There is nothing in the world quite like the BBC Proms. 72 concerts over 57 days, bringing together the wealth of British classical talent, stellar international orchestras, unique creative projects and a host of brand new commissions - not least from Wise Music composers Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Philip Glass, Missy Mazzoli, Betsy Jolas and Cheryl Frances-Hoad.
The Proms escapes even further from the Albert Hall this year, with concerts in Battersea, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool, Truro and London’s ground-breaking nightclub Printworks, which will host a mesmerizing show of Philip Glass and Handel with Anthony Roth-Constanzo. Meanwhile in the north-east of England, a specially-assembled community choir Voices from the River’s Edge will premiere a short a cappella choral piece by Judith Weir as part of their concert with the Royal Northern Sinfonia at Sage Gateshead.
Running from July 15 to September 10, the absolute fullest range of music is on offer including John Adams, Samuel Barber, Joseph Horovitz, Carl Nielsen, John Tavener, Bohuslav Martinů, Jean Sibelius, Florence Price and the most significant sole-orchestral work in years from Kaija Saariaho, Vista. It is truly not to be missed.
Browse through our highlights below:
BBC Commissions
- World premiere of ARCHORA by Anna Thorvaldsdottir with the BBC Philharmonic conducted by Eva Ollikainen (Prom 34, Aug 11)
- European premiere Violin Concerto ‘Procession’ by Missy Mazzoli with violinist Jennifer Koh and the Philharmonia Orchestra under Santtu-Matias Rouvali (Prom 38, Aug 14)
- World premiere of b Tunes for Nicolas a piano concerto by Betsy Jolas written for soloist Nicolas Hodges and the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Karina Canellakis (Prom 66, Sept 5)
- World premiere of Your servant, Elizabeth by Cheryl Frances-Hoad, commissioned for a Prom celebrating music for royal occasions in the year of Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The piece, which takes as its starting point William Byrd’s musical homage to Elizabeth I, will be performed by the BBC Singers and BBC Concert Orchestra (Prom 10, July 22).
Glass Handel at Printworks London (Sept 3)
A major spectacle held at the Printworks London, combining the music of Philip Glass and Handel with choreography, haute couture and live painting performed by countertenor Anthony Roth-Constanzo and members of the English National Opera Orchestra.
Includes the world premiere of a specially-commissioned piece by Philip Glass, No More, Ye Petty Spirits.
Watch the video from the New York production
Notable works
- Focus on Ethel Smyth throughout the season, including performances of her Concerto for Violin and Horn with soloists Elena Urioste and Ben Goldscheider (Prom 14, July 25) and Mass in D in its first performance at the Proms since 1930 (Prom 44, Aug 20)
- Kaija Saariaho’s Vista (Prom 25, Aug 4) and the London premiere of her Vers toi qui es si loin (Prom 37, Aug 14)
- The visiting Philadelphia Orchestra and Music Director Yannick Nézet‐Séguin present the Proms premiere of Symphony No. 1 by Florence Price (Prom 71, Sept 9)
Dates:
July 22, 2022
Prom 10: Music for Royal Occasions
Televised broadcast
Judith Weir I love all beauteous things
Cheryl Frances-Hoad: Your servant, Elizabeth [BBC commission: world premiere]
BBC Singers; BBC Concert Orchestra; Bramwell Tovey, cond.
July 23, 2022
Proms at Sage Gateshead: Folk Connections
Judith Weir Indelible, miraculous* [world premiere]
John Adams Shaker Loops
Voices from the River's Edge*; Royal Northern Sinfonia; Dinis Sousa, cond.
July 25, 2022
Prom 14: Kazuki Yamada conducts the CBSO
Ethel Smyth Concerto for Violin and Horn
Elena Urioste, violin; Ben Goldscheider, horn
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra; Kazuki Yamada, cond.
July 26, 2022
Prom 15: Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony
Johan Dalene, violin
BBC Symphony Orchestra; Jordan de Souza, cond.
August 4, 2022
Prom 25: Shostakovich’s Last Symphony and a Concerto for Theremin
BBC Philharmonic; John Storgårds, cond.
August 5, 2022
Prom 26: Semyon Bychkov and the Labèque Sisters
Bohuslav Martinů Concerto for Two Pianos
Katia & Marielle Labèque, pianos
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Semyon Bychkov, conductor
August 11, 2022
Prom 34: Thorvaldsdottir, Elgar and Sibelius
Televised broadcast
Anna Thorvaldsdottir ARCHORA [BBC co-commission: world premiere]
BBC Philharmonic; Eva Ollikainen, cond.
August 14, 2022 (11am)
Prom 37: Haydn, Vaughan Williams, Kaija Saariaho and Beethoven
Kaija Saariaho Vers toi qui es si loin [London premiere]
Maria Włoszczowska, violin
Royal Northern Sinfonia; Dinis Sousa, cond.
August 14, 2022 (7.30pm)
Prom 38: Tchaikovsky, Missy Mazzoli and Prokofiev
Missy Mazzoli Violin Concerto, ‘Procession’ [BBC co-commission: European premiere]
Jennifer Koh, violin
Philharmonia Orchestra; Santtu-Matias Rouvali, cond.
August 15, 2022
Proms at Cardiff: Carion Wind Quintet
Carion Wind Quintet
August 20, 2022
Prom 44: Ethel Smyth’s Mass in D major
Nardus Williams, soprano; Bethan Langford, mezzo-soprano; Robert Murray, tenor; Božidar Smiljanić, bass-baritone
BBC Symphony Chorus; BBC Symphony Orchestra; Sakari Oramo, cond.
August 24, 2022
Prom 50: The Sixteen Sings Tallis’s Spem in alium
John Tavener A Hymn to the Mother of God
The Sixteen; Harry Christophers, cond.
August 29, 2022
Proms at Birmingham (Bradshaw Hall)
Claire Barnett-Jones, mezzo-soprano; Simon Lepper, piano
September 3, 2022 (Performances at 3pm & 8pm)
Proms and the ENO at Printworks London – Glass Handel (Printworks London)
Philip Glass
Songs from Liquid Days – excerpt
Monsters of Grace – excerpt
The Fall of the House of Usher
1000 Airplanes on the Roof – excerpt
No More, You Petty Spirits [BBC commission: world premiere]
Anthony Roth Costanzo, counter-tenor
George Condo, live painting
Jason Singh, nature beatboxer/vocal sound designer
Justin Peck, choreographer
Raf Simons, costumes
English National Opera Orchestra
Karen Kamensek, cond.
James Bonas, stage director
September 5, 2022
Prom 66: Beethoven, Betsy Jolas and Mahler
Betsy Jolas b Tunes for Nicolas [BBC co-commission: world premiere]
Nicolas Hodges, piano
BBC Symphony Orchestra; Karina Canellakis, cond.
September 8, 2022
Prom 70: Philadelphia Orchestra and Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Samuel Barber Knoxville: Summer of 1915
Angel Blue, soprano
The Philadelphia Orchestra; Yannick Nézet‐Séguin, cond.
September 9, 2022
Prom 71: Philadelphia Orchestra with Lisa Batiashvili
Florence Price Symphony No. 1 in E minor
The Philadelphia Orchestra; Yannick Nézet‐Séguin, cond.
