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BBC News
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
BBC Proms 2025 features first overnight Prom in almost half a century as part of an eight-week celebration of music
The 2025 BBC Proms season brings together many of the world's finest international artists and orchestras, featuring more than 40 outstanding ensembles from across the UK - a series of concerts that can only be experienced at the world's greatest classical music festival The BBC's own orchestras and choirs form the backbone of the Proms, making nearly 50 appearances throughout the season. The BBC Singers will perform at 11 Proms, including the First and Last Nights, showcasing their broad range of repertoire. Sakari Oramo conducts the First Night of the Proms, with tenor Caspar Singh, baritone Gerald Finley, violinist Lisa Batiashvili – including the world premiere of The Elements by Master of the King's Music Errollyn Wallen, commissioned by the BBC. The Last Night of the Proms will be conducted by Elim Chan and features trumpeter Alison Balsom and soprano Louise Alder, with two world premieres, by Camille Pépin and Rachel Portman: the latter being the first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Original Score. The BBC Proms makes its debut in both Bradford, as part of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, and Sunderland, bringing the festival to new audiences. The Proms also returns to Bristol and Gateshead for two three-day weekend residencies, and a special Prom in Belfast marks the centenary of Radio 4's popular Shipping Forecast. The season features a compelling line-up of international orchestras, including the Vienna Philharmonic, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Major soloists include pianists Yunchan Lim and Sir András Schiff, violinists Hilary Hahn and Janine Jansen, and soprano Golda Schultz Nineteen world, European or UK premieres will be performed, including 10 works commissioned by the BBC, showcasing an extraordinary range of contemporary composition. Sir Simon Rattle conducts the Chineke! Orchestra for the first time, in their tenth-anniversary year. Anna Lapwood co-curates the first overnight Prom since 1983, featuring pianist and YouTube sensation Hayato Sumino, cellist Anastasia Kobekina, the Chapel Choir of Pembroke College, Cambridge and the boundary-crossing Norwegian ensemble Barokksolistene. The Proms marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Shostakovich with eight of his works performed during the season, including Aurora Orchestra playing Symphony No. 5 entirely from memory. Other composer anniversaries include Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Luciano Berio, Pierre Boulez and Arvo Pärt. Legendary Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi makes his Proms debut, conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in his symphony inspired by the tragic events of Hiroshima: The End of the World. Across the season there is a wealth of opera, including a collaboration between the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and the ENO for The Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District by Shostakovich – only performed in its entirety once before at the Proms. Glyndebourne brings their new production of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro to the festival, and Puccini's Suor Angelica is performed by the LSO with Chief Conductor, Sir Antonio Pappano. Large-scale choral repertoire features throughout the season, from Ralph Vaughan Williams's rarely performed oratorio Sancta civitas on the First Night, to Striggio's Mass in 40 Parts from Le Concert Spirituel. There is also a Proms debut from Peter Whelan and the Irish Baroque Orchestra and Chorus, with Handel's Alexander's Feast. The Proms continues its tradition of collaborating with other BBC brands. In addition to the 100 Years of the Shipping Forecast Prom in Belfast with the Ulster Orchestra and Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, Claudia Winkleman hosts The Traitors Prom at the Royal Albert Hall, exploring themes of treachery and betrayal in classical music. Concerts for children include a new CBeebies Prom: A Magical Bedtime Story as well as the CBeebies Prom: Wildlife Jamboree in Gateshead. The Proms continues to welcome non-classical artists, presenting their music in new orchestral settings – this year hosting the multi-Grammy winning musicians St. Vincent and Samara Joy. Trevor Nelson presents the Soul Revolution Prom and Anoushka Shankar makes a welcome return to the Proms with the world premiere performance of her new album. Every Prom will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds. BBC Television and BBC iPlayer will broadcast 25 programmes, with nine Proms across BBC One and BBC Two, demonstrating the BBC's commitment to reach the broadest audiences for classical music. The Proms continues its commitment to accessible ticket prices with seats from £10 and half-price tickets for under-18s (plus booking fees), and Promming day standing tickets at £8 (inclusive of booking fees). Read more: The BBC Proms 2025 - Everything you need to know about the world's greatest classical music festival Add the BBC Proms to your iPlayer Watchlist Full Season Information There will be 21 visiting ensembles, with leading orchestras including the Vienna Philharmonic with Franz Welser-Möst, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra with Andris Nelsons and violinist Hilary Hahn, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra with Klaus Mäkelä and violinist Janine Jansen, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe with Robin Ticciati and soprano Golda Schultz, the Orchestre National de France with Cristian Măcelaru, and the Budapest Festival Orchestra with Iván Fischer, mezzo-soprano Dorottya Láng and bass Krisztián Cser. The BBC Symphony Orchestra, led by Chief Conductor Sakari Oramo, performs in the First Night of the Proms alongside the BBC Symphony Chorus and the BBC Singers, tenor Caspar Singh and baritone Gerald Finley. In suitably celebratory fashion, the First Night opens with the Birthday Fanfare for Sir Henry Wood, composed by Sir Arthur Bliss, who died fifty years ago this year. Mendelssohn's overture The Hebrides follows, and the first half concludes with the Violin Concerto by Sibelius, performed by the revered Lisa Batiashvili. The world premiere of The Elements by Master of the King's Music Errollyn Wallen, commissioned by the BBC, opens the second half, and the concert closes with Ralph Vaughan Williams's Sancta Civitas, completed a hundred years ago. The Last Night of the Proms features a stellar lineup of artists, with