Proms, the

Popular name for the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts held annually between July and September in the Royal Albert Hall, London. The Proms were launched by the English conductor Henry Wood at Queen's Hall, London, in 1895; they have been held at the Albert Hall since 1941. The concerts have been sponsored and broadcast by the BBC since 1927. A proportion of the audience stands during performances.

The eight-week concert season features mainly classical music, with regular premieres of new works. Henry Wood conducted the Proms 1895-1944; he was succeeded by Malcolm Sargent 1944-67. The Last Night of the Proms is a traditionally patriotic occasion, with Elgar's Land of Hope and Glory, Henry Wood's Fantasia on British Sea Songs, Thomas Arne's Rule, Britannia!, and Hubert Parry's Jerusalem stirringly performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of chief conductor Andrew Davis (1944- ) since 1989. The audience, particularly those standing - the ‘Prommers’ - wave flags, bob up and down, and participate enthusiastically.