Here’s your guide to today’s musical activity at the BBC Proms. Today is another busy day at the world’s greatest classical music festival, with two concerts being staged at the Royal Albert Hall.
Can’t get enough of the Proms? Just head over to our 2024 BBC Proms guide for all you need to know about the 2024 lineup. Here, we’ve listed all the concerts, taking place both at the Royal Albert Hall and at other venues across the UK. Bristol, Nottingham and Gateshead are all hosting weekend festivals, and there are chamber music concerts in Aberdeen, Belfast and Newport. Here you’ll find details on performers, times, ticket prices and all you need for successful Promming!
What’s on at the BBC Proms today?
Just like yesterday, there are two BBC Proms concerts taking place at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday 5 August 2024.
The first, Prom 22, is a relaxed version of yesterday’s Prom 20, featuring two of the awesomely talented Kanneh-Mason family – cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason and his brother, violinist Braimah Kanneh-Mason. You’ll hear much of the same repertoire from Prom 20. That Prom featured performances of traditional folk songs and dances including Bartók‘s Romanian Folk Dances, and arrangements of three of Brahms‘s Hungarian Dances. We also heard arrangements of popular songs including Bob Marley’s ‘Redemption Song’, Laura Mvula’s ‘Sing to the Moon’, Burt Bacharach’s ‘I Say a Little Prayer’ and the popular folk song ‘Scarborough Fair‘.
Once again, Sheku and Braimah will be joined by guitarist Plínio Fernandes and the Fantasia Orchestra and their conductor Tom Fetherstonhaugh. Today, though, you get the added benefit of the brilliant saxophonist and former BBC Young Musician Jess Gillam on presenting duties.
BBC Proms tonight: fabulous Rachmaninov and a little-known piano gem
Then, tonight, it’s the turn of Prom 23. This features the London Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Edward Gardner in a performance of Rachmaninov‘s electrifying Symphonic Dances.
7.30pm. They’re also joined by the Rodolfus Choir, London Philharmonic Choir, and pianist Benjamin Grosvenor for the captivating Piano Concerto by the Italian composer Ferruccio Busoni.
Some 70 minutes long in a typical performance, this brilliant work is one of the longest piano concertos ever written. It features five movements, played without a break: the Finale features a chorus singing words from Aladdin, a verse-drama by the Danish poet and playwright Adam Oehlenschläger.
Are today’s BBC Proms on TV?
Today’s two Proms are not on TV. However, yesterday’s Prom 20, Folk Songs with the Kanneh-Masons, which shares much of its programme with today’s Prom 22, was recorded for broadcast on BBC Four.
And of course, you can hear both Proms (as you can all the BBC Proms) on BBC Radio 3.
What time do the BBC Proms concerts start today?
Prom 22, featuring Sheku Kanneh-Mason and others, starts at 11.15am. Prom 23, featuring Rachmaninov and Busoni, kicks off at 7.30pm.
And how much are tickets for the BBC Proms today?
Tickets for Prom 22 range from £10 to £27. Prom 23, featuring Benjamin Grosvenor and others, is priced between £11 and £54. Another option is to become a Prommer for the day, and join those passionate Proms fans queuing for the chance of an £8 ticket.