Elim Chan conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus and the BBC Singers, and trumpeter Alison Balsom and soprano Louise Alder leading the festivities. Classical music's biggest party will include two new commissions, by Camille Pépin and Rachel Portman: the latter being the first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Original Score. The BBC continues to champion new music: 19 world, European or UK premieres will be performed, including 10 works commissioned by the BBC. British composers receiving premieres this season, in addition to Errollyn Wallen and Rachel Portman, include Tom Coult with his Monologues for the Curious performed by tenor Allan Clayton, Mark Simpson's ZEBRA (or 2-3-74; The Divine Invasion of Philip K. Dick) performed by guitarist Sean Shibe, and a new piece from Sir John Rutter, written for the BBC Singers. International composers Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Anthony Davis and Sofia Gubaidulina, who passed away in March this year, also receive premieres this season. The Proms marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Shostakovich with eight of his works, including Aurora Orchestra playing Symphony No. 5 entirely from memory. Ensemble intercontemporain pays tribute to 20th-century giants Pierre Boulez and Luciano Berio, both of whom were born a hundred years ago, and there is a special Late Night Arvo Pärt at 90 Prom. The first overnight Prom since 1983 is guest-curated by organist Anna Lapwood, and runs from 11pm to 7am. It features a captivating line-up of artists: pianist and YouTube sensation Hayato Sumino, cellist Anastasia Kobekina, the Chapel Choir of Pembroke College, Cambridge and the boundary-crossing Norwegian ensemble Barokksolistene with their violinist/director Bjarte Eike, with more guests to be revealed soon. There will be 14 Proms at venues across the UK, with three-day Proms weekends at the Glasshouse International Centre for Music in Gateshead and at Bristol Beacon, including a welcome return from Paraorchestra in collaboration with folk duo The Breath. There are first-time visits to Bradford, marking the city's status as 2025 UK City of Culture, with Grammy Award-winner and celebrated 'Queen of African Music' Angélique Kidjo, and to Sunderland for a special edition of the nightly Radio 3 jazz programme 'Round Midnight with Soweto Kinch. The Prom in Belfast with the Ulster Orchestra –100 Years of the Shipping Forecast – includes a new commission and performance from Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and his band LYR, presented in collaboration with Radio 4. Sam Jackson, Controller, Radio 3 and BBC Proms, says: 'With 86 concerts across eight weeks, I am delighted to be announcing the 2025 BBC Proms season. Our summer of live music will see us host the greatest international orchestras and the best of British talent, in repertoire that ranges from the much-loved to the entirely new. World-famous soloists such as Hilary Hahn and Sir András Schiff sit alongside some of today's brightest young classical stars: from Yunchan Lim, to Aigul Akhmetshina, to Louise Alder, who performs at the Last Night of the Proms. As ever, every note will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds, with 25 programmes featuring across BBC TV and iPlayer. And with tickets for every Prom available from just £8, we look forward to welcoming concert-goers old and new to the magic of this unique and very special festival.' The BBC Proms plays a central role in supporting British music, and this year there will be a televised Great British Classics Prom celebrating composers from Benjamin Britten, to Samuel and Avril Coleridge-Taylor, to Grace Williams. Sir Simon Rattle conducts the Chineke! Orchestra for the first time, in their tenth-anniversary year; Rattle also conducts the wind, brass and percussion of the London Symphony Orchestra for a series of folk-song arrangements by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Percy Grainger and Malcolm Arnold. Opera highlights include the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra collaborating with English National Opera under John Storgårds for The Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District, by Shostakovich – only performed in its entirety once before at the Proms. In addition, Glyndebourne bring their new production of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, the Budapest Festival Orchestra and Iván Fischer perform Bartók's Duke Bluebeard's Castle, and the London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus are conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano for a concert performance of Puccini's Suor Angelica. Choral music includes Ralph Vaughan Williams's Sancta Civitas, which closes the First Night of the Proms; Kahchun Wong making his first Proms appearance as the Hallé's newly appointed Principal Conductor with Mahler's Symphony No. 2; and Sir Mark Elder conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra in Delius's A Mass of Life. The award-winning Baroque dynamos Peter Whelan and the Irish Baroque Orchestra & Chorus make their Proms debut with Handel's Alexander's Feast, and Le Concert Spirituel performs Striggio's Mass in 40 Parts. With themes of treachery, betrayal and deceit having run through classical music and opera for centuries, the Proms unveils a collaboration with The Traitors, as Claudia Winkleman hosts two very special concerts at the Royal Albert Hall. The Traitors Prom will feature a range of famous classical works, alongside new arrangements of some of the music from this hugely popular BBC programme. Legendary Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi makes his Proms debut, conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in his symphony inspired by the tragic events of Hiroshima: The End of the World. The programme also includes Steve Reich's The Desert Music, a work not heard at the Proms for nearly 25 years. Fifty years after the death of one of Hollywood's most acclaimed composers, the BBC Concert Orchestra celebrates the great Bernard Herrmann with a special Prom devoted to his film scores, many of which saw Herrmann collaborate with the director Alfred Hitchcock – including Psycho and Vertigo. The BBC Proms continues its tradition of orchestral collaborations with non-classical artists and tributes to different musical genres. Multi Grammy Award-winners St. Vincent and Samara Joy make their Proms debuts: St. Vincent performs brand-new symphonic arrangements of tracks from her back catalogue with Jules Buckley and his orchestra, and Samara Joy, who won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 2023, brings her octet to the