For the past century, the Last Night of the Proms has been one of the highlights of the cultural calendar. Now, amid the outbreak of Covid-19, it is unclear precisely how the Royal Albert Hall intends to cope with the brave new world in which they find themselves.
While it is known that the first six weeks of the Proms are cancelled, encouraging audiences to turn to the extensive 73 years of archival material, the final two weeks remain up in the air. It is currently believed that the final fortnight will go ahead, however, the artists remain unconfirmed, likewise the precise conditions for audiences inside the hall.
According to Ben Lawrence, commissioning editor for The Telegraph: “The appeal of the Proms lies partly in the extraordinary atmosphere it creates which – whether you are lucky enough to be at the Albert Hall or watching it from the comfort of your own home – is infectious.”
Current government policy indicates that any such atmosphere at this year’s Proms is unlikely. Lawrence muses that: “An empty venue is a strange thing to behold, but new isolated Proms concerts from the start would make no small contribution to a live arts scene in crisis.” He focuses particularly on the financial problems the culture sector is facing as a direct result of Covid-19.
Lawrence concludes that the Proms has: “has become a political football in recent years, and a battleground in miniature between Leavers and Remainers, but ultimately it is a celebration of a festival which is the envy of the world and we mustn’t forget that.”
Come September 12, one can only hope that we will be able to wave our flags in person, and not online.
