BBC announces Last Night Of The Proms celebrations across UK

* Hyde Park, London, England
* Hillsborough Castle, County Down, Northern Ireland
* Caird Hall, Dundee, Scotland
* Singleton Park, Swansea, Wales
* Buile Hill Park, Salford, England

After a packed two months, the 116th BBC Proms – the world’s largest classical music festival – comes to a spectacular end on Saturday 11 September.

Last Night Of The Proms celebrations take place across the UK as, once again, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales host ambitious live events. Audiences around the UK can also join in at more BBC Big Screens than ever before to mark the conclusion of the annual BBC Proms season at the Royal Albert Hall.

The world-famous Last Night Of The Proms celebrations spill out from London’s Royal Albert Hall, as people come together at venues across the UK to be part of the magic of the Last Night. Events are now confirmed in London, Hillsborough, Swansea and Salford, while Dundee joins the celebrations for the first time in Scotland.

Each show is centred around a live concert with its own high-profile artists, BBC orchestras and presenters. The evenings culminate in a live big-screen link-up to the Royal Albert Hall for the traditional participatory festivities and flag-waving which round off the world’s largest music festival. All are invited to join the largest ever operatic chorus to sing the Bridal Chorus from Wagner’s Lohengrin and the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic You’ll Never Walk Alone.

In London’s Hyde Park Sir Terry Wogan returns to present the 15th anniversary of Proms In The Park, while operatic legends Jose Carreras and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa are already confirmed there, with other top artists to be announced over the coming months.

Sir Terry says of the event: “Prawns in the Pork, Prams in the Dark, a rose by any other name... it is a privilege and an unalloyed pleasure to present Proms In The Park before the magnificent audience that packs Hyde Park. Come rain or shine, its high spirits are ever buoyant. It’s an evening of flags and banners, joy and laughter. And magnificent music, ending with Land Of Hope And Glory from 40,000 loyal throats, as fireworks light up the night over Hyde Park.”

Audiences can also join the Last Night Of The Proms celebrations via one of the BBC Big Screens around the country – more than ever in 2010: Birmingham (Victoria Square), Bradford (Centenary Square), Bristol (Millennium Square), Cardiff (The Hayes), Derby (Market Place), Dover (Market Square), Edinburgh (Festival Square), Leeds (Millennium Square), Leicester (Humberstone Gate), Liverpool (Clayton Square), Manchester (Exchange Square), Middlesbrough (Centre Square), Norwich (Chapelfield Plain), Plymouth (Armada Way), Portsmouth (Guildhall Square), Swindon (Wharf Green), Waltham Forest (Walthamstow Town Square) and Woolwich (General Gordon Place).

Highlights of Proms In The Park will be included as part of the live coverage of the Last Night on BBC One and BBC Two, while digital TV viewers can choose to watch the Royal Albert Hall concert or Proms In The Park.

Roger Wright, director of the BBC Proms says: “The Last Night Of The Proms is an event like no other – bringing together the UK for a night of singing, celebrations and merriment. We’ve devised a strong line-up of events this year and a wide range of venues to allow audiences everywhere to experience as one the magic of the Last Night Of The Proms.”

Details and line-ups will be announced in due course. For details regarding the BBC Big Screens, visit bbc.co.uk/bigscreens.
Notes to Editors

The BBC Proms is the world’s largest classical music festival, with more than 90 concerts – featuring many of the world’s greatest artists and orchestras – as well as a host of extra events including talks, workshops, films, free performances and family events.

The Proms runs from Friday 16 July to Saturday 11 September 2010, and full information on the season is available at bbc.co.uk/proms.

Booking is now open: online at bbc.co.uk/proms – by telephone 0845 401 5040 – in person at the Royal Albert Hall.