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The First Night of the Proms 2025 opened in spectacular style with conductor Sakari Oramo and the Â鶹Éç Symphony Orchestra, who launched the season performing Arthur Bliss's Birthday Fanfare for Sir Henry and Mendelssohn’s evocative concert overture The Hebrides.

Lisa Batiashvili performing with the Â鶹Éç Symphony Orchestra © Chris Christodoulou/Â鶹Éç

They were joined by star violinist Lisa Batiashvili for a dazzling rendition of Sibelius’s Violin Concerto – one of the most cherished works of the Romantic repertoire.

The evening reached its powerful conclusion with Vaughan Williams’s monumental Sancta civitas, a richly layered work for orchestra, chorus and soloists. It was a truly majestic start to the season.

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One of jazz’s brightest rising stars lit up the Royal Albert Hall during the Proms opening weekend: five-time Grammy Award-winning vocalist Samara Joy.

Samara Joy with the Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra © Mark Allan/Â鶹Éç

Accompanied by her octet and the Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra, Joy delivered a captivating programme that reimagined instrumental jazz classics with fresh, inventive flair, spanning bossa nova rhythms to timeless gems from the Great American Songbook.

Her radiant stage presence and extraordinary vocal artistry paid a heartfelt tribute to jazz legends such as Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, and Duke Ellington, bridging the generations with star power and soul.

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The second weekend of the Â鶹Éç Proms took us to the Glasshouse International Centre for Music in Gateshead for a spectacular celebration of music in the North East.

JADE performing at the Glasshouse International Centre for Music © Thomas Jackson/TyneSight Media

Pop star and former Little Mix member JADE made her Proms debut with the Royal Northern Sinfonia in a special solo concert. She performed tracks from her new album, including her hit single 'Angel of My Dreams'.

The Royal Northern Sinfonia also took centre stage with a stunning programme of J. S. Bach and Mendelssohn, led by principal conductor Dinis Sousa.

And, for the first time ever, the Proms were televised from a venue outside of the Royal Albert Hall.

Watch JADE sing 'Angel Of My Dreams' on iPlayer

Watch Bach and Mendelssohn at The Glasshouse on iPlayer

The Traitors burst onto the scene with two thrilling Proms performances that celebrated musical treachery in true dramatic style.

Claudia Winkleman with ex-Traitors Minah and Linda © Mark Allan/Â鶹Éç

The spine-tingling concert was hosted by the show’s presenter Claudia Winkleman and featured appearances from ex-Traitors Linda, Alexander, Minah and Harry.

Conductor Karen Ní Bhroin marshalled enormous musical forces for the occasion; the Â鶹Éç Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Â鶹Éç Singers, Â鶹Éç Symphony Chorus and a dazzling line-up of vocal soloists.

Audiences were treated to an expanded version of Sam Watts’s haunting Traitors theme, alongside a selection of melodramatic chart-toppers and epic classical orchestral favourites.

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The Royal Albert Hall was ablaze with the vibrant sounds of soul for the Soul Revolution Prom – a powerful celebration of Black musical heritage and its profound connection to the Civil Rights Movement.

Beverley Knight performing with the Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra © Sisi Burn/Â鶹Éç

Presented and co-curated by Â鶹Éç Radio 2’s Trevor Nelson, the evening featured the Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra conducted by Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, who performed iconic tracks made famous by legends such as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Nina Simone.

They were joined by an immaculate line-up of vocal soloists, including soul powerhouse and theatre legend Beverley Knight, who brought the house down with a show-stopping performance of Aretha Franklin’s iconic anthem ‘Respect’.

Watch the Soul Revolution Prom on iPlayer

Conductor Nil Venditti led the Â鶹Éç National Orchestra of Wales in a vibrant celebration of Great British Classics, showcasing works by some of Great Britain’s best loved composers.

Liya Petrova with the Â鶹Éç National Orchestra of Wales © Chris Christodoulou/Â鶹Éç

The programme featured pieces by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Grace Williams, John Rutter, and Benjamin Britten, alongside Elgar’s perennial favourite, the 'Enigma' Variations.

Violinist Liya Petrova made her Â鶹Éç Proms debut with the orchestra, giving a luminous performance of Vaughan Williams’s cherished masterpiece – The Lark Ascending.

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The first all-night Prom held in over 40 years was a major event at this year’s Proms.

Barokksolistene performing at the From Dark Till Dawn Prom © Mark Allan/Â鶹Éç

Co-curated by celebrated organist Anna Lapwood, the From Dark Till Dawn Prom took place from 11pm to 7am the next morning in a seamless, immersive musical journey that captivated audiences.

The programme was a microcosmic voyage through time and genre: from raucous reenactments of a 17th-century pub brawl and swashbuckling music from Pirates of the Caribbean, to the tranquility of Hildegard of Bingen and the visceral energy of Radiohead.

Taking turns through the night shift was a brilliant lineup of performers, including soloists Anastasia Kobekina and Hayato Sumino, alongside exceptional ensembles such as Barokksolistene, the Pembroke College Chapel Choir, 12 Ensemble and Sleeping At Last.

Listen to the whole Prom on Â鶹Éç Sounds

There was barely time to draw breath at the Royal Albert Hall after the All-Night Prom: just 12 hours later the National Youth Orchestra presented a dazzling intergalactic Prom under the baton of Dalia Stasevska.

