BBC Proms Bring Classical Music to Modern Audiences

The British Broadcasting Corporation has organized the Proms for the past 122 years.

This year, the series of events runs from July 15 to Sept. 10, with many different artists from across the classical music spectrum taking part in informal concerts across the UK. The most famous concerts take place during the iconic Last Night of the Proms, which takes place at the Royal Albert Hall in London and selected other venues in the UK.

A photo posted by BBC Proms (@bbc_proms) on Feb 14, 2016 at 6:23am PST

Noteworthy themes for the 2016 edition include various performers from Brazil in honor of this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and music inspired by the works of Shakespeare to mark the 400^th anniversary of the death of Britain’s most famous playwright.

In a break with tradition, there will be concerts at new venues in London, including Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the Roundhouse, the Old Royal Naval College and a car park in Peckham. This year the star of the Last Night of the Proms will be Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Flórez, backed by a selection of young singers who will be given a chance to shine.

A photo posted by BBC Proms (@bbc_proms) on Apr 13, 2016 at 6:19am PDT

Tickets to earlier events can be reserved online at the official Proms website, but those who wish to attend the Last Night will have to enter a ticket ballot. The ballot is testament to the popularity of the Proms and its role in encouraging attendees to listen to classical music.

Most of the events will take place in the British capital, London.