Music / Classical
Bristol to host first ever Proms residency
The classical music caravan is on the move and heading to the South West.
The Beacon is gearing up to host the Proms, a world-renowned orchestral music showcase that presents the best of the genre, both classic and contemporary.
The performance at the Beacon will be the first-ever Proms residency in the recently launched Proms Across the UK series which is designed to bring classical music to audiences outside of London.
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The initiative is in keeping with the original intention of the Proms.
Since they were founded in 1895, the Proms has set out to make live classical music more accessible by replacing the priciest seats in the stalls with cheaper standing tickets – the ‘promenade’ element from which it derives its name.
Proms Bristol enjoyed a colourful launch on Friday morning and continues with four concerts taking place across the weekend.
In a world premier on Saturday, the Paraorchestra will perform a unique interpretation of Mozart’s 40th Symphony, including new compositions by Ivor Novello-award winning Oliver Vibrans.
On Sunday, the BBC Singers will celebrate the centenary of their formation with an a cappella selection that includes Tavener’s Song for Athene and Britten’s A Shepherd’s Carol.
Later that day Evelyn Glennie will perform Jennifer Higdon’s flamboyant percussion concerto, and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra will present Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5.
The weekend’s finale is a family-friendly one, as the Southbank Sinfonia’s Kwamé Ryan leads a CBeebies musical ocean adventure.
“Being able to play host to the iconic BBC Proms is an enormous honour for us,” said the Beacon’s artistic director Todd Wills.
“Our beautifully transformed auditorium now offers some of the best acoustics of any venue in the UK, so to be able to use it for the greatest classical music festival in the world is an absolute dream come true.
“The Bristol Proms offers four very different concerts that will appeal to broad and diverse audiences. We can’t wait to see our auditorium filled with world-leading musicians and rapturous audiences from all across the South West.
“If you’ve never experienced an orchestral concert before, now’s your opportunity. It’s something you will remember for a long time.”
The Bristol Proms is part of a series bringing 17 concerts to venues across the UK, to complement the other 73 Proms concerts at London’s Albert Hall.
Find out more and book tickets at bristolbeacon.org/whats-on/bbc-proms-2024
Main photo: Philip Rathmer
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