BBC Proms 2021: the highlights
Six weeks of live concerts to in-person audiences, featuring the best music and artists
The Royal Albert Hall is the home of the Proms. Photo: Mark Allan
It's the definition of the summer: live concerts to an in-person audience are on the cards as the BBC Proms, the biggest music festival in the world, confirms its 2021 plans.
There will be 52 concerts over six weeks, featuring some of the best-loved artists, back in front of a live crowd of music-lovers at last. Among them are members of the gifted Kanneh-Mason family as ensemble and as soloists, violinist Nicola Benedetti (7 Aug), Sir Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra (22 Aug), pianist Víkingur Olafsson playing Bach and Mozart (14 Aug).
The thrilling Manchester Collective is joined by the dynamic harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani (17 Aug), Chineke! Orchestra (24 Aug), and virtuoso cross-genre organist James McVinnie playing Philip Glass and a UK premiere with the BBC Concert Orchestra (6 Sept).
The Kanneh-Mason family make several Proms appearances
Other landmark appearances include the last concert as its principal conductor by Vladimir Jurowski with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. They play Bach, Stravinsky, Mahler and the Walton Cello Concerto with soloist Steven Isserlis (12 Aug). The night before there is more Stravinsky from the exciting Aurora Orchestra under Nicholas Collon, playing the Firebird Suite from memory (11 Aug).
Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason and pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason appear with five siblings and instrumentalist friends for a special Family Prom, given twice on Saturday 19 August, at 2.30PM and 7PM. Children's author Michael Morpurgo gives a new narration to Saint-Saëns' picturesque Carnival of the Animals. Sheku is also the soloist in Dvorak's Cello Concerto with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (5 Sept), and pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason is the soloist in Chineke!'s concert, playing Florence Price's Piano Concerto in One Movement (24 Aug).
Four mystery Proms will be revealed in due course – the programme is likely to be influenced by Covid measures at the time. These take place on 20 and 23 August, and 8 and 10 September. For now, there are no big choral concerts, as confused government guidelines on singing continue to muddle music-making. Maybe the traditionally performed Beethoven Symphony No 9 will be unveiled, although it has become a political football in the concert hall with its EU-anthem final movement, popular with the internationally-minded Proms audience but not with Brexiters.
Nicholas Collon conducts Aurora Orchestra who play from memory at the Proms
Sure to sell out in no time is Bach's St Matthew Passion (9 Sept) with early music specialists Arcangelo and soloists including baritone Roderick Williams. Another surefire hit to catch is guitarist Sean Shiba's recitals at the Cadogan Hall (23 August, 1PM and 6PM).
A Glyndebourne opera is also traditionally performed at the Proms, and this year the piece (31 Aug, 4PM) is Wagner's tumultuous love story Tristan and Isolde.
Most events take place at the Royal Albert Hall, celebrating 150 years of performance this year. And it wouldn't be the Prom without the Prommers, still at the heart of the music-making. With plans for an audience of 1,000 for now, numbers at the Royal Albert Hall may be increased in line with updates on Covid measures. Promming tickets will be sold at £6.
All concerts are also broadcast on BBC Radio 3, and some on BBC Television. Click here for the full programme. Tickets for concerts from 30 July to 20 Aug go on sale at 9AM, Sat 26 June. Tickets for concerts from 21 Aug to 10 Sept go on sale at 9AM, Sat 17 July
There will be 52 concerts over six weeks, featuring some of the best-loved artists, back in front of a live crowd of music-lovers at last. Among them are members of the gifted Kanneh-Mason family as ensemble and as soloists, violinist Nicola Benedetti (7 Aug), Sir Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra (22 Aug), pianist Víkingur Olafsson playing Bach and Mozart (14 Aug).
The thrilling Manchester Collective is joined by the dynamic harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani (17 Aug), Chineke! Orchestra (24 Aug), and virtuoso cross-genre organist James McVinnie playing Philip Glass and a UK premiere with the BBC Concert Orchestra (6 Sept).
The Kanneh-Mason family make several Proms appearances
Other landmark appearances include the last concert as its principal conductor by Vladimir Jurowski with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. They play Bach, Stravinsky, Mahler and the Walton Cello Concerto with soloist Steven Isserlis (12 Aug). The night before there is more Stravinsky from the exciting Aurora Orchestra under Nicholas Collon, playing the Firebird Suite from memory (11 Aug).
Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason and pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason appear with five siblings and instrumentalist friends for a special Family Prom, given twice on Saturday 19 August, at 2.30PM and 7PM. Children's author Michael Morpurgo gives a new narration to Saint-Saëns' picturesque Carnival of the Animals. Sheku is also the soloist in Dvorak's Cello Concerto with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (5 Sept), and pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason is the soloist in Chineke!'s concert, playing Florence Price's Piano Concerto in One Movement (24 Aug).
Four mystery Proms will be revealed in due course – the programme is likely to be influenced by Covid measures at the time. These take place on 20 and 23 August, and 8 and 10 September. For now, there are no big choral concerts, as confused government guidelines on singing continue to muddle music-making. Maybe the traditionally performed Beethoven Symphony No 9 will be unveiled, although it has become a political football in the concert hall with its EU-anthem final movement, popular with the internationally-minded Proms audience but not with Brexiters.
Nicholas Collon conducts Aurora Orchestra who play from memory at the Proms
Sure to sell out in no time is Bach's St Matthew Passion (9 Sept) with early music specialists Arcangelo and soloists including baritone Roderick Williams. Another surefire hit to catch is guitarist Sean Shiba's recitals at the Cadogan Hall (23 August, 1PM and 6PM).
A Glyndebourne opera is also traditionally performed at the Proms, and this year the piece (31 Aug, 4PM) is Wagner's tumultuous love story Tristan and Isolde.
Most events take place at the Royal Albert Hall, celebrating 150 years of performance this year. And it wouldn't be the Prom without the Prommers, still at the heart of the music-making. With plans for an audience of 1,000 for now, numbers at the Royal Albert Hall may be increased in line with updates on Covid measures. Promming tickets will be sold at £6.
All concerts are also broadcast on BBC Radio 3, and some on BBC Television. Click here for the full programme. Tickets for concerts from 30 July to 20 Aug go on sale at 9AM, Sat 26 June. Tickets for concerts from 21 Aug to 10 Sept go on sale at 9AM, Sat 17 July
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| What | BBC Proms 2021: the highlights |
| Where | Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AP | MAP |
| Nearest tube | South Kensington (underground) |
| When |
30 Jul 21 – 11 Sep 21, More than 50 live concerts, start times and durations vary |
| Price | £TBC |
| Website | Click here for more information and booking |