Queen give the BBC Proms a Rhapsodic send-off

Mark SavageMusic CorrespondentBBCSir Brian Might (left) and Roger Taylor debuted a brand new orchestral association of Bohemian RhapsodyThe rock band Queen have been the star friends on the Final Evening of the Proms, giving their first ever symphonic efficiency of their rock operetta, Bohemian Rhapsody.Sir Brian Might and Roger Taylor joined the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Refrain to deliver their scaramouches and fandangos to the Royal Albert Corridor, because the track celebrated its fiftieth anniversary.Queen singer Freddie Mercury, who died in 1991, “would have beloved to be right here”, Sir Brian informed BBC Information. “He’d have been on that stage, lapping it up.”Requested what the flamboyant star would have worn, his bandmate replied: “I feel it will be formal. He would not do the brief shorts or the leotard. He’d be in tails, very elegant.”Brian Might delivered the track’s iconic guitar solo from a specifically prolonged stage on the Royal Albert HallTenor Sam Oladeinde amply stuffed Mercury’s high-top sneakers for Saturday’s efficiency whereas the refrain was bolstered by the Nationwide Youth Choir, the BBC Singers and soprano Louise Alder for the well-known “Bismillah!” part.Sir Brian momentarily missed his cue on the closing guitar solo however the climax – a ghostly recording of Mercury singing “any manner the wind blows” adopted by Roger Taylor hanging Britain’s largest gong – was met with a large roar of approval.Stuart Morley’s all-new orchestral association gave Bohemian Rhapsody a “recent grandeur”, mentioned chorister Gareth Malone, who watched the efficiency.”This can be a massive room to fill, and it stuffed it.”Talking backstage, Sir Brian known as the efficiency “very emotional”. “Somewhat too emotional for me,” he added. “I missed a few issues which I want would have beloved to get higher. However the general feeling was nice.”Invoice Bailey performed one of many night’s extra unconventional instrumentsThe Final Evening marked the fruits of eight weeks of concert events throughout the nation, from Bradford and Bristol to Gateshead and Belfast.The finale, at London’s Royal Albert Corridor, additionally starred comic Invoice Bailey, who performed Leroy Anderson’s 1950 traditional The Typewriter on… effectively, a typewriter.A comedic ode to workplace life, it options simply two keys of the machine (for readability and to keep away from jamming, apparently) in addition to the “ding” of the carriage return on the finish of every phrase.Recognized to many because the theme track to BBC Radio 4’s The Information Quiz, it was a unusual spotlight that Bailey devoted to his late mom. “I simply want my mum was round for her to see it,” he mentioned forward of the present. “I feel that will be only a fantastic second – to see these early instances when she impressed me to hearken to music, after which there I’m on the Proms.”Bailey was welcomed on stage by viewers members, who chanted a greeting referencing “Room 101″ – though their which means was not instantly clear.Elim Chan performed the Final Evening live performance for the primary timeThe Final Evening was led for the primary time by Hong Kong-born conductor Elim Chan, who acknowledged her debut by hanging a learner’s plate from her podium.However she was a assured, charismatic chief, who curated the live performance round themes of childhood.The 38-year-old defined that she had been impressed to take up the baton after watching Mickey Mouse conducting the constellation of stars in Walt Disney’s animated traditional Fantasia.Accordingly, she included The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, which scored that scene, as a part of Saturday’s programme.”Little lady Elim just isn’t staying within the dressing room,” she informed BBC Two earlier than the efficiency. “She’s approaching the stage with me, and I am going to give her a bit pat on the again.”Finish of an period for Alison BalsomAlison Balsom ended her skilled profession after 40 years enjoying the trumpetBritish trumpeter Alison Balsom additionally seemed again to her youth, as she gave her retirement efficiency