BBC Proms

The BBC Proms are a summer-long festival of classical music that transforms the Royal Albert Hall into a uniquely democratic space for performance. While the hall is now its permanent home, the festival actually began in eighteen ninety-five at the now-demolished Queen's Hall. Its founder, Robert Newman, intended to introduce everyday people to serious music by creating an informal atmosphere where listeners could eat, drink, and even smoke while they enjoyed the concert. This original spirit of accessibility remains the core of the experience today, as listeners still crowd into standing areas to hear world-class orchestras for a fraction of the cost of a seated ticket.