Introducing BBC Proms 2015

I’ve worked out I’m now on day 100 and since joining BBC Radio 3, I’ve been really energised by what I’ve seen. On the day we launch the BBC Proms season for 2015, I wanted to share some of what I observed, touch on some of the vision I have in my role as Radio 3 controller and share some of the personal highlights I’ve discovered in the Proms brochure.

For the past three months I’ve seen nearly all of what the station puts out on-air from a demonstration of high definition sound, to the Celtic Connections Festival up in Scotland, a gathering of the Private Passions guests celebrating twenty years of the programme and, of course, the station’s nightly Live in Concert series. What I’ve observed are enthusiastic programme makers, passionate about their subject area, all wanting to make great radio for our listeners.

Soon after I started I attended a training day with our Director of Radio, Helen Boaden. She and I made a radio programme together (you may have read about it in some of the interviews I’ve given recently). The day also gave me an insight into the work of a studio manager and threw light on something I really like about Radio 3 – and that’s its sound. During that day and other visits to programmes across the station I saw something else which has really energised me at Radio 3: the craft of broadcasting. I’ve seen the breadth and depth of Radio 3’s programmes being made – from live concerts, to discussion programmes as well as drama that makes the network distinctive.

As Controller of Radio 3, the BBC Proms and the BBC’s performing groups I want to build on the popularity and affection the greatest musical festival in the world has amongst its audiences and encourage those same audiences which step into the Proms to listen to Radio 3 when the festival is over. Developing the connections between the different parts of the area I am responsible for – Radio 3, the Proms and the BBC orchestras and Singers is an important part of that.

Today, is the launch of the BBC Proms 2015. The programme of nearly 100 concerts isn’t down to me, of course. Edward Blakeman as Director of the Proms has been responsible for the season’s concerts. There are also some elements which have some of my predecessor Roger Wright in them too.

The season, as you would expect, is yet again an exciting series of events throughout the summer. You can find out more about each concert on the Proms website or via the brochure on sale today. For me, my personal highlights are the late night Prom concerts. These events have a fantastic atmosphere about them and I can think of no better way of hearing some Bach Sonatas and Partitas.

Many of the world’s leading orchestras come to the 2015 Proms including the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra (their first appearance in 14 years), St Petersburg Philharmonic, Vienna and John Wilson Orchestra will be back once again. There are the classic events that could only happen at the BBC Proms, like Yo-Yo Ma playing all six of Bach’s Cello suites in one sitting, a focus on piano concertos with the complete Beethoven piano concertos performed by Leif Ove Andsnes and some rarely performed cantatas by Nielsen and some Shostakovich too.

Once again the broadcast offer of the festival is extraordinary too. The BBC Proms is the world’s largest broadcast classical music festival with every Prom live on BBC Radio 3. All the BBC Radio music networks are at this year’s Proms, 6 music make an appearance, as well as Jarvis Cocker with his Wireless Nights Prom and the Radio 1 Prom with the Heritage Orchestra.  Over on television, there will be three nights of curated programmes on BBC Four exploring great soloists, symphonies and the very highlights of our season. For the first time, conductor Mark Elder will be curating a part of this programming for the Sunday night Symphony series with Katie Derham. Proms Extra returns to Saturday nights on BBC Two along with the first night of the Proms and the first half of the last night and BBC One will bring the UK together for the finale of the Last Night of the Proms.  

Expanding on the growing audience for digital, which last year saw 56% percent of all unique browsers to our website coming from tablet and mobile, this year more content will be available online than ever before across PC, mobile and tablet. All music performed during filmed Proms and not broadcast on television will be available to watch on special online BBC iPlayer collections via the BBC Proms website www.bbc.co.uk/proms.

This event, the concerts, talks, broadcasts, digital offer, is testament to the way in which a great team of people across the BBC come together to make the BBC Proms every year. I really hope you all find something to enjoy in the season this year and that if you haven’t already, you’ll discover something you like about Radio 3 too.  

Alan Davey is Controller, BBC Radio 3

• Discover more about this year's concerts on the BBC Proms website.