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Georgia Mann live from the Royal Albert Hall

Georgia Mann dives into Proms 2026 with guests, live music and the buzz of the Royal Albert Hall as the musicians opening the season begin to arrive.

The sound of summer pours from your radio in Proms Countdown 2026. From first light to the very first note of the BBC Proms, Radio 3 broadcasts live from the Royal Albert Hall. Tom McKinney, Georgia Mann, Mark Forrest and Katie Derham take you behind the scenes as excitement builds for the opening night — from unlocking the doors to the moment the performers step on stage.

Proms Countdown is your access-all-areas pass, with exclusive interviews from Proms performers, backstage stories and live performance — a front-row seat to the sounds and stars of the world’s greatest classical music festival.

Mid-morning, and the Royal Albert Hall rings with the sound of brass as members of the Black Dyke Band rehearse for their weekend Prom — taking a break to perform live, especially for Proms Countdown. Other guests include pianist Alexandra Dariescu, conductor Adam Hickox and Sandi Toksvig.

3 hours, 30 minutes

On air

Today 09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Mark Forrest live from the Royal Albert Hall

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Music Played

  • Gustav Holst

    Mars, the Bringer of War (The Planets)

    Orchestra: Boston Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: William Steinberg.
    • Holst: The Planets / Ligeti: Lux aeterna.
    • DG.
    • 1.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Violin Concerto in E flat major RV.253 'La Tempesta di Mare'

    Performer: Patricia Kopatchinskaja. Ensemble: Il Giardino Armonico. Director: Giovanni Antonini.
    • Alpha.

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Symphony No 5 (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan.
    • Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5 in B-Flat Major, Op. 100 / Stravinsky: The Rite of Spr.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 2.

  • Joseph Shabalala

    Rain, Rain, Beautiful Rain

    Ensemble: Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
    • Shaka Zulu.
    • Warner Records.
    • 9.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Brandenburg Concerto No 3 in G major, BWV 1048

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Director: Alison Bury.
    • J.S. Bach: The Brandenburg Concertos; Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 8.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Clarinet Sonata No 1 in F minor (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Anthony McGill. Performer: Gloria Chien.
    • Here with You.
    • Cedille.
    • 3.

  • Joby Talbot

    Path of Miracles (Leon)

    Choir: Tenebrae. Director: Nigel Short.
    • SIGNUM.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Violin Concerto in E minor, Op.64 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Alina Ibragimova. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Conductor: Vladimir Jurowski.
    • Mendelssohn: Violin Concertos: Ibragimova/OAE/Jurowski.
    • Hyperion.
    • 3.

  • Steve Reich

    Music for 18 Musicians (Pulses)

    Ensemble: Ensemble Signal. Director: Brad Lubman.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony No 5 (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Paavo Berglund.
    • WARNER.

  • Grażyna Bacewicz

    Oberek no.1

    Performer: Midori. Performer: Robert Macdonald.
    • SONY.

  • Thomas Adès

    Dances from Powder Her Face (Finale)

    Orchestra: National Youth Orchestra. Conductor: Paul Daniel.
    • Ades: Tevot, Violin Concerto, Three Studies.
    • EMI.
    • 10.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Piano Sonata K. 545 'facile' (1st mvt)

    Performer: Yeol Eum Son.
    • NAIVE.

  • Kevin Puts

    The Hours, Act 2: "All Along?"

    Singer: Kelli O’Hara. Singer: Renée Fleming. Singer: Joyce DiDonato. Orchestra: The Met Orchestra. Conductor: Yannick Nézet‐Séguin.
    • Puts: The Hours (Live).
    • ERATO.
    • 26.

  • John Dowland

    Semper Dowland, semper dolens

    Ensemble: Jupiter Ensemble. Conductor: Thomas Dunford.
    • Songs of Passion.
    • ERATO.
    • 2.

  • Gustav Holst

    A Moorside Suite: March

    Ensemble: Black Dyke Band. Conductor: Nicholas Childs.

  • Jessie Montgomery

    Strum

    Ensemble: Catalyst Quartet.
    • Azica Records.

  • Monty Norman

    James Bond Theme

    Orchestra: The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • 100 Greatest Film Themes.
    • Silva Screen Records.
    • 3.

  • Francisco Tárrega

    Recuerdos de la Alhambra

    Performer: Leonidas Kavakos. Music Arranger: Ruggiero Ricci.
    • DECCA.

Broadcast

  • Today 09:30
    BBC Radio 3