Proms to showcase iconic standards from the Great American Song Book with the BBC Concert Orchestra. Trevor Nelson presents the Soul Revolution Prom, which traces a path from spirituals through gospel to soul and reveals the role of these genres in supporting the Civil Rights movement. Sitar player and composer Anoushka Shankar performs the world premiere of her new album Chapter III, alongside her previous albums Chapters I and II, with the London Contemporary Orchestra and Robert Ames. More than 80 artists make their Proms solo debuts, showcasing an exciting range of musical talent. Among them are Canadian pianist Bruce Liu, who burst onto the world stage in 2021 when he won the International Chopin Piano Competition, and Bashkir mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina, who received widespread acclaim when, aged 21, she starred in the title role of Carmen at London's Royal Opera House in 2018. Akhmetshina sang Carmen last year at the Metropolitan Opera, becoming the youngest artist to have performed the role in both houses. The season is also packed with home-grown talent: Nicholas McCarthy, the world's only professional one-handed pianist, makes his Proms debut with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and conductor Mark Wigglesworth in Ravel's Piano Concerto for the Left Hand – in the composer's 150th-anniversary year. It will be the first time this concerto has been played at the Proms by a one-handed pianist since the soloist it was composed for, Paul Wittgenstein, performed it in 1932. BBC Radio 3 will once again enable the festival to reach millions of people by broadcasting every Prom. Other BBC Radio networks will broadcast highlights. Twenty-five Proms will be broadcast on BBC TV and iPlayer with nine Proms across BBC One and BBC Two, demonstrating the BBC's commitment to reaching broad audiences for classical music. For the first time, two Proms in the North-East of England will be televised. Performed at the Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Robert Ames conducts the concert on Friday, with guest artists soon to be announced, and Dinis Sousa conducts Saturday's concert of works by Bach and Mendelssohn, both with the Royal Northern Sinfonia. The Proms continues its commitment to accessible ticket prices, with Promming day standing tickets remaining at £8 (inclusive of booking fees), seats starting at £10 and half-price tickets available for under-18s (plus booking fees). About the BBC Proms As the world's biggest classical music festival, the BBC Proms offers eight weeks of world-class music-making from a vast array of leading orchestras, conductors and soloists from the UK and around the world. Across 86 concerts, the festival offers a summer of music that allows for the most diverse and exciting musical journeys. One hundred and thirty years after it was founded, the driving factor in building a festival of this scale is to offer exceptional music-making at the lowest possible prices, continuing founder-conductor Henry Wood's original ambition of bringing the best classical music to the widest possible audience. With every Prom broadcast on BBC Radio 3, available across multiple platforms and 25 Proms programmes televised on the BBC, the Proms reaches far beyond the Royal Albert Hall. This year's BBC Proms season runs from Friday 18 July to Saturday 13 September 2025. FE / JH


BBC News
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
The BBC Proms 2025 - Everything you need to know about the world's greatest classical music festival
The 2025 BBC Proms season brings together many of the world's finest international artists and orchestras, featuring more than 40 outstanding ensembles from across the UK: a series of concerts that can only be experienced at the world's greatest classical music festival. The BBC's own orchestras and choirs form the backbone of the Proms, making nearly 50 appearances throughout the season. The BBC Singersperform at 11 Proms, including the First and Last Nights, showcasing their broad range of repertoire. Sakari Oramo conducts the First Night of the Proms, with tenor Caspar Singh, baritone Gerald Finley, violinist Lisa Batiashvili – including the world premiere of The Elements by Master of the King's Music Errollyn Wallen, commissioned by the BBC. The Last Night of the Proms is conducted by Elim Chan and features trumpeter Alison Balsom and soprano Louise Alder, with two world premieres, by Camille Pépin and Rachel Portman: the latter being the first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Original Score. The BBC Proms makes its debut in both Bradford, as part of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, and Sunderland, bringing the festival to new audiences. The Proms also returns to Bristol and Gateshead for two three-day weekend residencies, and a special Prom in Belfast marks the centenary of Radio 4's popular Shipping Forecast. The season features a compelling line-up of international orchestras, including the Vienna Philharmonic, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Major soloists include pianists Yunchan Lim and Sir András Schiff, violinists Hilary Hahn and Janine Jansen and soprano Golda Schultz. Nineteen world, European or UK premieres will be performed, including 10 works commissioned by the BBC, showcasing an extraordinary range of contemporary composition. Sir Simon Rattle conducts the Chineke! Orchestra for the first time, in their tenth-anniversary year. Anna Lapwood co-curates the first overnight Prom since 1983, featuring pianist and YouTube sensation Hayato Sumino, cellist Anastasia Kobekina, the Chapel Choir of Pembroke College, Cambridge and the boundary-crossing Norwegian ensemble Barokksolistene. The Proms marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Shostakovich with eight of his works performed during the season, including Aurora Orchestra playing Symphony No. 5 entirely from memory. Other composer anniversaries include Luciano Berio, Pierre Boulez, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Arvo Pärt. Legendary Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi makes his Proms debut, conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in his symphony inspired by the tragic events of Hiroshima: The End of the World. Across the season there is a wealth of opera, including a collaboration between the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and the English National Opera for The Lady Macbeth of the Mtensk District by Shostakovich – only performed in its entirety once before at the Proms. Glyndebourne brings their new production of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro to the festival, and Puccini's Suor Angelica