Proms 2020

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is recognised as being the UK’s most in-demand orchestra, an accolade that would have pleased Sir Thomas Beecham, who founded the RPO in 1946. His mission was to lead a vital revival of UK orchestras after World War II and form an ensemble that comprised the finest musicians in the country. The Orchestra has since attracted a glittering list of principal conductors, including Rudolf Kempe, Antal Doráti, Walter Weller, André Previn, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Yuri Temirkanov, Daniele Gatti and Charles Dutoit. Performing approximately 200 concerts each season and with a worldwide audience of more than half-a-million people, the Orchestra embraces a broad repertoire that enables it to reach the most diverse audience of any British symphony orchestra.

Katie Derham hosts the climax of the world's greatest classical music festival, the Last Night of the Proms, live from the Royal Albert Hall, drawing a unique season of live performances to a celebratory close. Soprano Golda Schultz and violinist Lisa Batiashvili join Dalia Stasevska, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Singers in a programme that includes music from Mozart's Marriage of Figaro, a world premiere from Andrea Tarrodi, music by Richard Strauss, treats from Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music, and The Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams.

Anoushka Shankar takes to the stage in an evening dedicated to her father and musical guru, Ravi, in what would have been his centenary year. Anoushka is joined in the first half by electronic music producer and performer Gold Panda for a new imagining of Ravi’s music. In the second half, Jules Buckley, the Britten Sinfonia and soloist Manu Delago accompany Anoushka in a selection of her music. Josie d’Arby presents this unique evening from the Royal Albert Hall.

To celebrate Beethoven's 250th anniversary, Tom Service and the Aurora Orchestra present a unique evening in which conductor Nicholas Collon and the orchestra take apart Beethoven's popular Seventh Symphony and show us the inner workings of the composer's creative genius, followed by a performance of the work in the orchestra's signature style - from memory! Also on the bill at the Royal Albert Hall is a new work by British composer Richard Ayres, whose piece is inspired by Beethoven's struggle with his loss of hearing.

Laura Marling teams up with pioneering strings-based collective the 12 Ensemble for a retrospective journey through her back catalogue, as well as showcasing tracks from her 2020 album, Song for Our Daughter. Featuring brand-new string arrangements by Rob Moose. In her first Prom as a headliner, Laura will perform an acoustic set accompanied by brand new string arrangements from the unconducted 12 Ensemble. Join Suzy Klein for what promises to be an unmissable evening!

Ryan Bancroft joins the BBC National Orchestra of Wales as principal conductor at BBC Hoddinott Hall in Cardiff Bay for his first official engagement, his Proms debut and the first Prom from Wales! Martinu's quirky Jazz Suite complements John Adams's Chamber Symphony, written in 1992. After the world premiere of a new BBC commission by British composer Gavin Higgins, there are two evocative American classics by Barber and Copland.

Violin superstar Nicola Benedetti leads a high-energy evening of baroque music by Vivaldi, Handel, Bach, and little-known English composer Charles Avison. If three double violin concertos were not enough, there is also a double oboe concerto!

Sir Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra with a programme packed with unmissable music, featuring star pianist Mitsuko Uchida playing Beethoven, works by much-loved British composers Elgar and Vaughan Williams, and a new composition by Thomas Adès. Join Suzy Klein for this hotly anticipated return of live music to the Royal Albert Hall.

Superstar siblings Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason take to the stage for their first Prom together to present an evening of chamber music for cello and piano.