The Proms

Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript

Finn Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I’m Finn…

Neil …and I’m Neil. Hello.

Finn Now, Neil, are you doing anything interesting tonight?

Neil Well, I was thinking of popping down to - that means visiting - my local pub to catch a band. What about you?

Finn Well, my wife and I have got tickets for the Proms tonight.

Neil The Proms? You mean that ceremony for high school leavers? I thought you left school decades ago, Finn.

Finn Ah yes, very funny, Neil. Actually, yeah, it was almost two decades ago. Anyway, the Proms I’m talking about have nothing to do with that. These Proms, or as they’re also known, the BBC Proms, are the biggest classical music festival in the world, and they’re held in London every summer.

Neil Ah, yes, of course I know the Proms. And I’ve even watched the Last Night of the Proms with all those waving flags and the patriotic singing by the audience. Not really my thing.

Finn I know what you mean, but you shouldn’t judge the Proms by the concert on the last night, Neil. It’s not really typical. Although it is watched by millions of people around the world. And you know, the Proms is also a very old festival… but, how old, Neil? Is it:

a) 57 years?

b) 84 years?

c) 120 years old?

Neil Well, I don’t know, so I’m going to guess and say 84 years.

Finn OK. Well, we’ll find out the answer to that question later.

Neil OK. So, come on then Finn, sell the Proms to me. What is it that I’m missing?

Finn Well, rather a lot, actually. It’s not stuck-up - that means a bit superior - in fact, I think there’s something for everyone. For example, you might hear something like this…

Music [Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony]

Neil Wow! That was pretty dramatic. It really grips you , doesn’t it? What was it?

Finn Well, that was from the first movement of Tchaikovsky’s fourth symphony. And at the end you would hear the Prommers showing their appreciation by cheering and clapping.

Neil Right, so it’s almost like Glastonbury, then! So that’s the point you’re making, is it - the Proms make classical music accessible to everyone. But who are these Prommers?

Finn Ah, well for an answer to that, let’s hear from the Director of the BBC Proms, Edward Blakeman.

Edward Blakeman - Director of BBC Proms So the Prommers, are quite literally the people who stand to listen to the concerts. And there is space for about 800 people, right in the middle of the hall. And this is a long tradition, back, going through the Proms. And it’s wonderful because it costs very little, and it means that almost anyone can afford to come to the Proms. So it is a wonderful place for all sorts of people to meet together, and by the way, it’s the best place in the hall to hear the music.

Finn Now, the hall that he’s talking about is the Royal Albert Hall in London - and the Prommers are the people who come and stand as they listen to the music. You know, Neil, it’s only £5 a ticket.

Neil Right, so you stand? That sounds like a proper gig. I think I might just give it a go, Finn. So, you’ve been trying to persuade me that it’s quite informal. But, at the same time you do get all those big, fancy classical music names, don’t you?

Finn You do, absolutely. The top soloists - whether that’s on the piano, the violin or any other instrument, or singing - they all perform at the Proms. As do very big orchestras.

Neil And I believe the BBC commissions new works from time to time. I was even told about rock musicians playing there. Can that be right, Finn?

Finn Well, yes Neil. That’s actually true. The whole range of music is becoming wider year by year. They also screen concerts to other cities, they hold lunchtime and children’s concerts, they even play Indian classical music, like this type of thing…

Music [Classical sitar music]

Neil What, playing sitars (and tablas) at the Proms?

Finn Yes. But the core of the eight-week festival is devoted to the heavyweight composers of the last 400 years - Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms and so on. Let me play you another extract of that Tchaikovsky symphony now Neil. Tell me what you think of this.

Music [Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony]

Neil Now, that was totally different. Much slower and quite sad.

Finn Yes, every symphony , concerto , or sonata will have a slow movement and it will often be deeply emotional.

Neil Well, you can’t beat live music. So, I must get going.

Finn Oh yeah? Are you off to see that gig at the pub, Neil?

Neil Actually, yes. Or, you know what? I might go and catch a Prom after all.

Finn OK. Well, before you hurry off, I have to give you the answer to the quiz. I asked how many years has the BBC Proms been going?

Neil And I said 84.

Finn And I’m sorry, Neil. That’s the wrong answer.

Neil Oh no.

Finn The correct answer was actually 120 years. Well, that brings us to the end of today’s 6 Minute English. We hope you enjoyed the programme. Join us again soon. Bye.

Neil Goodbye.