Proms in the Park 2009

Last night of the Proms

The 115th Last night of the Proms concert usually grips the nation presenting a wide range of music that is played to the highest standards. The concert is performed at the Albert Hall on Saturday 12 September and will be broadcast live on BBC 2 from 7.30pm, you will also be able to listen live on BBC Radio 3.

This years programme includes performers such as Martha Argerich; Daniel Barenboim; Joshua Bell; Riccardo Chailly; Isabelle Faust; Valery Gergiev; Bernard Haitink; Stephen Hough; Gidon Kremer; Katia & Maria Labeque; Paul Meyer; Michael Nyman; Julian Rachlin; Andreas Scholl and Dawn Upshaw.

For the first time, the Last Night Of The Proms will also be screened via satellite to cinema chains in Asia, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA on 12 September.

Proms in the Park

In recent years organisers have launched ‘Proms in the Park‘ which are events based in cities around the UK that are centred around a live concert with high-profile artists and presenters, culminating in a live BBC Big Screen link-up to the Royal Albert Hall. The Proms in the Park events will be held in five locations,
Hillsborough Castle in County Down — Northern Ireland, Glasgow Green — Scotland, Hyde Park — London, Singleton Park — Swansea and Buile Hill Park — Salford. 

The events are further broadcast across the country to BBC’s Big Screens located around the country: Centenary Square — Bradford, The Hayes — Cardiff, Market Place — Derby, Market Square — Dover, Festival Square — Edinburgh, Queen Victoria Square — Hull, Millennium Square — Leeds, Clayton Square –Liverpool, Exchange Square –Manchester, Centre Square — Middlesbrough, Chapelfield Plain — Norwich, Armada Way — Plymouth, Guildhall Square — Portsmouth, All Saints Square — Rotherham, Wharf Green — Swindon, Walthamstow Town Square — Waltham Forest, General Gordon Place — Woolwich.

Tickets

All BBC Proms in the Park events are outdoors and tickets are unreserved. 

London — Albert Hall:  Tickets have been sold since May so at this stage they may be scarce, but you can either call 0845 401 5040 or purchase online via the Royal Albert Hall website. Alternatively you can enjoy the Proms by ‘promming’ — 1,400 standing places are available in the Hall costing only 5GBP each and can be a wonderful experience. Tickets go on sale 30 minutes before doors open, they can not be booked in advance. Visit the BBC site for more information. 

Background

The first Proms concert in London took place on 10 August 1895 and was the brainchild of the impresario Robert Newman, manager of the newly built Queen’s Hall in London. While Newman had previously organised symphony orchestra concerts at the hall, his aim was to reach a wider audience by offering more popular programmes, adopting a less formal promenade arrangement, and keeping ticket prices low.

Last night of the Proms programme

Oliver Knussen Flourish with Fireworks
Purcell, arr. Henry Wood New Suite
Purcell Dido and Aeneas – ‘Thy hand, Belinda … When I am laid in earth’ (Dido’s Lament); ‘With drooping wings ye cupids come’ 
Haydn Trumpet Concerto in E flat major 
Mahler Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen
Villa-Lobos Chôros No.10, ‘Rasga o Coração’

interval

Arnold A Grand, Grand Overture 
Ketèlbey In a Monastery Garden 
Piazzolla Libertango
Gershwin, arr. Barry Forgie Shall We Dance – ‘They can’t take that away from me’ BBC commission: world premier
BBC Proms Inspire composers Fireworks Fanfares world premiere 
Handel Music for the Royal Fireworks – excerpts 
Arne, arr. Sargent Rule, Britannia! 
Parry Jerusalem 
Elgar Pomp and Circumstance March No.1 
The National Anthem 

Sarah Connolly mezzo-soprano
Alison Balsom trumpet

BBC Singers
BBC Symphony Chorus
BBC Symphony Orchestra
David Robertson conductor