sold out, and an increase in the numbers of people attending the biggest Proms season to date. Forty-eight of the 76 concerts at the Royal Albert Hall sold out and, of the 58 main evening Proms, 45 attained capacity houses (78%) compared to 59% in 2007; 281,934 tickets were sold for BBC Proms concerts [1], an increase of 4% compared with 2007. Average attendance for the 76 main evening concerts was 90% compared with 87% last year when there were 72 concerts. There has also been a 5% increase in promming and sales of weekend passes have risen by 48%. BBC Proms on BBC Television have reached more than 12 million viewers to date (excluding the Last Night Of The Proms and time-shifted viewing, ie via the BBC iPlayer). For the first time the many Proms televised by BBC Two and BBC Four were available on demand for seven days via the BBC iPlayer and the new regular Proms on BBC Two were also shown on BBC HD. The new pre-Prom events, an expanded series called Proms Plus, also proved popular with many events full to capacity. In its fourth year at Cadogan Hall attendance at the Proms Chamber Music concerts continued to build with five of the eight concerts sold out, firmly establishing the series. Roger Wright, Director, BBC Proms, said: "I am delighted that the audience figures are so strong for the 2008 season. "It again shows the incredible commitment from our audiences who lie at the heart of the Proms. "The juxtaposition of the familiar and less familiar works, recreations of old programmes and days dedicated to one composer or genre has proved to be a great success. "This year there seems to have been a renewed festival spirit." The BBC Proms remains committed to new music with 13 world premieres – of which 11 were BBC commissions – music by 37 living composers and 98 works new to the Proms including pieces by Thomas Adès, Bach, Elliott Carter, Fauré, Janacek, Monteverdi, Puccini, Vaughan Williams and Xenakis. In 2008 the BBC Proms staged more events than ever, with 164 across the eight-week season including evening and late night concerts, talks, films, workshops and participatory activities. These included nearly 4,500 performers on stage, 17 choirs, 56 conductors, 33 orchestras, 118 composers, 76 pre-concert events, more than 300 hours of broadcasting on BBC Radio, TV and online in the UK, as well as thousands more abroad through BBC World Service, the European Broadcasting Union, US National Public Radio and more. Notes to Editors [1] All concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and Cadogan Hall, not including free events and Proms in the Park. The Last Night Of The Proms takes place in the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday 13 September, and there are BBC Proms In The Park events in London, Belfast, Swansea and Glasgow. Televised highlights of all four Proms in the Park events will be shown as part of BBC One and BBC Two's live coverage of the Last Night Of The Proms. Digital TV viewers can press the red button to access an interactive TV service. BBC Radio 3 broadcasts the concert from the Royal Albert Hall with highlights from the Park during the interval. BBC Radio 2 broadcasts Proms In The Park from Hyde Park, while national BBC Radio networks broadcast their local events. Coverage is also available on all platforms via the BBC iPlayer for seven days. RD3 | 
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