The Proms are arguably the biggest event for classical music in the world
July 25, 2024
Among the most familiar cornerstones of European culture is Western Classical Music, along with the ornate and awe-inspiring concert halls the musical performances are held in. And while the concert houses and storied names from Vienna and Munich come to mind when one imagines the genre, the biggest event takes place every year in London. And its latest instalment, which is currently underway, is promising to be the grandest one yet.
Harmonious heritage
The Proms are the biggest celebration of classical music in not just the UK, but all over the world. An annual eight-week long musical extravaganza, it first began all the way back in 1895. Initially, it was an outdoor concert festival that was open to all. Hence its initial name ‘promenade concert’, from which comes the shortened form ‘The Proms’. Nowadays, it is a ticketed event, with most of the bigger performances held at the Royal Albert Hall and Cadogan Hall apart from a few held outdoors and at other venues across London.
Having been organised and broadcast by the BBC since 1927, the Proms’ most well-known aspect remains its closing ceremony, also known as Last Night of the Proms. This night includes mostly playing several classics as well as patriotic songs, and its tickets are extremely sought after among the general public.
Classically contemporary
As the biggest festival for classical music, the Proms do feature some of the most well-known names and compositions in the genre. However, it shouldn’t be dismissed as a celebration of ‘old music’, as contemporary composers and emerging talents throng the concert halls during this event, and some new stars emerge every year.
This year, all eyes are on 20-year-old South Korean pianist Yunchan Lim. The prodigious talent was the youngest to win the prestigious Van Cliburn International at the age of eighteen, and will be performing Beethoven’s Fifth Piano Concerto. American composer and performer Anthony Braxton is making his very first visit to the festival as well, and will be performing the works of Duke Ellington, alongside his own rarely-played compositions, which have received critical acclaim.