What's On / Proms Plus
Proms Plus Events 2009
The introduction last year of Proms Plus - an introductory event before each evening Prom - was perhaps one of the most significant developments of the past decade at the Proms. In 2009 there are no fewer than 73 events in the Proms Plus series, providing a fascinating context to the season's music and artists.
Most Proms Plus events are held in the Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall of the Royal College of Music, just across the road from the Royal Albert Hall - with some Proms Family Orchestra events also taking place in other nearby venues - while the series of Proms Films returns to the Royal Geographical Society's Ondaatje Theatre (around the corner from the Royal Albert Hall).
Radio 3 listeners can also sample the offerings, with a number of the introductions being broadcast (often during the interval of the relevant Prom). Like the Proms themselves, these will be available via the BBC iPlayer for seven days after broadcast. This year, for the first time, eight events will be webcast on the Proms website and available to watch for the remainder of the season.
July events
Most Proms Plus events will be held at the Royal College of Music (right).
Select a coloured category tab for more details, or see below for the full schedule.
All Proms Plus events are free of charge.
Capacity is limited: we advise arriving early for the more popular events.
To get your copy of the Proms Plus booklet, email proms@bbc.co.uk
July
Proms IntroFriday 17 July , 5.00pm: In Tune
Sean Rafferty and Petroc Trelawny present a special
edition of BBC Radio 3's In Tune, featuring Proms artists, music
from the season and a preview of the Proms Literary Festival.
Tickets available from BBC Audience Services
Saturday 18 July 2.00pm: Proms Film at the Royal Geographical Society
Stan Tracey: The Godfather of British Jazz (70', awaiting classification).
A portrait of the jazz legend, introduced by Geoffrey Smith.
Saturday 18 July 5.15pm: Proms Intro
Louise Fryer is joined by David Wyn Jones (Cardiff University) and conductor/
musicologist Denis McCaldin to introduce Haydn's The Creation.
Sunday 19 July 4.15pm: Proms Intro
Tonight's conductor Lars Ulrik Mortensen and
Dr Suzanne Aspden (University of Oxford) join Catherine Bott
to introduce Handel's Partenope.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's first interval.
Monday 20 July 5.15pm: Proms Intro
Stephen Johnson talks to author and lecturer
Jeremy Barham and composer David Matthews about
Mahler's Symphony No.9.
Tuesday 21 July 4.45pm: Proms Literary Festival
Historian Alison Weir and critic John
Carey explore the myth and reality of Elizabeth I, the monarch
who inspired Spenser's The Faerie Queene; Rana Mitter presents.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval
Wednesday 22 July 6.15pm: Proms Intro
To celebrate the 800th anniversary of the University
of Cambridge, Louise Fryer hosts a discussion with past and present
Directors of Music at King's College - Sir David Willcocks and
Stephen Cleobury - alongside Nicholas Cook, Professor of Music,
University of Cambridge and composer Ryan Wigglesworth. Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval
Watch the webcast
Thursday 23 July 5.45pm: Proms Intro
Rob Cowan discusses British music with writer-broadcasters Stephen Johnson and Piers Burton-Page.
Friday 24 July 5.45pm: Proms Intro
Conductor Jun Märkl and shō player Mayumi Miyata
talk to Tom Service about tonight's programme.
Saturday 25 July 2.00pm: Proms Film at the Royal Geographical Society
BBC Two's The Birth of British Music, Parts 1 & 2: Purcell & Handel (120', awaiting
classification). Introduced by the director, Andy King-Dabbs.
Saturday 25 July 5.45pm: Family Music Intro
Join members
of the BBC Philharmonic for a sneak preview of the music in
tonight's Prom, and the stories behind it. Bring your instrument
for a chance to take part!
Sunday 26 July 2.00pm: Proms Film at the Royal Geographical Society
BBC Two's
The Birth of British Music, Parts 3 & 4: Haydn & Mendelssohn (120',
awaiting classification). Introduced by the director, Francesca Kemp.
Sunday 26 July 5.15pm: Proms Literary Festival
Sir Christopher Frayling, Rector of the Royal College of Art, and
novelist D. J. Taylor join Rana Mitter to discuss the key cultural
events of 1934, the year in which Delius, Elgar and Holst died.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval
Monday 27 July 5.45pm: Family Music Intro
Explore Stravinsky's ballet music and the
fairy tale of the puppet Petrushka, with members of the BBC
Symphony Orchestra. Bring your instrument or your dancing
shoes and join in.
