4 days ago
The best of the Proms 2025 so far – and what you can still book
The Proms 2025 began with a bang on July 18 and will continue until September 13. With 86 concerts on offer, you can encounter anything from Beethoven symphonies to little-known masterpieces of Renaissance church music to video game scores. We've already seen an all-night Prom, which kept night owls entranced from 11pm to 7am, and a dazzling performance of Mahler's Resurrection Symphony by the Halle Orchestra.
If you want to visit the Royal Albert Hall and sample the delights of this great concert series in the flesh, there's still lots to look forward to. Or, if you're looking to catch up on the best Proms at home, every single one can be heard on Radio 3 and BBC Sounds and many of the big ones are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
I have been going to the Proms since 1975 and, as the Telegraph's Classical Music critic, I have reviewed more than 600 concerts. I have pulled together a list of this year's highlights so far and my pick of the upcoming concerts you can still book. (I'll be updating this article with reviews and links to the recordings.) For my tips on how to navigate the season like a pro, read my guide to the Proms.
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Great soloists
Best operas
Blockbusters
For intrepid musical explorers
Everyone's favourites
Proms to make your heart soar
The world's greatest orchestras
The BBC's orchestras play in a quarter of the Proms and are wonderful, but the series also offers a golden opportunity to hear other great orchestras from around the world. Each one brings its own sound, its own style, and its own repertoire. Here's my pick of their concerts in 2025:
Orchestre National de France
The first great international orchestra of this Proms season did what everyone expects a visiting orchestra to do; show off the musical culture of its home country. France's top orchestra – who came to the UK hot off the heels of President Macron's visit – did it with superb style.
