The Proms? again? They seem to last for ages!
Actually, the annual BBC Proms, or ‘The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts’ to give them their full title, last for just eight-weeks…
Just eight weeks!! That’s longer than the World Cup!
Indeed, but I think you’ll agree that they are far more enjoyable and don’t include any penalty shoot-outs or those dreadfully irksome vuvuzelas…
I can’t really argue with that, so what’s the deal then? It just looks like a load of posh twits pretending to know what’s going on and trying to get on television..
If that were true then it would be exactly like the World Cup! However the BBC Proms are a summer celebration of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hall in South Kensington. The first ever Proms were held in 1895 and last year there were over..
Yes yes, we all know how to use Wikipedia mate. But what the hell has the word ‘Prom’ got to do with music?
I’m glad you asked! The concerts are called Proms because ladies and gentlemen used to promenade around the..
Promenade??
..Walk around the venue during the performance. Nowadays the act of ‘Promming’ refers to the use of the standing areas inside the hall (the arena and gallery) for which ticket prices are much lower than for the reserved seating..
So could I afford a ticket then?
Judging by that rope around your waist – probably not..
This is all they had left at the shop you belt-wearing toff! So is there anything going on anywhere else or is it all just in London as usual?
In fact organisers set up additional ‘Proms in the Park’ events across the United Kingdom on the last night, and associated educational and children’s events..
Well it might be useful to go to an educational event, but I think I’m going to head down to the big smoke and see what all this fuss is about. Will there be any tickets left?
It just so happens that most tickets are sold on the day of the actual concert, a practice that leads to long queues of Prommers for popular composers…
Prommers?
Yes that’s what we call Prom-goers..
I can think of another name for them…
The BBC Proms continue on BBC2 this Saturday at 9pm with Sondheim’s 80th Birthday Celebration