Tuesday 28 July 5.15pm: Proms Intro
CChristopher Cook presents the first of three talks celebrating Stravinsky ballets, discussing The Firebird and Petrushka with musicologist David Nice, and Stephanie Jordan, Research Professor at Roehampton University.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval
Watch the webcast
Wednesday 29 July 5.45pm: Proms Composer Portrait
Jörg Widmann discusses his
new work in conversation with Tom Service, and introduces
performances of some of his chamber works, as well as
performing his own Fantasie for solo clarinet.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 following this evening's Prom
Thursday 30 July 5.45pm: Proms Intro
Louise Fryer talks to Professor John Deathridge (King's College London) and Mendelssohn's great-great-great-great-niece, Sheila Hayman, about his music and life in the composer's 200th-anniversary year.
Friday 31 July 5.45pm: Proms Literary Festival
Victorian Season: Matthew Sweet introduces dramatic readings celebrating the infamous villains from Victorian fiction, and is joined by award-winning biographer Michael Holroyd and writer Elaine Showalter. Actor Bill Patterson provides the readings.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval
August
FilmsSaturday 1 August 2.00pm: Proms Film at the Royal Geographical Society
Singin' in the Rain
(103', cert. U). The classic 1952 musical, starring Gene Kelly and
Debbie Reynolds. Introduced by Matthew Sweet.
Saturday 1 August 2.00pm: Proms Family Orchestra
Dinosaurs and Dodos! The Proms Family Orchestra inspired
by Darwin.
4.45pm: Natural History Museum Proms Family Orchestra
in performance
Saturday 1 August 5.45pm: Proms Intro
Petroc Trelawny is
joined by by Patrick O'Connor, David Benedict to explore the world of
MGM film musicals.
Family Orchestras
Sunday 2 August 2.00pm: Proms Family Orchestra
Dinosaurs and Dodos! The Proms Family Orchestra inspired
by Darwin.
4.45pm: Natural History Museum Proms Family Orchestra
in performance
Sunday 2 August 5.45pm: Prom Literary Festival
Victorian Season: Andrew Motion (Poet Laureate, 1999-2009) introduces his choice of Tennyson poems, 200 years after the great poet's birth in 1809. With readings performed by Fiona Shaw. Matthew Sweet is the host.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval
Watch the webcast
Monday 3 August 5.15pm: Proms Composer Portraits
Michael Jarrell, in conversation
with Tom Service, discusses his new Proms co-commission
and introduces performances of some of his chamber works.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 following this evening's Prom
Tuesday 4 August 4.45pm: Proms Literary Festival
Victorian Season: Roy Hattersley and Professor Valentine Cunningham speak out in defence of the Victorian novel. Are these books still pinnacles of English literature? Actor Henry Goodman provides the readings and Matthew Sweet chairs the event.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval
Wednesday 5 August 5.45pm: Proms Literary Festival
Writer and film-maker Dennis Marks
and Professor of Modern German Literature Karen Leeder
explore the literary legacy of fin-de-siècle Vienna - the world that
surrounded Gustav Mahler. Presented by Susan Hitch.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval
Thursday 6 August 5.45pm:
Proms Intro
Conductor Gianandrea Noseda and General
Manager of the BBC Philharmonic, Richard Wigley, join
Martin Handley to introduce tonight's programme.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval
Friday 7 August 5.45pm:
Proms Intro Young Composers' Winners Day
Members of the
Aurora Orchestra perform commissions by 2008 winners of the BBC
Proms Inspire Young Composers' Competition. (Limited capacity)
Edited highlights broadcast by Radio 3 following the Prom on 19 August
Saturday 8 August 2.00pm: Proms Film at the Royal Geographical Society
Diaghilev: The Years Abroad;
The Years in Exile (109', awaiting classification). Introduced by
Bob Lockyer
Saturday 8 August 2.00pm: Proms Family Orchestra
The
Proms Family Orchestra creates its own Concerto for Orchestra.
Saturday 8 August 5.15pm: Family Music Intro
The National Youth Orchestra perform brand new works by the NYO's six talented teenage composers. Bring your instrument and join in.
Sunday 9 August 1.15pm: Family Music Intro
A special Family Music Intro dedicated
to the piano, featuring six-piano ensemble pianocircus.
Sunday 9 August 5.45pm: Proms Intro
Rex Lawson introduces the pianola, and
performances of music by Chopin, Stravinsky, J. Strauss II
(arr. Schulz-Evler) and Sullivan (arr. Mackerras). Presented by
Petroc Trelawny.
