The Proms Is Back: And This Year’s LineUp Is Impressive!

Belle About Town Proms lineup at Royal Albert Hall

The world’s largest classical musical festival, the BBC Proms, is back and bigger than ever!

After a couple of years of cancellations and reduced performances thanks to the unmentionable C word, it is exciting to see the festival back in all its glory, with an impressive 84 concerts between 15 July – 10 September. 

From tributes to Aretha Franklin and Relaxed family events, to first time appearances such as the Gaming Prom and the Earth Prom, it is looking like a packed programme. Plus of course the festival – the majority of which takes place in the Royal Albert Hall – has plenty of the classics, with music from the likes of Vaughan Williams and Beethoven, not to mention the famous Last Night of the Proms.

We had a nose through the BBC Prom’s Festival Guide and pulled out a selection of the ones we reckon you won’t want to miss… 

Cynthia Erivo: Legendary Voices 

We can’t get enough of the super talented, funky and unique performer, Cynthia Erivo, so of course she has made our list. Paying homage to the women who have influenced her career, expect to hear the hits of legends such as Billie Holiday, Shirley Bassey and Nina Simone. London-born Cynthia, who is a singer, songwriter and actress, is supported by the BBC Concert Orchestra. 

17 July

Smyth: The Wreckers

Opera may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but this one is worth checking out, both for its dramatic story of wrecking, plundering and heroism on the Cornish coast, and the fascinating female composer behind it.

Ethel Smyth was a composer and conductor at a time when women weren’t exactly welcomed into the industry with open arms, and also managed to find time to fit in being an author and active in the Suffragettes. If you have a quiet moment give her a google, as she definitely deserves a lot more recognition. Ethel, we salute you.

24 July

Belle About Town Proms lineup at Royal Albert Hall
The Proms are back at the Royal Albert Hall for 84 shows from July until September

Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra

When the Proms were announced, this was the one that instantly struck a chord with everyone – the idea that music, beauty and harmony could not only survive through the suffering in Ukraine, but could act as a message of defiance.

The orchestra is made up of refugees and musicians who have been given exemption from fighting, and we can only imagine the unique atmosphere their performance is sure to evoke.

31 July

Aretha Franklin: Queen of Soul

Fifty years on from the release of her album Young, Gifted and Black, this evening promises to be one packed full of the hits we know and love.

With our favourite conductor Jules Buckley at the helm, and American singer-songwriter Shelea on vocals we have to give this Prom choice our ultimate, ahem…Respect.

22 August

Earth Prom, with Chris Packham

Nothing gives us a warm fuzzy feeling like settling in for the latest series of Blue Planet and watching David Attenborough on his latest adventures. So of course we sat up and listened when we heard the BBC Studios Natural History Unit has dug into its back catalogue of footage, combined it with music from the likes of Hans Zimmer, and created an audio and visual journey across planet Earth. Not only that, but the fabulous Chris Packham is presenting!

27 August

  • Emily Cleary

    After almost a decade chasing ambulances, and celebrities, for Fleet Street's finest, Emily has taken it down a gear and settled for a (slightly!) slower pace of life in the suburbs. With a love of cheese and fine wine, Emily is more likely to be found chasing her toddlers round Kew Gardens than sipping champagne at a showbiz launch nowadays, or grabbing an hour out of her hectic freelancer's life to chill out in a spa while hubby holds the babies. If only!

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