The Last Night of the Proms is probably the most famous
musical event in the world, watched and listened to by an audience of many
millions around the
globe. While it lives up to its reputation of a fun "Last Night party" celebrating
British tradition, it equally encapsulates the spirit of the
Proms, featuring leading international artists and a truly "musically all-embracing" programme, introducing new works alongside much-loved classics.
Tradition dictates the last four works of the Last Night. Prommers lead the
audience in singing along to
Elgar's
Pomp and Circumstance March no.1 ("Land of Hope and Glory"), "Rule, Britannia!" and "
Jerusalem", and add their own special touches to the
BBC Symphony Orchestra's virtuosic performance of
Sir Henry Wood's
Fantasia on British Sea-Songs. Alongside these traditional elements of the programme, it has also been the custom of recent years to emphasise this concert as the
finale of a great
festival, bringing together the different
themes of the season.
But above all, the Last Night of the Proms is a lively celebration of the world's greatest
classical music festival and the wide range of great music it presents.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/proms/