Monday 10 August 5.45pm: Family Music Intro
Bring your family to hear the incredible
stories behind tonight's music. Bring your instrument and join
in with members of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
Tuesday 11 August 5.45pm:
Proms Literary Festival
Victorian Season: Ian McMillan explores
the power of the partnership between Gilbert and Sullivan, with
writer Ian Bradley, author of a complete annotated version of
their works.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval
Wednesday 12 August 5.15pm: Proms Literary Festival
Journalist Matthew Parris and Professor
Lynda Mugglestone join Ian McMillan to celebrate the life and
literary legacy of Handel's great contemporary Samuel Johnson,
300 years after his birth.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval
Thursday 13 August 6.15pm: Proms Intro
In the second of three talks celebrating Stravinsky's ballets, Christopher Cook discusses The Rite of Spring with Director of the Royal Ballet, Monica Mason, and choreographer Millicent Hodson, who has reconstructed Nijinsky's original choreography for The Rite of Spring.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval
Watch the webcast
Friday 14 August 5.45pm: Proms Intro: Young Composers
Proms Inspire Day The Aurora Orchestra performs the winning entries of this year's BBC Proms Inspire Young Composers' Competition. (Limited capacity).
Edited version broadcast by Radio 3 following the Prom on 19 August
Saturday 15 August 2.00pm: Proms Film at the Royal Geographical Society
Stravinsky: Once, at a Border... (166', exempt from classification). Tony Palmer's profile of the composer, featuring contributions from family, colleagues
and friends. Introduced by the director.
Saturday 15 August 5.45pm: Proms Literary Festival
Philip Pullman, author of the award-winning trilogy His Dark Materials, talks to Susan Hitch about the powerful myth of Orpheus.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval
Watch the webcast
Sunday 16 August 2.00pm- 6.00pm: Indian Voices in the Park
Free performances of folk music and dance from Rajasthan including ghoomer dance and Gujarat including ras and garba dances. Also featuring the vocal fusion ensemble Asima, and incorporating:
2.00pm: Proms Family Orchestra and Chorus Participate in the Proms Bollywood Family Orchestra and Chorus and learn how to dance Bollywood style!
Sunday 16 August 5.45pm: Proms Literary Festival
Prize-winning author Jamila Gavin and 'Binglish' theatre director Jatinder Verma join Rana Mitter to explore great Bollywood stories.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval
Monday 17 August 5.45pm: Proms Composer Portrait
Louis Andriessen, in conversation with Andrew McGregor, discusses The Hague Hacking and
introduces performances of some of his chamber works.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 following this evening's Prom
Tuesday 18 August 5.15pm: Proms Intro
Join Iván Fischer and members of the Budapest
Festival Orchestra for a special family concert designed to
introduce classical music to 5- to 12-year-olds in an entertaining
and interactive environment.
Wednesday 19 August 5.45pm:
Proms Intro
Andrew McGregor discusses the music of
Shostakovich with musicologist David Nice and lecturer in
Russian Dr Philip Ross Bullock (University of Oxford).
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval
Thursday 20 August 4.45pm:
Proms Intro
Join tonight's conductor Harry Bicket and
musicologist Dr Berta Joncus for an introduction to Handel's
oratorio Samson, with Catherine Bott.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's first interval
Friday 21 August 5.15pm: Proms Literary Festival
Edward Stourton talks to Rana Mitter
about how the literature of the Middle East has informed his
understanding of the region - and selects his personal choice
of readings.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during the interval of Prom 50
Saturday 22 August 2.30pm: Proms Intro
Members of the
West-Eastern Divan Orchestra Boulez's 8 Notations for piano - Karim Said, piano, Anthèmes for violin - Michael Barenboim, violin and Messagesquisse (1976/77) for solo cello and accompanying six cellos - Hassan Moataz el Molla, cello. Daniel Barenboim conducts the latter work, and introduces the performances.
Recorded for future broadcast on Radio 3.
Saturday 22 August 4.00pm: Proms Film at the Royal Geographical Society
Knowledge is the Beginning
(114', exempt from classification). Paul Smaczny's profile of the
West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. Introduced by Mariam Said
Sunday 23 August 4.45pm:
Proms Literary Festival
Broadcaster and chaplain Revd Richard
Coles, and novelist Janice Galloway, talk to Susan Hitch about the
diaries, poetry and letters of composers who also had a literary gift.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval
Monday 24 August 5.45pm:
Proms Intro
Suzy Klein discusses Schnittke and Shostakovich
with composer, writer and broadcaster Gerard McBurney and
Russian music expert Dr Marina Frolova-Walker.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval
Tuesday 25 August 5.15pm:
Proms Intro
Sir Roger Norrington is joined by musicians from
the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment to discuss the influences
of anniversary composers Purcell, Handel, Haydn and Mendelssohn
on British musical life; presented by Sara Mohr-Pietsch.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval.
Watch the webcast
Wednesday 26 August 5.45pm: Proms Intro
Anthony Sayer, a veteran cellist of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Elizabeth Layton (leader) and principal trumpet Mark O'Keeffe join Ian Skelly to discuss the thrills and challenges of playing in an orchestra.
