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  • What to see at the BBC Proms 2009

  • By Time Out Editors

    Updated: Thu Jul 16 2009

  • With 76 concerts in the Royal Albert Hall and 19 at the Cadogan Hall, where do you begin? At the first night of the Proms at the RAH, of course, then just keep going until everyone's singing the National Anthem. Here's our overview of the season - and our 15 Prom highlights

    What to see at the BBC Proms 2009

    © Olivia Rutherford

  • In his second year in the top job, Proms director Roger Wright has again dispensed with non-musical themes to favour the inclusion of series. This year, for instance, the Lebèque sisters, Katia and Marielle, make several appearances; Stephen Hough plays the four Tchaikovsky piano concertos; and all Stravinsky’s ballets are threaded through the season.

    The most extensive individual programme is the Radio 3 BBC New Generation Artists weekend (August 29-31), when 60 former and current participants of the young players scheme play 12 concerts at Cadogan Hall. Also, as this is the year of the big four anniversaries, expect a healthy sprinkling of Purcell, Handel, Haydn and Mendelssohn. Feature continues

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    Meanwhile, don’t forget the daily Proms Plus events across the road at the Royal College of Music. These take place in the splendidly refurbished Amaryllis Fleming Hall and there are concerts for every taste, including a free Family Prom (July 26) and two Darwin-inspired ones, featuring David Attenborough and a piece by D&B DJ Goldie (August 1 and August 2 ).

    Plus, there is an Indian Voices Day (August 16) and the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain get strumming (August 18).

    Visit our Time Out guide to the BBC Proms     for in depth listings, features and an at-a-glance Proms planner

    Our BBC Proms picks

    • Prom 49: West-Eastern Divan Orchestra

      Barenboim’s son, the violinist Michael, and pianist Karim Said (a relative of Edward Said, who co-founded the orchestra project to unite Israeli and Arab musicians) join other members of the West-Eastern Divan to play Mendelssohn and Berg. Read more

    • Proms Chamber Recitals 7-14

      Sat Aug 29-Mon Aug 31 , Cadogan Hall

      A long-weekend celebration of the New Generation Artists concert, in which 60 individuals and ensembles play 12 concerts. The performers are all former (Alina Imbragimova, Elizabeth Watts, Steven Osbourne) and current (violinists Tai Murray and Jennifer Pike, pianist Shai Wosner) participants in the aforementioned Radio 3 young players scheme. Read more

    The Proms run Fri July 18-Sat Sept 13. For more info, visit our Time Out guide to the BBC Proms.

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2 comments

  1. Posted by Skip on 18 Jul 2008 14:39

    If you go to the Royal Albert Hall website you can view the seating layout and searching for best available seats will tell you where these are located...if you can't handle that the staff on the phone are v helpful so you can ring and sort out that way .....enjoy!

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  2. Posted by elizabeth.henry on 16 Jul 2008 17:20

    WE WILL BE IN LONDON ONTHE 6,7,8,9TH OF SEPTEMBER AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE MAGUERITE BUT DO NOT KNOW THE SEATING IN THIS VENUE.iS THE GALLERY OR UPPER CIRCLE A CONVENIENT SPOT AND HOW DO O select my seating???tHANKS E. HENRY ..WOULD PREFER TO SEE ON THE 8TH AT 19 HRS.

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