Too Many Proms, Too Little Time

A short guide to the concerts I’m definitely not missing (and you shouldn’t either)

The BBC Proms are in full swing (opening night was last Friday). For anyone unfamiliar, the Proms are the biggest classical music festival in the world: eight weeks of concerts - often multiple per day - held mainly at the Royal Albert Hall in London, and across the UK.

The RAH, with a whopping capacity of over 5,000, transforms its floor seating into standing space for “prommers,” making it one of the most exciting (and affordable) live music experiences in the UK.

Every concert is broadcast live on BBC Radio 3, so you can listen in even if you’re not in London - and international listeners can tune in too and (I believe) catch up later.

I’ve already listened to several concerts. Last Sunday, French violinist Théotime Langlois de Swarte and his ensemble Le Consort gave a fantastic performance of Vivaldi, Bach, and other early music composers - well worth catching up on. On Monday, the BBC Philharmonic and tenor Allan Clayton opened with the world premiere of award-winning composer Tom Coult’s Monologues for the Curious, inspired by the ghost stories of M. R. James. It’s a really compelling piece, much more accessible than I expected, and if you’re up for something new, it’s a great place to start. Composer Mark Simpson also premiered a brand new concerto for the incredible guitarist Sean Shibe. If you’ve ever wondered what a concerto for electric guitar and orchestra might sound like, try this one - it’s bold, surprising, and strangely beautiful.

And just last night, I listened to pianist Alexandre Kantorow (you might recognise him from the 2024 Paris Olympics) play a Saint-Saëns piano concerto, which I didn’t know - and can now fully recommend.

Below are a few upcoming Proms I’m especially excited about. But honestly, you can’t go wrong - just being at the Royal Albert Hall for any concert is its own thrill. And if you missed out on advance tickets, don’t worry: same-day standing tickets are released daily. You can often turn up, grab a spot (and a beer), and enjoy world-class performances up close.

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July 30 – Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto

A strong contender for most famous piano concerto ever—and with good reason. It’s sweeping, dramatic, and unapologetically emotional. If the slow movement doesn’t move you, we might not be able to be friends. If you’ve never heard it live, this is the one.

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August 2 – Viennese Waltzes

I have a soft spot for Viennese music. Maybe it’s from growing up with schnitzels and Gugelhupf, but if you like your orchestral music dressed in sequins and nostalgia, this one’s for you. Waltzes, polkas, a dash of operetta - and Korngold’s Straussiana, a lush 20th-century tribute to the 19th. Think old Vienna, but with better lighting and less tuberculosis. Here’s a taste:

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August 5 – Great British Classics

If you’ve been reading this newsletter for a while, you’ll know I have a soft spot for British composers. Britten, Vaughan Williams, Coleridge-Taylor, Elgar—they’re all on the programme. And yes, it includes The Lark Ascending. If you don’t know it, it’s a beautifully peaceful piece—full of stillness, space, and a violin line that really does seem to lift off the ground. I’m definitely tuning in.

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August 8 – From Darkness to Light

An overnight Prom, from dusk till dawn (11pm - 7am), led by the brilliant organist and curator Anna Lapwood. She recently shared on social media that when she was booked to play Cologne Cathedral, 13,000(!!) people turned up, despite the venue only holding 4,000. She ended up organising a second concert on the spot. I honestly can’t think of another contemporary classical musician, let alone an organist, who draws this kind of crowd.

Expect meditative textures, unexpected collaborations, and music designed to bend time. Come for the Arvo Pärt, stay for the sunrise.

If that weren’t enough, earlier that evening pianist Beatrice Rana will be performing Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini - a piece that contains one of his most famous melodies (you’ll know it when you hear it). Rana is, in my view, one of the most exciting pianists around today: technique, musicality, and sheer heart in equal measure. A "stop what you're doing and listen" moment if ever there was one.

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August 12 – Anoushka Shankar: Chapters

Sitar virtuoso, genre-blender, boundary-breaker - Anoushka Shankar’s Proms appearances are always highlights. The daughter of the legendary Ravi Shankar (which also makes her Norah Jones’ half-sister), she’s followed in his footsteps while taking a path entirely her own. Her music is rooted in classical Indian tradition but alive with contemporary textures and cross-cultural ideas. Expect ragas, electronics, collaborations, and a reminder that great music doesn’t stay in one lane.

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September 9 – Avi Avital: Between Worlds

Mandolin star Avi Avital is known for hopping across genres and borders. This Prom brings together Jewish, Turkish, Balkan, and Baroque influences, so if you’ve ever wondered what the mandolin is really capable of (spoiler: a lot), this is the one to tune into. Here’s a little taste:

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September 13 – Last Night of the Proms

Like Wimbledon, the Last Night of the Proms has become a bit of a British summer ritual (at least in my world). Yes, there’ll be the usual pomp and circumstance, flag-waving and sea shanties, but this year’s lineup is genuinely exciting. Conductor Elim Chan will no doubt bring her signature energy, and trumpeter Alison Balsom and soprano Louise Alder are both serious stars. It’s festive, theatrical, and still packed with musical substance. This one will also be broadcast on TV.

Here’s a bit of Louise Alder:

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There’s so much more I haven’t even mentioned, like The Traitors Prom with Claudia Winkleman (yes, really), a concert of musical treachery, András Schiff playing Bach, and The Marriage of Figaro with Louise Alder as well.

This my list, what will you be listening to?

Have a great weekend!