BBC U-turn over songs at Last Night of the Proms
RULE, Britannia! and Land Of Hope And Glory will be sung at the Proms as the BBC made a remarkable U-turn — a day after Tim Davie took over as director-general.
The broadcaster had said the pieces would feature without lyrics, following controversy over their perceived historical links with colonialism and slavery, but they will now be performed by a select group of vocalists.
Musicians are performing live at the Royal Albert Hall — without an audience — across the final two weeks of the season, ending in the popular Last Night.
The run-up to the Last Night has seen musicians, media industry figures and even Prime Minister Boris Johnson weigh into the debate over the pieces.
A spokesperson for the BBC Proms said: “The pandemic means a different Proms this year and one of the consequences, under Covid-19 restrictions, is we are not able to bring together massed voices. For that reason, we took the artistic decision not to sing Rule, Britannia! and Land Of Hope And Glory in the Hall.
“We have been looking hard at what else might be possible and we have a solution. Both pieces
will now include a select group of BBC singers. This means the words will be sung in the hall, and as we have always made clear, audiences will be free to sing along at home.
“While it can’t be a full choir, and we are unable to have audiences in the hall, we are doing everything possible to make it special and want a Last Night truly to remember.
“We hope everyone will welcome this solution. We think the night itself will be a very special moment for the country — and one that is much needed after a difficult period for everyone. It will not be a usual Last Night, but it will be a night not just to look forward to, but to remember.”
The BBC’S fo r mer di re ctor-general Lord Tony Hall previously insisted the decision to remove the lyrics was a “creative” one. But he confirmed that the issue of dropping songs because of their association with Britain’s imperial past had been discussed.
Later, the BBC said the traditional anthems would be sung at next year’s Last Night of the Proms. The U-turn comes after Lord Hall was succeeded in the role by Mr Davie, the former chief executive of commercial arm BBC Studios.