Here’s all you need to know about the BBC Proms concert taking place on Sunday, 28 July 2024 at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
Need the lowdown on all this year’s BBC Proms? Here’s your guide to the 2024 BBC Proms – every concert, every performer, times, ticket prices and more.
What’s on at the Proms today?
Today at the Proms is Prom 13: Sarah Vaughan: If You Could See Me Now. Broadcast live on BBC Four and kicking off at 7.30pm, the concert is a celebration of the great American jazz singer Sarah Vaughan, who was born 100 years ago this year. Sarah features in our list of the 15 best jazz singers of all time.
Regular Proms presenter Clive Myrie, who also co-fronted the BBC’s recent British General Election coverage, presents a star-studded celebration of one of the most iconic voices of the 20th century. Performers on the night include the English jazz trumpeter and composer Guy Barker, the brilliant and versatile BBC Concert Orchestra, the American actor and writer Clarke Peters, and actress and singer Marisha Wallace.
Who was Sarah Vaughan?
Sarah Vaughan (1924-1990) was an American jazz singer and pianist, and one of the best loved and most influential jazz performers of the 20th century. Nicknamed ‘The Divine One’ (or ‘Sassy’), she picked up two Grammy Awards including a Lifetime Achievement Award. Interestingly, her voice sometimes drew comparison with those of the great opera singers. Jazz singer Betty Carter, for instance, was of the opinion that, with training Vaughan could have gone as far as the great American soprano Leontyne Price.
Sarah Vaughan’s most famous songs
Among an impressive back catalogue of songs, Sarah Vaughan is perhaps best known for her versions of ‘Send In the Clowns‘, ‘Broken Hearted Melody’, ‘If You Could See Me Now’, ‘Passing Strangers’, ‘That Lucky Old Sun’, ‘Black Coffee’, ‘Loverman’, ‘Summertime’ from George Gershwin‘s Porgy and Bess, and ‘The Nearness of You’.
Which other Proms is Clive Myrie presenting?
Tonight’s Prom is one of four concerts at the 2024 BBC Proms that Clive Myrie will present. He was there for this year’s First Night of the Proms (Friday 19 July), which featured rising pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason, conductor Elim Chan and the BBC Singers, among others.
After tonight’s Prom, Clive gets a few weeks off before returning to present Prom 36 (Friday 13 August, BBC Four, broadcast date tbc), including Mozart‘s Clarinet Concerto and incidental music to Mendelssohn‘s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He’s then back one more time to present Prom 46 (Sun 25 Aug, Prom 46, BBC Four, live), featuring Holst’s magnificent cosmic suite The Planets.
How much are tickets to tonight’s Prom?
Tickets to Sarah Vaughan: If You Could See Me Now are priced between £11 and £54. Although you can always try your luck as one of the Proms’ distinctive Prommers and join the queue on the day!