is performed by the London Symphony Orchestra with Chief Conductor, Sir Antonio Pappano. Large-scale choral repertoire features throughout the season, from Ralph Vaughan Williams's rarely performed oratorio Sancta Civitas on the First Night, to Striggio's Mass in 40 Parts from Le Concert Spirituel. There is also a Proms debut from Peter Whelan and the Irish Baroque Orchestra and Chorus, with Handel's Alexander's Feast. The Proms continues its tradition of collaborating with other BBC brands. In addition to the 100 Years of the Shipping Forecast Prom in Belfast with the Ulster Orchestra and Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, Claudia Winkleman hosts The Traitors Prom at the Royal Albert Hall, exploring themes of treachery and betrayal in classical music. Concerts for children include a new CBeebies Prom: A Magical Bedtime Story as well as the CBeebies Prom: Wildlife Jamboree in Gateshead. The Proms continues to welcome non-classical artists, presenting their music in new orchestral settings – this year hosting the multi-Grammy winning musicians St. Vincent and Samara Joy. Trevor Nelson presents the Soul Revolution Prom and Anoushka Shankar makes a welcome return to the Proms with the world-premiere performance of her new album. Every Prom will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds. BBC Television and BBC iPlayer will broadcast 25 programmes, with nine Proms across BBC One and BBC Two, demonstrating the BBC's commitment to reaching the broadest audiences for classical music. The Proms continues its commitment to accessible ticket prices with seats from £10 and half-price tickets for under-18s (plus booking fees), and Promming day standing tickets at £8 (inclusive of booking fees). Read more: BBC Proms 2025 features first overnight Prom in almost half a century as part of an eight-week celebration of music Add the BBC Proms to your iPlayer Watchlist FE / JH International orchestras and ensembles The 2025 Proms season presents a line-up of 21 ensembles visiting from outside the UK. Orchestras include: Orchestre National de France, conducted by Cristian Măcelaru (23 July) Budapest Festival Orchestra, conducted by Iván Fischer (6 August) Orchestre National de Bretagne (side-by-side with BBC NOW), conducted by Ryan Bancroft (11 August) Danish National Symphony Orchestra and Danish National Concert Choir, conducted by Fabio Luisi (21 August) Irish Baroque Orchestra and Irish Baroque Chorus, conducted by Peter Whelan (20 August) Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, conducted by Klaus Mäkelä (23 and 24 August) Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, conducted by Andris Nelsons (26 August) Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jaime Martín (29 August) Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, directed by Pekka Kuusisto (31 August) Chamber Orchestra of Europe, conducted by Robin Ticciati (6 September) Vienna Philharmonic, conducted by Franz Welser-Möst (8 and 9 September) In addition to these international orchestras, ensembles visiting from around the world include Le Consort (20 July, matinee), Ensemble intercontemporain (23 July), Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir (31 July, Late Night), Barokksolistene (8 August), Le Concert Spirituel (17 August), Danish National Vocal Ensemble (23 August, Bristol), and Ensemble Rustavi and Between Worlds Ensemble (9 September, Late Night). Major soloists and conductors Major soloists include: Lisa Batiashvili violin (18 July) Augustin Hadelich violin (24 July) Mariam Batsashvili piano (27 July) Yunchan Lim piano (1 August) Erin Morley soprano (2 August, matinee) Mari Eriksmoen soprano (2 August) Emily D'Angelo mezzo-soprano (2 August) Beatrice Rana piano (8 August) Anna Lapwood organ/conductor (8 August) Benjamin Grosvenor piano (15 August) Bruce Liu piano (20 August) Sir András Schiff piano (23 August, matinee) Janine Jansen violin (24 August, matinee) Louise Alder soprano (27 August and 13 September) Pekka Kuusisto violin/director (31 August) Nicky Spence tenor (1 September) Sir Willard White bass-baritone (1 September) Golda Schultz soprano (6 September) Avi Avital mandolin (9 September, Late Night) Alison Balsom trumpet (13 September) Internationally renowned conductors include: Sakari Oramo (18, 24 July and 7 September) Iván Fischer (6 August) Dalia Stasevska (9 and 22 August) Edward Gardner (10 August) Sir Mark Elder (18 August) Sir Antonio Pappano (19 August) Klaus Mäkelä (23 and 24 August) Andris Nelsons (26 August) Sir Simon Rattle (30 August and 5 September) Vasily Petrenko (7 September) John Wilson (12 September) Elim Chan (13 September) Orchestras and choirs from across the UK The Proms welcomes more than 40 British orchestras and choirs this summer, and the BBC's own ensembles make nearly 50 appearances across the season, demonstrating the BBC's commitment to showcasing homegrown talent, as well as amateur singers, and orchestras and choirs for children and young people. Aurora Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, CBSO Children's Chorus,CBSO Youth Chorus, Chineke! Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Constanza Chorus, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Hallé, Hallé Choir, Hallé Youth Choir, Huddersfield Choral Society, In Harmony Liverpool, Jules Buckley Orchestra, Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Company percussionists, London Contemporary Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, members of London Youth Choirs, National Youth Choir, National Youth Orchestra, National Youth Voices, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, Paraorchestra, Pembroke College Chapel Choir, Cambridge, Philharmonia Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Sinfonia of London, Sinfonia of London Chorus, Sinfonia Smith Square, Synergy Vocals, Tiffin Choir, Ulster Orchestra, Voices of the River's Edge and Welsh National Opera. Something different The Great American Songbook and Beyond with Samara Joy – Fresh from winning Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Jazz Performance at this year's Grammys, Samara Joy joins conductor Miho Hazama and the BBC Concert Orchestra for an exhilarating performance of unique twists on jazz classics (19 July and broadcast on BBC Four and iPlayer) Round Midnight with Soweto Kinch – Jazz saxophonist, hip-hop artist, curator, and presenter Soweto Kinch hosts a special edition of his nightly Radio 3 show in Sunderland, celebrating the best of jazz with special guests Theo Croker, the Joe Webb Trio and Rivkala (24 July, The Fire Station, Sunderland) Angeline Morrison – Folk musician and songwriter Angeline Morrison performs her 2022 album The Sorrow Songs (Folk Songs of Black British Experience), bringing to life untold stories of the African diaspora through the sound of traditional English folk music. She will perform with The Sorrow Songs Band and special guest Eliza Carthy (26 July, Glasshouse) The Traitors – Claudia Winkleman hosts a Prom dedicated to the hit BBC TV show The Traitors. The Traitors Prom will feature a host of famous classical works, alongside new symphonic arrangements of music from this hugely popular BBC programme. With guest appearances from contestants, the event features the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Singers and is conducted by Karen Ní Bhroin (26 July, recorded for BBC TV and BBC iPlayer) Arooj Aftab and Ibrahim Maalouf – Grammy Award-winning artist Arooj Aftab and Ibrahim Maalouf make their debuts with conductor Jules Buckley and the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Singers (29 July) Soul Revolution – Following the success of the 2023's Northern Soul Prom and 2024's Disco Prom, the BBC Concert Orchestra continues their exploration of orchestral arrangements across diverse music genres. Radio 2's Trevor Nelson introduces a powerful celebration of spirituals, gospel and soul music that emerged during the Civil Rights movement. Featuring a gospel choir and star soloists, to be announced, and conducted by Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser (3 August, broadcast on BBC TV and BBC iPlayer) From Dark Till Dawn – Celebrated organist Anna Lapwood is guest curator for this special all-night Prom, the first since 1983, running from 11pm to 7am. The concert features a diverse programme, from choral classics with the Chapel Choir of Pembroke College, performances from boundary-crossing artists including Norwegian ensemble Barokksolistene and director violinist Bjarte Eike, as well as appearances from cellist Anastasia Kobekina and pianist and YouTube sensation Hayato Sumino (8 August) 100 Years of the Shipping Forecast – The Proms marks the centenary of Radio 4's Shipping Forecast with music inspired by the oceans and the elements, featuring the Ulster Orchestra and conducted by Chloé Van Soeterstède. It will feature music inspired by the sea, with a new work composed by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and his band LYR, as well as appearances from some familiar Radio 4 voices (8 August, Ulster Hall, Belfast) Anoushka Shankar – Sitar virtuoso and composer Anoushka Shankar returns to the Proms for her fifth appearance at the festival, performing new orchestral arrangements of music from her album trilogy: Chapters – I: Forever, For Now, II: How Dark It Is Before Dawn, and the world premiere of her new album III: We Return To Light. Conducted by Robert Ames and featuring the London Contemporary Orchestra (12 August and broadcast on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer) The Cavemen. – Nigerian brothers Kingsley Okorie and Benjamin James bring their distinctive 'highlife fusion' sound to the BBC Proms, including tracks from their 2020 album ROOTS (12 August, Late Night) Paraorchestra and The Breath – Following their debut at the Bristol Proms last year, Paraorchestra collaborates with Oliver Vibrans and folk duo The Breath – guitarist Stuart McCallum and singer/instrumentalist Ríoghnach Connolly. Together, they create a unique concert conducted by Charles Hazlewood (22 August, Bristol Beacon) St. Vincent – Following three 2025 Grammy Award wins, St. Vincent brings her music to the Proms, joining forces with Jules Buckley and his orchestra to present brand-new symphonic arrangements of tracks from her back catalogue (3 September) Classic Thriller Soundtracks – Marking 50 years since the death of legendary film composer Bernard Herrmann, the BBC Concert Orchestra celebrates his iconic film scores, from Psycho to Taxi Driver. This concert also features music from other thriller soundtracks by David Raksin, Miklós Rózsa and Quincy Jones (4 September) Avi Avital: Between Worlds – Boundary-breaking mandolin virtuoso Avi Avital makes his Proms debut alongside his Between Worlds Ensemble and Georgia's male-voice group Ensemble Rustavi. Together, they embark on a musical journey of the regions surrounding the Black Sea, exploring classical, popular and traditional styles, from Crimean Tatar music and Turkish folk to klezmer, and works by Bartók (9 September, Late Night) Aurora Orchestra: Shostakovich's Fifth by Heart – Nicholas Collon and Aurora Orchestra present a 20th-century masterpiece: Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony. In their signature style and in collaboration with physical-theatre experts Frantic Assembly, Aurora Orchestra will explore the mind of Shostakovich, with actors bringing the composer's world to life (6 August and 17 matinee, and broadcast on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer) Late Junction – Radio 3's nightly Late Junction has been home to the adventurous listener for over 25 years, and this special Proms edition, presented by Verity Sharp, welcomes guest artists who have forged distinctive musical paths, offering a late-night listening swerve off the beaten track (22 August, Late Night, Bristol Beacon) Pekka Kuusisto and Katarina Barruk – Pekka Kuusisto brings the strings of his Norwegian Chamber Orchestra to the Proms, as well as singer and composer Katarina Barruk – one of only a handful of remaining speakers of the Ume Sámi language – a living beacon for her native tongue and culture, performing songs that combine the traditional and the modern, interspersed with music by Bach, Philip Glass, Caroline Shaw and Tippett (31 August) Angélique Kidjo: African Symphony – Five-time Grammy Award-winner and celebrated 'Queen of African Music' Angélique Kidjo returns to the Proms following her 2019 debut. As part of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, Kidjo will pay tribute to her African heritage, performing iconic tracks from legends such as Miriam Makeba, Fela Kuti, Hugh Masekela and Youssou N'Dour, showcasing the richness and beauty of African culture (7 September, St George's Hall, Bradford) Opera and large-scale choral Opera Bartók: Duke Bluebeard's Castle – Iván Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra present Hungary's most celebrated opera, featuring Dorottya Láng and Krisztián Cser (6 August) Puccini: Suor Angelica – Sir Antonio Pappano and the London Symphony Orchestra present Puccini's one-act Suor Angelica, starring soprano Carolina López Moreno. In the first part of this concert, the Symphonic Fantasy from R. Strauss's Die Frau ohne Schatten will be performed (19 August) Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro – Mozart's timeless masterpiece arrives