We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Genres

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are the Proms?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 10,734
References
Share

The Proms are a series of concerts held during the summer in England every year over the course of an eight week period. The bulk of The Proms takes place at the Royal Albert Hall in South Kensington, London, where 70 concerts are performed over the course of The Proms, but events take place all over England in a wide variety of venues. While originally designed to showcase orchestral music, The Proms has since expanded, and events now include world music, jazz, rock, opera, and a variety of musical stylings.

This famous British concert series has been held since 1895. The original goal of The Proms was to introduce classical music to the general public, by making tickets cheap and the venue accessible. Conducted by Henry Joseph Wood, The Proms debuted to great fanfare, with a venue specifically designed to allow guests to promenade during the concerts, often socializing, eating, and drinking while the music was played. Henry Wood is often credited with shaping the modern proms, and a bronze bust of him sits in front of the conductor's podium during The Proms as a mark of respect for his accomplishments.

Officially, The Proms are known as the BBC Proms, or the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts. The Proms are often broadcast on BBC stations, especially on the last night, when the Last Night concert features an assortment of patriotic music and classics of British orchestral music.

The Proms have endured two World Wars, shifting values in the musical community, and social upheaval in Britain. While the focus continues to be on bringing orchestral music to the British people, the expansion into other musical genres was met with great excitement in the musical community, and The Proms also offers events specifically designed for children and families to get young people interested in music. Young musicians are showcased at The Proms, as are debuts of new musical works, many of which are commissioned by the BBC specifically for The Proms.

While many of the concert-goers remain seated in the modern Proms, the tradition of promenading still endures in the form of “promming,” or standing directly in front of the stage. Promming tickets are usually available at low cost on the day of any event, although it is also possible to purchase season tickets. For concert-goers, a Grand Slam, which involves attending every single Proms concert in the season, is sometimes a lifelong goal.

Share
Musical Expert is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a Musical Expert researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.musicalexpert.org/what-are-the-proms.htm
Copy this link
Musical Expert, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Musical Expert, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.