Many Happy Returns! The UK’s Premier Picnic Concert Series 20th Anniversary NEWS
The Battle Proms, summer celebrations with music, Spitfire, cannons, cavalry and fireworks, celebrate their 20th anniversary season.
Since their first concert in 1997 the Battle Proms have been treating their audiences to a heady mix of sublime classical music, carefully choreographed Spitfire and cavalry displays, dramatic cannon fire and stunning firework finales. As the series enters its 20th anniversary year, 5 of the UKs most celebrated stately homes will play host to the ever popular open-air concert series:
Battle Proms July 2017
For their opening night the Battle Proms returns to Burghley House, Lincolnshire: Saturday 8 July, overlooking the grand Elizabethan architecture of Burghley House in Stamford. The action then moves to the historic and leafy Queen Elizabeth Oak Field of Hatfield House, Hertfordshire on Saturday 23 July. Next stop is World Heritage Site Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire on Saturday 16 July, where concert is held in the striking Capability Brown landscaped parkland overlooking the iconic column of victory.
Battle Proms August 2017
The penultimate concert takes place at a venue recognisable to many as the real Downton Abbey: Highclere Castle, Hampshire on Saturday 5 August before heading to their final destination of Ragley Hall, Warwickshire on Saturday 13 August: where the lake at Ragley provides a dramatic backdrop, making for breath taking effects during the many pyrotechnic displays.
The Battle Proms takes much of its historical inspiration from the Napoleonic wars. As well as staging a colourful skill-at-arms cavalry display in full regalia, the Battle Proms is also the only place in the world you can see Beethovens Battle Symphony performed as he intended. Written to celebrate a key victory during the Peninsula War, the Battle Symphony was composed to include 193 live firing cannons, not something you can find in your average concert hall! But the Battle Proms Team brings over 200 cannons to each of their concerts for use in Tchaikovskys 1812 Overture and the Battle Symphony. It is this authentic, groundshaking and breathtaking percussion that makes the Battle Proms signature piece a truly remarkable experience and one that keeps audience members returning to their concerts year after year.
And if this wasnt drama enough excitement for a summers afternoon, the Battle Proms have worked closely with the Grace Spitfire team over the years to create one of the most carefully choreographed Spitfire displays you are likely to catch this summer. So much more than just a fly past, this display has the iconic plane dancing through the sky to the opening pieces of the orchestral performance by the New English Concert Orchestra. The full orchestral programme then takes centre stage for the rest of the evening, complete with a stunning performance by star soprano Denise Leigh and culminating in a flag-waving, sing-a-long last night of the Proms style finale as a spectacular firework display lights up the sky!
The Battle Proms picnic concerts have grown from just once concert attended by a couple of thousand people back in 1997 to 5 venues, now annually attracting upwards of 40,000 happy picnickers. With so much entertainment packed into one exceptional afternoons entertainment, a Battle Proms is a must for the summer diary. For more information, or to book tickets for this spectacular night out, visit www.battleproms.com or call 01432 355 416.
EDITORS NOTES
Contact:
Emma Dexter, Marketing Manager, JSL Productions
Tel: 01432 355 416 / 0790 449 4099
E-mail: emma@jslproductions.co.uk
Web: www.battleproms.com
Reader offers: Battle Proms Concerts would be delighted to offer complimentary tickets as prizes for readers.
Press tickets Review Tickets are available on request
Images: A wide range of high quality and inspiring images are available to support any article. Please email info@battleproms.com with image requests, or see the gallery at www.battleproms.com for a selection.
For urgent image requests please contact the box office on 01432 355 416.
Interviews: The concert team are all available for interview, including Director Adam Slough, Spitfire pilot Carolyn Grace, Master Gunner John Slough, Compre Pam Rhodes, Conductor Douglas Coombes and Soprano Denise Leigh.
The Battle Proms Concert series 2017:
Burghley House, Lincolnshire Saturday 8 July
Hatfield House, Hertfordshire - Saturday 15 July
Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire - Saturday 22 July
Highclere Castle, Hampshire - Saturday 5 August
Ragley Hall, Warwickshire Saturday 12 August
Ticket Info: Tickets can be purchased securely online at www.battleproms.com
Adults:
31.00 if booked before 31 January 2017 (online booking only)
35.00 if booked between 1 February and 30 April 2017
38.00 if booked from 1 May 2017 until the day before the concert
43.00 on the day of concert (subject to availability)
Children aged 5 to 15:
18.00 (children aged 4 and under are free, and do not require a ticket)
Groups: Advance group bookings of 10 or more qualify for a 2 reduction per ticket
Timings: Gates open 4.00pm, entertainments begin from 5.50pm, event finishes 10.00pm (please see website for detailed event timings)
Over 280K Raised for Charity! The Battle Proms is proud to support Combat Stress: the UKs leading Veterans Mental Health Charity. Over recent years a phenomenal 287,663 has been raised by audience contributions and contributions from Battle Proms concert profits. The Combat Stress and Battle Proms teams are confident of taking this figure beyond 300K in 2017!
Emma Dexter Marketing Manager JSL Productions - Event Management Tel: 01432 355416 E-mail: emma@jslproductions.co.uk www.battleproms.com The UK's premier classical picnic proms with Spitfire, cannons, cavalry and fireworks.