fresh from Glyndebourne in a concert staging of their brand new 2025 production, featuring a stellar cast which includes Johanna Wallroth as Susanna and Louise Alder as the Countess, who will also return for the Last Night of the Proms, under the baton of Riccardo Minasi (27 August) Shostakovich: The Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District – The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Singers and the English National Opera join forces under John Storgårds for this blistering operatic tragedy starring Amanda Majeski as Katerina with Nicky Spence as her lover Sergey. It has only been performed in its entirety at the Proms once before (1 September) Choral Vaughan Williams: Sancta Civitas – Sakari Oramo and the BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, the BBC Singers and members of London Youth Choirs, open the Proms season with Vaughan Williams' powerful depiction of the battle between good and evil, completed 100 years ago and inspired by the Book of Revelation (First Night of the Proms, 18 July) Mahler: Symphony No. 2 – Kahchun Wong makes his first Proms appearance as the Hallé's new Principal Conductor. He conducts the Hallé, Hallé Choir and Hallé Youth Choir in Mahler's 'Resurrection' Symphony, featuring soloists Mari Eriksmoen and Emily D'Angelo (2 August) Mahler: Das klagende Lied – Hannu Lintu conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus and the Constanza Chorus in Mahler's chilling fable of jealousy, murder and magic. Soloists are soprano Natalya Romaniw, mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnston, tenor Russell Thomas and baritone James Newby (4 August) Mahler: Symphony No. 3 – Mahler's intricate, joyful tapestry of man, nature and heaven comes to life under the baton of Ryan Bancroft, leading the BBC National Orchestral of Wales alongside the Orchestre National de Bretagne. They are joined by the CBSO Children's Chorus, upper voices of the Welsh National Opera Chorus and BBC National Chorus of Wales, and mezzo-soprano Beth Taylor (11 August) Joe Hisaishi and Steve Reich – Studio Ghibli composer and conductor Joe Hisaishi makes his Proms debut, presenting a powerful vision of a scorched-earth, post-nuclear wasteland: The End of the World. The programme also includes Steve Reich's gripping work, The Desert Music. The concert features the BBC Singers, National Youth Voices, Philharmonia Chorus and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. (14 August) Delius: A Mass of Life – Sir Mark Elder conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra in an extravagant, Nietzsche-inspired cantata for orchestra, chorus and soloists, featuring Jennifer Davis, Claudia Huckle, Roderick Williams and David Butt Philip (18 August) Anna Clyne: The Years – Fabio Luisi conducts the Danish National Symphony Orchestra & Concert Choir in Anna Clyne's The Years – a choral work which delves into themes of isolation and the passing of time. Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 will also be performed in this concert (21 August) Handel: Alexander's Feast (1742 version) – The award-winning Baroque dynamos Peter Whelan and the Irish Baroque Orchestra and Chorus make their Proms debuts with Handel's Alexander's Feast. Presented in a three-part version specially written by Handel for Dublin performances in 1742, this adaptation is performed at the Proms for the very first time (30 August) Arvo Pärt at 90 – Acclaimed interpreters of Arvo Pärt's music, Tõnu Kaljuste and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir celebrate the composer's 90th anniversary with a concert that showcases his popular 'Holy Minimalism' style. The programme features Da pacem Domine, Veni creator, Magnificat, The Deer's Cry, and Für Jan van Eyck, which receives its UK premiere (31 July, Late Night) Striggio: Mass 'Ecco sì beato giorno' – Le Concert Spirituel and Hervé Niquet make a long-awaited return to the Proms, performing Striggio's Mass in 40 Parts, a sumptuous Renaissance epic. Premieres and BBC commissions The BBC is the UK's biggest commissioner of new music, and this year the festival will feature 19 world, European or UK premieres, including 10 works commissioned by the. Tyshawn Sorey's new work for electric guitar, co-commissioned by the BBC, gets its first Proms outing (27 July, Glasshouse). World premieres Errollyn Wallen: The Elements, BBC commission (19 July and broadcast on TV) Tom Coult: Monologues for the Curious, BBC commission (21 July) Mark Simpson: ZEBRA (or 2-3-74; The Divine Invasion of Philip K. Dick), BBC commission (22 July) Ryan Wigglesworth: for Laura, after Bach, BBC commission (27 July) Sir John Rutter: New BBC commission for BBC Singers and BBC NOW (5 August) Simon Armitage/LYR: New work inspired by the Shipping Forecast, BBC commission (8 August, Ulster Hall) Anoushka Shankar: Chapter III: We Return To Light (12 August) Camille Pépin: Fireworks, BBC commission (13 September) Rachel Portman: The Gathering Tree, BBC commission (13 September) European premieres Adolphus Hailstork: An American Port of Call (7 August) UK premieres Charlotte Sohy: Danse mystique (23 July) Anthony Davis: Tales (Tails) of the Signifying Monkey (24 July) Arvo Pärt: Für Jan van Eyck (31 July, Late Night) Anna Thorvaldsdottir: Before we fall (Cello Concerto) (13 August) BBC co-commission Sofia Gubaidulina: Revue Music for Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Band (15 August) Thomas de Hartmann: Violin Concerto (22 August) Angélique Kidjo, arr. Derrick Hodge: African Symphony (7 September, Bradford) Hannah Kendall: Weroon Weroon for solo cuffed violin (31 August) Gabriella Smith: Breathing Forests (2 September) Debut artists More than 80 artists make their solo debut at the BBC Proms. These include: Jennifer Davis soprano (18 August) Samara Joy (19 July) Théotime Langlois de Swarte violin/director (20 July, matinee) Nicholas McCarthy piano (20 July) The Breath – Ríoghnach Connolly voice/flute/shruti and Stuart McCallum guitarist (22 August, Bristol) Randall Goosby violin (23 July) Sarah Aristidou soprano (23 July, Late Night) Angeline Morrison singer (26 July) Arooj Aftab (29 July) Ibrahim Maalouf trumpeter (29 July) Vadym Kholodenko piano (30 July) Emily D'Angelo mezzo-soprano (2 August) Liya Petrova violin (5 August) Dorottya Lang mezzo-soprano (6 August) Krisztián Cser bass (6 August) Pacho Flores trumpet (7 August) Hayato Sumino piano (8 August) Bjarte Eike baroque violin (8 August) Aigul Akhmetshina mezzo-soprano (10 August) John Holiday countertenor (14 August) Carolina López Moreno soprano (19 August) Bruce Liu piano (20 August) Clara Cecilie Thomsen soprano (21 August) Jasmin White contralto (21 August) Issachah Savage