on the age of 46.She bowed out of her skilled profession with Hummel’s Trumpet Concerto in E flat main, which she first heard on the Barbican as a younger lady.It was an emotional efficiency, with Balsom producing a fantastically rounded tone in the course of the slower, languorous actions earlier than switching into excessive gear for the dazzling pyrotechnics of the closing Rondo.”It seems like an exquisite finale to have the ability to play this piece I’ve lived with all my musical life,” she mentioned.”I can not say how fortunate I’m to have had music in my life, as a result of it is enriched me as a human being.”As she ended her efficiency, Balsom was showered with roses from an appreciative viewers.Louise Alder adopted the character of Eliza Doolittle for her medley of songs from My Truthful LadyAlder was the evening’s star soprano, promising “an uplifting night” as an antidote to international political turmoil.She transported audiences to Edwardian London with a cheeky medley of songs from My Truthful Girl, and scaled the heights together with her rendition of Vilja Music – the nostalgic showpiece of Franz Lehár’s operetta The Merry Widow.”I like any soprano who has an enormous voice however can do internalised, smooth singing like that,” noticed BBC Radio 3’s Georgia Mann. “That’s the mark of true class.”The singer embraced the Final Evening’s occasion ambiance, adopting a cockney accent and flower-sellers costume for Would not It Be Loverly, and sporting a spectacular union flag ballgown for Rule, Britannia!The live performance ended with the normal programme of sea shanties and patriotic songs like Jerusalem and Land of Hope and Glory – because the viewers waved flags, set off occasion poppers and waved stuffed toys.Invoice Bailey reappeared on the finish of the live performance, enjoying Auld Lang Syne on the Royal Albert Corridor’s well-known “voice of Jupiter” organ – however not earlier than bashing out an impromptu model of Europe’s rock traditional The Closing Countdown.It gave the season a suitably celebratory and idiosyncratic climax. This yr’s season has totalled 86 concert events that includes everybody from jazz singer Samara Pleasure to the world’s solely one-handed pianist, Nicholas McCarthy. Highlights included the Vienna Philharmonic’s superlative efficiency of Bruckner’s Symphony No 9, and star conductor Klaus Mäkelä, who delivered an astonishingly emotional model of Gustav Mahler’s Fifth Symphony with the Netherlands’ Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.There was additionally a Promenade devoted to the music of The Traitors; one other that includes the music of Psycho composer Bernard Herrmann; and crossover live performance with pop star Jade Thirlwall and guitar virtuoso St Vincent.Virtually 290,000 tickets have been offered throughout the season and and hundreds of thousands extra tuned into protection throughout BBC Radio 3, BBC Sounds and BBC Tv.The pageant will return on 17 July 2026, for its 131st season.Greater than 3,000 musicians performed on the Proms over the course of the 2025 seasonLast Evening of the Proms 2025 – programmeModest Mussorgsky – A Evening on the Naked MountainJohann Nepomuk Hummel – Trumpet Concerto in E flat majorLucy Walker – In the present day Arthur Benjamin – ‘Storm Clouds’ Cantata Charles-François Gounod – Faust: ‘O Dieu! que de bijoux … Ah! je ris de me voir’ (Jewel Music)Franz Lehár – The Merry Widow: Es lebt’ eine Vilja (Vilja Music)Camille Pépin – Fireworks (world premiere)Paul Dukas – The Sorcerer’s ApprenticeIntervalFreddie Mercury/Queen, arr. Stuart Morley – Bohemian Rhapsody Dmitry Shostakovich – Festive OvertureLerner/Loewe, arr. Paul Campbell – My Truthful Girl medley fLeonard Bernstein, arr. Simon Wright – Prelude, Fugue and RiffsLeroy Anderson – The Typewriter Rachel Portman – The Gathering Tree (world premiere)Trad., arr. Henry Wooden – Fantasia on British Sea-SongsThomas Arne, arr. Malcolm Sargent – Rule, Britannia!Edward Elgar – Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 (Land of Hope and Glory)Hubert Parry, orch. Edward Elgar – Jerusalemarr. Benjamin Britten – The Nationwide AnthemTrad., arr. Paul Campbell – Auld lang syne