BBC Proms announces first ever Festival Orchestra, reveals four 'mystery Proms'

The Proms has revealed details of the four mystery Proms taking place this summer, which were conceived in response to the uncertainty caused by the pandemic.

The first, on Friday 20 August, will see the Britten Sinfonia and National Youth Chamber Choir perform Mozart’s Requiem conducted by David Bates. The Prom will open with a selection of excerpts from operas by Jean-Philippe Rameau and an orchestral work by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges.

The second, Monday 23 August acclaimed duo Catrin Finch (harp) and Seckou Keita (kora) will perform at the Proms together for the first time.

The BBC Proms has also announced the formation of a new Festival Orchestra, made up exclusively of freelance musicians and led by conductor Mark Wigglesworth. They will perform the third mystery Prom on 8 September. 

For the final mystery Prom on Friday 10 September, pianist Pavel Kolesnikov returns to the Royal Albert Hall to perform J.S. Bach’s Goldberg Variations.

David Pickard, director of the Proms said: 'Programming responsively has been an exciting challenge for this year’s Proms. We held back four concerts in order to allow us to put together the final touches on a season that shows the breadth and talent we have in live music-making today.

'We are very pleased to be able to engage so many outstanding freelance musicians to form our first Proms Festival Orchestra. Coming together for Mahler’s Fifth Symphony will be an extraordinary and moving experience given the tremendous challenges faced by freelance musicians throughout the pandemic.'

For full programme information click here.