tenor (21 August) Avery Amereau mezzo-soprano (24 August) Johanna Wallroth soprano (27 August) Rachel Mahon organ (28 August) Inmo Yang violin (28 August) Hilary Cronin soprano (30 August) Hugh Cutting countertenor (30 August) Katarina Barruk singer (31 August) John Findon tenor (1 September) Amanda Majeski soprano (1 September) Niamh O'Sullivan mezzo-soprano (1 September) St. Vincent (3 September) Lukas Sternath piano (7 September) Debut conductors include: Miho Hazama (19 July) Pierre Bleuse (23 July) Karen Ní Bhroin (26 July) Alphonse Cemin (27 July, Glasshouse) Chloé Van Soeterstède (8 August) Joe Hisaishi (14 August) Martina Batič (23 August) Marie Jacquot (28 August) Chris Cameron (7 September) Delyana Lazarova (10 September) Composer focuses and anniversaries Dmitri Shostakovich The Proms marks 50 years since the death of composer Dmitri Shostakovich by presenting eight of his works. The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Mark Wigglesworth present the Suite for Variety Orchestra No. 1 (arr. Atovmyan), while the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, under conductor Ryan Bancroft perform the Symphony No. 13, 'Babi Yar' (15 August). The Aurora Orchestra and conductor Nicholas Collon will take on Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 by heart, also with a musical and dramatic exploration (16 and 17 August). Pekka Kuusisto leads the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra in a presentation of Shostakovich's Chamber Symphony (31 August). Shostakovich's The Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District will be conducted by John Storgårds, with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra collaborating with the Chorus of English National Opera alongside the BBC Singers (1 September). The Chineke! Orchestra, under Sir Simon Rattle, will bring to life the Symphony No. 10 (5 September). Cellist Anastasia Kobekina, accompanied by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and conductor Delyana Lazarova, will perform the Cello Concerto No. 1 (10 September). The festival will culminate in the Last Night of the Proms, which will feature Shostakovich's Festive Overture (13 September). Maurice Ravel To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Maurice Ravel's birth, seven works are presented at this summer's Proms. Nicholas McCarthy joins the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra to perform the Piano Concerto for the Left Hand (20 July). The Orchestre National de France, under conductor Cristian Măcelaru, presents the Rapsodie espagnole and La valse (23 July). Mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina joins the London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Edward Gardner, for of the orchestral song-cycle Shéhérazade (10 August). The BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Eva Ollikainen, brings the energy of Boléro to life (13 August). Pianist Benjamin Grosvenor, alongside the BBC National Orchestra of Wales under Ryan Bancroft, performs the Piano Concerto in G major (15 August). The Philharmonia Orchestra presents Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, also orchestrated by Ravel (20 August). Finally, John Wilson and the Sinfonia of London & Chorus of London will conclude this exceptional line-up with a performance of the ballet Daphnis and Chloé (12 September). Pierre Boulez and Luciano Berio 2025 marks 100 years since the births of Pierre Boulez and Luciano Berio. There is a special Late Night Prom for both composers, as the Ensemble intercontemporain, founded by Pierre Boulez in 1976, honour the legacies of Boulez and Berio with a programme that features Boulez's Dialogue de l'ombre double, performed by clarinettist Jérôme Comte, alongside Berio's tragicomic music-drama Recital I (for Cathy) sung by Sarah Aristidou, and Sequenza V, performed by trombonist Lucas Ounissi (23 July, Late Night). Sean Shibe and an ensemble of musicians will present Le marteau sans maître, conducted by Alphonse Cemin (27 July, Glasshouse). Later in the festival, Hannu Lintu will lead the BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus in a performance of Boulez's Rituel in memoriam Bruno Maderna (4 August). The BBC Singers will join forces with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Kazuki Yamada of Berio's Sinfonia (1 August). Later in the festival, Klaus Mäkelä will conduct Amsterdam's Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Rendering (23 August). Arvo Pärt For Arvo Pärt's 90th anniversary, acclaimed interpreters of Pärt's music, Tõnu Kaljuste and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir perform music that showcase his popular 'Holy Minimalism' style (31 July, Late Night). Violinists Zoë Beyers and Miranda Dale will perform Pärt's popular concerto for two violins, Tabula rasa, with the Britten Sinfonia (23 August, Bristol). Later in the festival, Pekka Kuusisto and the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra will present Fratres (31 August). Bernard Herrmann A Classic Thriller Soundtracks Prom pays tribute to Bernard Herrmann, the legendary composer behind film scores ranging from Psycho to Taxi Driver, with the BBC Concert Orchestra and Principal Guest Conductor and Curator, Edwin Outwater (4 September). The Last Night of the Proms will feature Arthur Benjamin's Storm Clouds Cantata, arranged by Herrmann, (13 September). Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much in 1934. Hitchcock made a new version of this film in 1956 - Herrmann created a new arrangement of the piece, and is the conductor on screen in this these scenes, which take place at the Royal Albert Hall: Arthur Bliss In 2025, celebrations will mark the 50th anniversary of Sir Arthur Bliss's death. The opening piece at the First Night of the Proms will be the Birthday Fanfare for Sir Henry Wood performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sakari Oramo (18 July). Later in the festival, Bliss's The Beatitudes will be performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, alongside the BBC Singers, under Oramo's direction (7 September). Johann Strauss II To celebrate the 200th anniversary of Johann Strauss II's birth, the BBC Concert Orchestra, under Chief Conductor Anna-Maria Helsing, will present a vibrant programme of Strauss's works. The performance will feature the overture to Die Fledermaus, By the Beautiful Blue Danube. Joining the orchestra, soprano Erin Morley will enchant audiences with Frühlingstimmen and Adele's Laughing Song from Die Fledermaus (2 August, matinee). Relaxed Proms and family concerts Relaxed performance of The Planets and Star Wars – Britain's most talented teenage musicians from the