Thursday 27 August 5.45pm: Proms Literary Festival
Stephen Venables, the first Briton to
climb Everest without supplementary oxygen, and Chris Smith,
former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and
mountaineering enthusiast, talk to Ian McMillan about their
favourite mountain writing.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval
Friday 28 August 5.15pm:
Proms Intro
In the last of three talks celebrating Stravinsky's
ballets, Louise Fryer is joined by composer Julian Anderson
and Stravinsky biographer Stephen Walsh to discuss Stravinsky's
final ballet, Agon.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval
Watch the webcast
Saturday 29 August 5.15pm: Proms Intro
Join Dr Elmar Weingarten, Executive Director of
the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, Julia Becker, concertmaster and Michael Reid, clarinet in conversation with Rob Cowan.
Sunday 30 August 5.45pm: Family Music Intro
An introduction for all the family to tonight's
programme of French, Canadian and Russian music. Bring your
instrument along and take part.
Monday 31 August 2.00pm: Proms Family Orchestra
The final Proms Family
Orchestra of the season.
Monday 31 August 5.15pm: Family Music Intro
Bring your instrument along for a
chance to discover more about tonight's music.
September
Proms IntroTuesday 1 September 5.45pm: Proms Intro
Rob Cowan talks to writer-broadcasters
Denis McCaldin and Lindsay Kemp about Haydn's symphonies.
Wednesday 2 September 5.45pm: Proms Intro
Percussionist Colin Currie and Xenakis's friend and
biographer, Nouritza Matossian join Martin Handley to discuss
Xenakis and his works in tonight's Prom.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval
Thursday 3 September 5.15pm:
Proms Intro
Tonight's conductor Vladimir Jurowski joins pianist
Tamara Stefanovich in discussion with Sara Mohr-Pietsch.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's first interval
Friday 4 September 5.15pm:
Proms Literary Festival
Philosophers A. C. Grayling and Roger
Scruton discuss how fin-de-siècle Viennese musicians such as Mahler
were influenced by their philosopher contemporaries - and what
we today owe to these Viennese thinkers. Susan Hitch hosts.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval
Saturday 5 September 2.00pm: Proms Film at the Royal Geographical Society
God Rot Tunbridge Wells
(120', exempt from classification). Tony Palmer's film on Handel's
life, starring Trevor Howard. Introduced by the director.
Saturday 5 September 5.15pm: Proms Intro
Stephen Johnson in
conversation with composer John McCabe about the process of
composition and his Horn Concerto, with musicians from the Royal College of Music.
Sunday 6 September 2.00pm-4.00pm: Proms Family Chorus
Join the Proms Family Chorus in the Royal Albert Hall. Part of Proms Singing Day
Sunday 6 September 4.45pm: Proms Intro
National Singing
Ambassador Howard Goodall introduces Handel's Messiah and performances by Sing Up choirs. Part of Proms Singing Day.
Monday 7 September 5.45pm: Proms Literary Festival
Victorian Season: A. N. Wilson, author
of The Victorians, and Steven Moffat, co-creator and Executive
Producer of the forthcoming BBC drama Sherlock, talk to Matthew
Sweet about the enduring appeal of Sherlock Holmes and his
special love of Mendelssohn.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval
Watch the webcast
Tuesday 8 September 5.15pm: Proms Intro
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies celebrates his 75th birthday
and talks about composition and conducting with Martin Handley.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval
Watch the webcast
Wednesday 9 September 5.45pm: Proms Composer Portrait
Augusta Read Thomas, in
conversation with Andrew McGregor, discusses her new
violin concerto, and introduces performances of some of
her chamber works.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 following this evening's Prom
Thursday 10 September 5.45pm: Proms Intro
Petroc Trelawny is joined by Proms Director
Roger Wright to look back at the 2009 Proms season.
Friday 11 September 4.45pm: Proms Literary Festival
Ian McMillan talks to critic John Mullan
about the influential legacy of the novel Don Quixote, while actor
Andrew Sachs brings to life the words of Cervantes's hero.
Edited version broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval
Saturday 12 September 5.00pm: Proms Intro
Bring an instrument, or anything small that can
create a sound, and join us in creating the first ever Proms Hoffnung-inspired Orchestra!
Please note that this event will now take place from 5.00pm to 5.45pm. If you are bringing an instrument, you will need to put it in the Royal Albert Hall cloakrooms during the evening concert, as we cannot allow instruments into the auditorium. Space in the cloakroom is limited so smaller instruments would be preferable!
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2009 Calendar
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July | ||||||
| 17 | 18 | |||||
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
| August | ||||||
| 1 | ||||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| 30 | 31 | |||||
| September | ||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
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