Start planning your concert-going now!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms

If you're in London but unable to get a ticket, a fair number will be on digital TV:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2009/broadcasts/tv/

Every concert will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 - I think people outside the UK may be able to listen to the radio broadcasts online (though only the late night ones will be at a time convenient to US listeners).

Hi, does anyone have experience with sold out Proms concerts?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2009/abou...oingto.shtml#4

"However, even for sell-out concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, over 500 Promming places are available on the door for only £5 each."

I think this is standing room in the Arena, right? How easy are these to get? When do they go on sale? Is there another link anywhere?

Thanks!

I'm trying to recall, as I was contemplating this in 2007. I ended up buying a seated ticket, but I believe I was told that people start lining up an hour or 2 before the standing room tickets go on sale. I just didn't want to "waste" my vacation time standing in line, and then standing for another 2-3 hours during the concert. But looks like this is your only option.

I wrote them at [email protected] and they sent me an auto-generated reply with a land line at 44 20 7589 8212.

So I called them instead. The guy said that for tonight's concert (it's around 3:40 pm there), there are about 50 people in line already. Out of curiosity, I looked it up and it's Barenboim conducting with Waltraud Meier as Leonore in "Fidelio" (Said is the narrator).

He thinks that I should queue about 4 hours ahead of time for Arena if I want a good look for a very popular concert. If not, it seems like 1 hour in advance is fine.

There are Arena and Gallery sections. It looks like the total is actually 900. I was trying to ask him what the difference is, and he said they are the same? Maybe he meant they are the same lines? (I think they are different sections of the hall.)

I guess I can call again the next week. If anyone has any first-hand experience, please share! Thanks.

Yeah, the concert is sold out. So I am left with the same-day option. And I'm sure the concert will be very popular.

I don't want to go four hours ahead of time, however. I can pretty easily hear these same performers (and in fact, I've heard one of them) in NYC. But it's nice to go back to Royal Albert Hall again since I was only there once, in 1991, also in the Arena. So I'll consider 1-2 hours in advance.

Just so you know, it's HOT inside, esp if you're standing within a huge crowd. I don't think they have a/c?

No (at least not in 1991). That was just about the only thing I remembered about RAH -- apart from the fact it's round.

The other thing I remember was leaving the concert in a hurry to make a hostel curfew. I'm not even sure if we stayed until the end.

If only I could remember what the concert was and what the hostel was.... Those were the days!

" I was trying to ask him what the difference is, and he said they are the same? Maybe he meant they are the same lines?"

You can Prom either in the Arena (the central section on the ground floor where there'd be stall seats in an ordinary theatre) or in the Gallery (the top tier around the periphery of the Hall). Preferences differ, though my impression is that hard-core Prommers mostly think the Arena's more authentic Promming. It's the same queue.

I'm not sure there's a standard number of Prommer tickets. The Arena's very flexible, and space for the players/singers will sometimes expand out into it: the whole point of the Proms is the enormous range of concert types.

At non-Proms, the Arena's usually all audience seating. What the website probably means is that, however the space is configured, there'll always be at least 500 Prommer tickets.

That's why I save my symphony concert and opera programmes! (Pretty much the only things I "collect".) I didn't think there was A/C in 2007.

Thanks flanner. Yes, he said to go for the Arena too. I think he said you could lie down in the Gallery, but maybe I misunderstood. I seem to remember lying down in the Arena.

I do try to keep my programs too, but inevitably I miss a few. And this was back when I didn't really care much about what I was listening to. For some reason I think Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture was on this concert, but who knows if I made it up? I tried to Google to see if I can find programs going back to 1991, but there wasn't an easy way. Presumably I can correlate an entry/exit stamp in my passport with this concert.

But you know what, I really do have more important things to do!

It's amazing how many clips of old TV relays of Proms turn up on Youtube. One of the excitements this week was one of the late Proms, with the Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain leading about 1000 players in the audience in Beethoven's Ode to Joy (and some of the audience were singing as well - in German):

http://tinyurl.com/l5uxcf

That's an interesting clip -- no video though. Seems very English.

You don't know anything about the same-day tickets, do you?

Hot, sweaty, full of people. Dare I mention the "elephant in the room"?

<<< the Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain >>>

Whilst I love their stuff, WTF does it have to do with Classical Music

Well, it's a clip with Ode to Joy, but I can barely hear the singing (German or not).

alan, the Proms have included other sorts of music for years now, especially in the late night concerts. Remember when they used to do brass band nights (they should have those back).

111op, it was out of the radio broadcast (they're all on Radio 3, but only some on TV), and, no, sorry I don't know much about going for the same day tickets. I'm a backslider, and like to sit down.

FYI, it's not the same line. The box office responded me to my e-mail:

"We do anticipate long queues for []. The £5.00 tickets are for cash only and strictly one per person. You can buy the Arena tickets at door 11 (queue dwn the South Steps) and for the Gallery at Door 10 queue in Bremner Road)."

If anyone is in N Ireland on the 12th September I have 2 extra tickets for Proms in the Park which this year will be in Hillsborough Castle. The Proms in the Park venues throughout the UK link up with the Albert Hall for the finale on the last night. This year our special guest will be Sir James Galway and as always the Ulster Orchestra. The tickets are free and you bring a picnic. It is a great evening.

Ok, I bought a ticket by calling the box office. Only two single tickets left -- either 44 pounds or 8 pounds. I wavered between the two and decided to go with the cheaper option. Booking fee 2.75 pounds.

It's restricted view in Circle. Unfortunately I'm sitting on the piano side, but she thinks I should still see her.

Yep, I'm going for Argerich-Dutoit on Sunday.

She plays the Ravel G Major concerto. After intermission, we get the Mussorgsky "Pictures" (I wish she were playing the solo piano version, but I guess that's asking too much).

No need to queue in line and extra two hours of sightseeing!

Cambe - if you still have the two tickets for BBC Proms at Hillsborough - is there any chance I could have them. I've attend the Proms in Belfast for the last 5 years and unfortunately cldnt get them this year. Much appreciated & fingers crossed