The BBC Proms

2011 was the 117th year of the Proms and it still remains true to its original aim: to present the widest possible range of music, performed to the highest standards, to large audiences.

BBC Proms was established by Sir Henry Wood in 1895 and was the brainchild of the impresario Robert Newman, manager of the newly built Queen's Hall in London, where they adapted an informal promenade arrangement with a nominal ticket prices so that they reach vast audience with wide range of music. In addition to that eating, drinking and smoking were also allowed.

The word Proms comes from 'Mr Robert Newman's Promenade Concerts', informal and inexpensive and where prommers can buy ticket for an original cost of Shilling (5p), today it costs only £8.00. Years passed and Wood continued to give its audience a mixture of enterprising and adventurous new works of orchestral artists. A tradition of Wagner Night on Mondays and Beethoven Night on Fridays was introduced. Wood was keen in promoting young talents and by 1920's leading composers like Richard Strauss, Debussy, Rakhmaninov, Ravel and Vaughan Williams was introduced.

However, in 1915, Proms went through financial problems, when publishers Chappell & Co took over and renamed it as New Queen's Hall Orchestra. Later in 1927 when BBC was established, Chappell's withdrew their financial support and BBC took over the Proms and for 3 years, concerts were performed under the name of 'Sir Henry Wood and his Symphony Orchestra' until the BBC renamed it to BBC Symphony Orchestra in 1930.

But when Britain declared war on Germany BBC withdrew its support and Wood found a private sponsorship to continue the Proms concerts. For 1940 and 1941 seasons the Proms were renamed as London Symphony Orchestra. Unfortunately due to air raids the Queen's Hall got destroyed on 10 May 1941.

This is how The Royal Albert Hall, came into use for the concert performances. That year BBC returned to sponsor Proms once again. Wood continued to work with the proms until he died in 1944.

After the war Malcolm Sargent became the chief conductor of the Proms. By 1947 Viennese evenings became more fashionable and popular compared to the traditional Wagner Nights. In 1950's there was a remarkable increase in the number of seasons with renowned artists like Charles Groves, Colin Davis, Norman Del Mar, Charles Mackerras.

In 1959, the identity of proms started to change with the arrival of William Glock as BBC Controller. Now in 1966 Proms had changed from a small successful venture into a big and popular International Festival, with international figures like Georg Solti, Leopold Stokowski and Carlo Maria Giulini.

By 1970's Proms featured new series of Late Night concerts and Pre- Prom Talks, Opera performances, non-western cultural music, music concerts devised specially for children.

In 1994 proms celebrated its 100th season and now festival includes more than 70 concerts. From 1996 to 2008 proms has launched series of new events like Proms in the Park, Proms Chamber music, & Proms Lecture, the first Prom Recital, the Violins, the Voice, Brass Day, Folk day and Dr Who which became a major success. The 2009 proms introduced more events like Proms Literary Festival, Talks, Films, Prom Plus, Composer Portraits, Family Orchestra and Family Music Intro.

The Proms are broadcast in Britain live on BBC Radio 3, on air and online, with many on BBC Television. All programmes are available on BBC iPlayer for 7 days after broadcast. In 2005, the Proms launched its first WAP site, accessible via mobile phones, alongside a free daily text message alert service, this year the mobile service will be enhanced to offer richer content to users of the new generation of portable devices. Proms are broadcast on BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four, BBC HD and, for the first time, BBC Three. Further content, such as Maestro Cam and Player Cam with expert audio commentary is available to digital TV viewer via the red button.

Since 1985 the proms has become the World's Greatest Classical Music Festival.