Prominent role for BBC Singers at the Proms

The BBC Singers will perform five times at this year's BBC Proms, as announced in alterations to the festival’s schedule made since plans to disband the choir were put on hold.

The 20-member group will perform solo on the Final Night of the Proms in September in a rare and highly coveted spot in proceedings. They will also perform on the First Night of the Proms in July, and in performances with renowned composer Sir Simon Rattle, electronic musician Jon Hopkins and their Chief Conductor Sofi Jeannin.

The UK’s only professional chamber choir had initially been excluded from the Proms after the BBC announced its intention to axe the group in cost-saving efforts earlier this year, before the controversial proposals were reversed following a wide-reaching outcry.

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But speaking to The Times, Rattle voiced concerns the BBC will revive plans to disband BBC Singers once the Proms are over.

“It’s obvious that the cuts will all be back on the table as soon as the Proms are over. They were just worried about protests and demonstrations,” he said.

Rattle also accused the BBC and Arts Council England (ACE) of “operating a pincer movement against our art form”, in reference to ACE’s funding cuts to English National Opera, Welsh National Opera and Glyndebourne announced last year.

“We need to remind people that an entire art form is threatened. This is a desperate moment, and it’s not time to be diplomatic,” he added.

Rattle originally threatened to boycott the Proms this year over the decision to axe BBC Singers, before requesting they were invited to play when plans were overturned.

The preeminent conductor has now agreed to take part in the Proms for the final time.

BBC Proms Director David Pickard said the group’s reprieve meant the broadcaster’s summer plans for classical music had to be restarted after the U-turn.

The BBC Singers’ scheduled shows do not feature in the official programme because they were not due to perform at the time it went to print.

Meanwhile, BBC Orchestras and Choirs will perform in 32 Proms, including 14 premieres, while the BBC continues to explore alternative options to proposed cuts to its orchestras with the Musicians Union.

Firsts for female composers

This year’s Proms calendar will see the first and last night concerts conducted by women for the first time.

Pickard told the BBC having female conductors bookend the festival showed the event was “moving in the right direction”.

“This year, two-thirds of our concert commissions are by women, while a third of our concerts include a piece by a woman in them. This is hugely, hugely advanced on the figures we would have given you 10 years ago,” he added.

“Is it enough? No, not yet I don't think, but, the motivation to change these things is enormous.”

In total, 84 Proms will take place over three months, with 12 taking place outside London.

Tickets will be available from 13 May.