BBC Proms: What's on and how to get tickets
The musical jamboree starts in three weeks. Here's what to expect
The Proms is perhaps the most lavish and hotly anticipated event in the classical music calendar.
With daily performances by some of the world's finest musicians, the BBC's eight-week season of orchestral music will once more feature sweeping symphonies and opulent operas, broadcast live across the world.
Here is a quick guide to what's on and when and how to get tickets:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What are the dates?
This year, the Proms start on Friday 14 July, with events including a world premiere of the BBC-commissioned St John’s Dance by Tom Coult and a performance of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No 3 in C minor.
The centrepiece of the event, Last Night of the Proms, takes place on Saturday 9 September at the Royal Albert Hall in London, with a programme of works by ten composers.
What are the highlights?
Chineke!, the UK's first black and minority ethnic orchestra founded by double bassist Chi-chi Nwanoku, make their Proms debut on 30 August, with pieces by Dvorak and Handel among others.
On 3 September, toothpick-wielding conductor Valery Gergiev guides St Petersburg's Mariinsky Orchestra through a thoroughly Russian programme, including Tchaikovsky's Third Piano Concerto and Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony.
Another sure-fire winner will be a semi-staging of Rodgers and Hammerstein's 1942 musical Oklahoma! by the John Wilson Orchestra on 11 August.
How can I get a ticket?
With the exception of Last Night…, tickets for all performances at the Royal Albert Hall are on sale now, while Proms At... shows, hosted at other venues around the UK, go on sale at 9am today.
Tickets for all the indoor events can be bought here. Tickets for Last Night of the Proms are already sold out - the ballot closed on 9 June. They are currently going on auction sites such as ViaGoGo for prices of £800 for restricted view seats to upwards of £3,000.
Lots of tickets are still available for the Proms in the Park events across the country, with prices starting at £47 and a selection of hampers and refreshments available to pre-book at extra cost. More information can be found on the BBC Proms in the Park website.
If a concert is sold out, the BBC recommends fans "keep trying, as returns often become available".
Will it be on television?
The BBC will provide full coverage of all events live on Radio 3, and Friday and Saturday night concerts will be broadcast on BBC4. The First and Last Night of the Proms will be shown on BBC2.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light – still a 'crown jewel'
The Week Recommends This 'superlative' Tudor drama returns to BBC One and remains 'appointment weekly viewing'
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
Threads: how apocalyptic pseudo-documentary shocked a nation
In the Spotlight The rarely shown nuclear annihilation film will reappear on TV screens this week
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
'Ludwig': David Mitchell's new quaint and quirky British detective drama
The Week Recommends The BBC's new cosy crime drama is the 'role of a lifetime' for Mitchell
By The Week UK Published
-
Mishal Husain: BBC journalist shares her six favourite books
The Week Recommends Newsreader and Radio 4 presenter picks works by Louisa May Alcott, Jamil Ahmad and more
By The Week UK Published
-
The Jetty: Jenna Coleman is 'magnetic' in 'claustrophobic' crime thriller
The Week Recommends BBC's new four-part show keeps viewers 'hooked' until the end
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Michael Mosley 'collapsed' during holiday hike
Speed Read Tributes paid to 'national treasure' who did so much to popularise science
By Hollie Clemence, The Week UK Published
-
Aitch or haitch: the linguisitic debate that 'matters a lot'
Talking Point 'University Challenge' host Amol Rajan has promised to change the way he pronounces the letter 'H'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The Secret Army: the IRA propaganda film forgotten for almost 50 years
Why Everyone's Talking About 'Chilling' BBC documentary reveals how US TV crew documented the inner workings of paramilitary group in 1970s
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published