Royal Albert Hall during the annual BBC Proms festival in London

© Oli Scarff/Getty Image

Facing the music. Classical music takes centre stage

We're looking at the West-Eastern Divan youth orchestra rehearsing for a performance at the BBC Proms. The Proms (short for promenade concerts) is an annual music festival held in London over eight weeks from July into September. The first Proms took place on 10 August 1895, in the Queen’s Hall in Langham Place, London. After that venue was destroyed by a bomb during the Blitz, the Proms moved here, to the city’s iconic Royal Albert Hall, in 1941. This year marks the 125th festival and includes 150 concerts and educational events. While the focus is on classical music, the Proms in the Park event finishes the season with performances from Barry Manilow, Chrissie Hynde and other pop artists.