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Event Information:
The
Proms, more formally known as The
BBC Proms, or The Henry Wood
Promenade Concerts presented by the
BBC, is an eight-week summer season
of daily orchestral classical music
concerts and other events held
annually, predominantly in the Royal
Albert Hall in London. Founded in
1895, each season currently consists
of over 70 concerts in the Albert
Hall, a series of chamber concerts
at Cadogan Hall, additional Proms in
the Park events across the United
Kingdom on the last night, and
associated educational and
children's events. In 2009 the total
number of concerts reached 100 for
the first time. In the context of
classical music festivals, Jiří
Bělohlávek has described the Proms
as "the world's largest and most
democratic musical festival".
Prom
is short for promenade concert, a
term which arose from the original
practice of audience members
promenading, or strolling, in some
areas of the concert hall during the
concert. Promming now refers to the
use of the standing areas inside the
hall (the arena and gallery) for
which ticket prices are much lower
than for the reserved seating.
Single-concert Promming tickets can
be bought, with few exceptions, only
on the day of the concert, which can
give rise to long queues for
well-known artists or works. Proms
concert-goers, particularly those
who stand, are sometimes described
as "Promenaders", but are most
commonly referred to as "Prommers".
Prommers can buy full- or
half-season tickets instead for
guaranteed entry (until 20 minutes
before the concert is due to start),
although not the assurance of a
particular standing position. A
number of Prommers are particularly
keen in their attendance. In 1997,
one programme in the BBC documentary
series Modern Times covered this
dedicated following of enthusiasts.
The
Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall
situated in the South Kensington
area of the Royal Borough of
Kensington and Chelsea, London,
England, best known for holding the
annual summer Proms concerts since
1941. The Royal Albert Hall is one
of the UK's most treasured and
distinctive buildings, recognisable
all over the world. Since its
opening by Queen Victoria in 1871,
the world's leading artists from
every kind of performance genre have
appeared on its stage. Each year it
hosts more than 350 performances
including classical concerts, rock
and pop, ballet and opera, tennis,
award ceremonies, school and
community events, charity
performances and lavish banquets.
Many
events are promoted by the Royal
Albert Hall themselves, whilst
Raymond Gubbay promotes over 70
events a year, having brought a
range of events since the early
1970s, including opera, ballet and
classical music. Some events include
classical and rock concerts,
conferences, ballroom dancing,
poetry recitals, education, motor
shows, marathons, ballet, opera and
circus shows. It has hosted sporting
events, including boxing, wrestling
(including the first Sumo wrestling
tournament to be held in London as
well as UFC 38 (the first UFC event
to be held in the UK) and tennis
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