National Youth Orchestra perform excerpts from Holst's The Planets and John Williams's Star Wars in a relaxed environment. Conducted by Tess Jackson and presented by Radio 3's Linton Stephens, the Prom will be British Sign Language-interpreted and audio-described (10 August, matinee) CBeebies Prom: A Magical Bedtime Story – Our youngest Prommers can enjoy a magical introduction to the orchestra alongside their CBeebies friends, featuring a special guest in the Bedtime Stories chair, announced in due course, who will tell an enchanting musical tale (25 August, two matinees, and broadcast on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer) Aurora Orchestra: Shostakovich's Fifth by Heart – Nicholas Collon and the Aurora Orchestra present Shostakovich's masterpiece entirely from memory. Actors will join the musicians and the Prom will be British Sign Language-interpreted and audio-described, ensuring an inclusive experience for all audiences (16 & 17 August, 17 August matinee) CBeebies: Wildlife Jamboree – First performed at the 2024 Proms, our youngest Prom-goers are invited to join Duggee, Bluey, the Octonauts and many more of their favourite CBeebies friends on a musical journey through the natural world, featuring performances by the Royal Northern Sinfonia and with CBeebies presenters (27 July, two matinees, Glasshouse) Proms at venues across the UK Proms Gateshead After three successful Proms residencies at Glasshouse International Centre for Music, the BBC Proms returns to the North-East. Friday 25 July Robert Ames and Royal Northern Sinfonia (Sage One, 9.15pm) – Following the success of last year's poetic electro soul collaboration with Jordan Rakei and 2023's euphoric Prom with Self Esteem, the ever-eclectic conductor and arranger Robert Ames continues his explorations into new musical sound-worlds. Full line-up to be announced. Saturday 26 July Angeline Morrison (Sage Two, 5.30pm) – Folk musician and songwriter Angeline Morrison performs her 2022 album The Sorrow Songs (Folk Songs of Black British Experience), bringing to life untold stories of the African diaspora through the essence of traditional English folk music. She will perform with The Sorrow Songs Band and special guest Eliza Carthy. Bach and Mendelssohn with Royal Northern Sinfonia (Sage One, 7.30pm and Broadcast on BBC Radio Four and BBC iPlayer) – The Royal Northern Sinfonia and their Principal Guest Conductor, Dinis Sousa, present Mendelssohn's Second Symphony – an expression of joy and faith, replete with dances, fanfares and hymns – alongside the dark, sober beauty of Bach's Keyboard Concerto in D minor. The concert features mezzo-soprano Adèle Charvet, tenor Benjamin Hulett and pianist David Fray alongside the Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia, Huddersfield Choral Society and local group Voices of the River's Edge. Sunday 27 July CBeebies Prom: Wildlife Jamboree (Sage One, 1.30pm and 4pm) – First performed at the 2024 Proms, our youngest Prom-goers are invited to join Duggee, Bluey, the Octonauts and many more of their favourite CBeebies friends on a musical journey through the natural world, featuring performances by the Royal Northern Sinfonia and with CBeebies presenters. Sean Shibe and Friends (Sage Two, 3pm) – Guitar dynamo Sean Shibe is joined by a group of fellow musicians to continue the Proms' Boulez centenary celebrations with Boulez's seminal Le marteau sans maître, the modernist masterpiece that reinvented 20th-century music. There will also be a performance of Cassandra Miller's Bel canto and a new BBC co-commission by Tyshawn Sorey. Proms Bristol The Proms continues its partnership with Bristol Beacon and Open Up Music that began in the summer of 2024. Friday 22 August Paraorchestra and The Breath (Bristol Beacon, 6pm) – Following their debut at the BBC Proms in Bristol last year, the Paraorchestra collaborate with Oliver Vibrans and folk duo The Breath – guitarist Stuart McCallum and singer/ instrumentalist Ríoghnach Connolly. Together, they create a genre-defying performance, conducted by Charles Hazelwood. Late Junction (Bristol Beacon, 10pm) – Radio 3's Late Junction has been home to the adventurous listener for over 25 years, and this special Proms edition, presented by Verity Sharp, welcomes guest artists who have forged distinctive musical paths, offering a late-night listening swerve off the beaten track. Saturday 23 August Danish National Vocal Ensemble (St George's Bristol, 2pm) – The Danish National Vocal Ensemble presents choral works from across the centuries, from British composer and suffragette Ethel Smyth responding to Bach, and Italian-born Paola Prestini reflecting on Palestrina, born 500 years ago. Mozart, Arvo Pärt and Gavin Higgins (Bristol Beacon, 5.30pm) – The Britten Sinfonia perform in a programme featuring Arvo Pärt's cult concerto for two violins Tabula rasa, performed and directed by Zoë Beyers and Miranda Dale, Sibelius's ravishing Rakastava, Mozart's Symphony No. 39 and Gavin Higgins's Rough Voices, conducted Tess Jackson. Sunday 24 August Under the Italian Sun (Bristol Beacon, 7pm) – Conductor Carlo Rizzi and the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera present an Italian programme featuring mezzo-soprano Avery Amereau. The evening features Elgar's In the South, Respighi's Il tramonto, Verdi's Sicilian Vespers overture, Rossini's William Tell overture, and Puccini's tune-filled Capriccio sinfonico. Proms at venues across the UK 'Round Midnight with Soweto Kinch – Jazz saxophonist, hip-hop artist, curator, and presenter Soweto Kinch hosts a special edition of his nightly Radio 3 show in Sunderland, celebrating the best of jazz with special guests Theo Croker, the Joe Webb Trio and Rivkala (24 July, The Fire Station, Sunderland) 100 Years of the Shipping Forecast – The Proms marks the centenary of Radio 4's Shipping Forecast with music inspired by the oceans and the elements, featuring the Ulster Orchestra and conducted by Chloé Van Soeterstède. It will feature music inspired by the sea, with a new work composed and performed by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage his band LYR, as well as appearances from some familiar Radio 4 voices (8 August, Ulster Hall, Belfast) Angélique Kidjo: African Symphony – Five-time Grammy Award-winner and celebrated 'Queen of African Music' Angélique Kidjo returns to the Proms following her 2019 debut. As part of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, Kidjo will pay tribute to her African heritage, performing iconic tracks from legends such as Miriam Makeba, Fela Kuti, Hugh Masekela and Youssou N'Dour, showcasing the richness and beauty of African culture (7 September, St George's Hall, Bradford).