Members of The National Youth Orchestra © Chris Christodoulou/Â鶹Éç

The 160 teenage musicians launched into some of symphonic music’s most thrilling space-themed works, performing music from John Williams’s Star Wars films and Caroline Shaw’s The Observatory, a shimmering contemporary piece inspired by the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.

But the evening’s true celestial highlight was Gustav Holst’s The Planets, a sweeping musical voyage through the solar system that dazzled with its drama, mystery and grandeur.

Relive the National Youth Orchestra Prom on iPlayer

​​Multi-Grammy-nominated sitar virtuoso and composer Anoushka Shankar made a powerful return to the Proms, performing music from her three recent ‘Chapter’ albums.

Anoushka Shankar with the London Contemporary Orchestra © Andy Paradise/Â鶹Éç

She was joined by conductor Robert Ames and the London Contemporary Orchestra, together showcasing newly orchestrated arrangements of the works, with each Chapter composed as a response to the emotional and psychological impact of the pandemic years.

The concert was expressive, impactful and meditative, tracing Anoushka’s deeply personal ‘journey through pain and conflict toward healing and resilience’.

Watch Anoushka Shankar's full Prom on iPlayer

Legendary Japanese film composer Joe Hisaishi made a memorable Proms debut, conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Â鶹Éç Singers, Philharmonia Chorus and National Youth Voices.

Joe Hisaishi conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra © Chris Christodoulou/Â鶹Éç

The programme opened with Hisaishi’s own symphonic suite from The Boy and the Heron, one of the composer's many beloved film scores for Studio Ghibli.

Following this was his The End of the World, a cinematic soundscape enriched by the astonishing voice of counter-tenor John Holiday, and Steve Reich's monumental The Desert Music, a haunting, post-apocalyptic view of a scorched earth.

A Proms season rarely feels complete without a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, and this year it was the Danish National Symphony Orchestra and Chorus who took on the mantle.

Clara Cecilie Thomsen, Jasmin White, Issachah Savage, and Adam Palka © Chris Christodoulou/Â鶹Éç

Under the baton of Fabio Luisi the orchestra delivered a commanding performance, joined by an outstanding quartet of soloists: Clara Cecilie Thomsen, Jasmin White, Issachah Savage, and Adam Palka.

The climactic final movement, the iconic ‘Ode to Joy’, rang out with power and clarity, culminating in a triumphant, unifying cry of exultation.

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Star conductor Klaus Mäkelä and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra captivated Proms audiences during the sixth weekend of the season.

Klaus Mäkelä conducting the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra © Chris Christodoulou/Â鶹Éç

They first performed Luciano Berio’s Rendering, a hauntingly beautiful reimagining of Schubert’s unfinished D major Symphony, weaving fragments of the original with Berio’s own ethereal orchestration.

But it was their performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 that truly gripped the audience. Mäkelä led an astonishing interpretation of one of Mahler’s most profound works, charting an emotional arc from the solemnity of its opening funeral march to the blazing triumph of its finale.

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Presented by Edith Bowman, the Classic Thriller Soundtracks Prom was a thrilling whistlestop tour through Hollywood’s Golden Age, bringing cinematic magic to life at the Â鶹Éç Proms.

Edith Bowman presenting the Classic Thriller Soundtracks Prom © Andy Paradise/Â鶹Éç

The Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra, under the baton of principal guest conductor and concert curator Edwin Outwater, celebrated the iconic music of Bernard Herrmann, the legendary composer was behind scores for Psycho, Taxi Driver, North by Northwest and Vertigo, in his anniversary year.

The programme also included excerpts from Quincy Jones’s score to The Italian Job, David Raksin’s theme from Laura and Lalo Schrifrin’s theme from Bullitt. Cellist Sterling Elliott also delivered a stirring performance of Korngold’s Cello Concerto, adding a touch of the romantic to a dazzling evening.

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At the start of September, the Â鶹Éç Proms travelled to Bradford to join in with the festivities marking the city’s designation as UK City of Culture 2025. Taking centre stage at the historic St George’s Hall was ‘queen of African music’ and five-time Grammy winner Angélique Kidjo.

Angélique Kidjo performing at St George's Hall, Bradford © Max Bardell

Kidjo captivated the audience with her special African Symphony, a collection of anthems, covers and original compositions honouring her African heritage.

She was joined by the Â鶹Éç Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Chris Cameron, with special arrangements of her music by Derrick Hodge, and got the crowd going with a chant of ‘Chez mama, chez mama Africa’ in her song ‘Afrika’.

A standout moment during the evening came when Yorkshire native and acclaimed singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae joined Kidjo on stage for a powerful rendition of Youssou N’Dour’s '7 Seconds'.

The final week of the Proms culminated in a much-anticipated double appearance from one of the world’s greatest orchestras, the Vienna Philharmonic.

Franz Welser-Möst conducting the Vienna Philharmonic © Chris Christodoulou/Â鶹Éç

Under the baton of Franz Welser-Möst, the first evening brought a haunting performance of excerpts from Alban Berg’s opera Lulu, followed by Anton Bruckner’s monumental Ninth Symphony. The second movement, with its forceful whole-orchestra rhythms, was so powerful it seemed to threaten the very foundations of the Royal Albert Hall.

The following night the orchestra played Mozart’s sparkling ‘Prague’ Symphony, before plunging into the emotional depths of Tchaikovsky’s famous Sixth Symphony, the ‘Pathétique’.

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