IL DIVO JOIN THE STELLAR LINE-UP TO MAKE BBC PROMS IN THE PARK DEBUT
Hyde Park, London – Saturday 8 September
ALFIE BOE tenor
IL DIVO
and Special Guest
KYLIE MINOGUE
BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Richard Balcombe
Royal Choral Society
Presented by Sir Terry Wogan
Pop icon Kylie Minogue is to headline this year’s BBC Proms in the Park in Hyde Park – the annual Last Night of the Proms spectacular broadcast live on BBC Radio 2. Now in its 17th year, it is Britain’s largest outdoor classical music event and a rousing finale to two months of the finest music-making at the BBC Proms.
An honorary British national treasure, Kylie Minogue is one of the world’s most successful female singers, and she’s currently celebrating her 25th anniversary as a recording artist. Since the Australian release of Locomotion in 1987, Kylie has shown an astounding capacity for reinvention which has earned her a huge fanbase around the globe. She’s sold over 68 million records, has recorded eleven studio albums and produced two live CDs, a Greatest Hits album and the Ultimate Kylie double album, as well as winning countless awards, including Brits and Ivor Novello Awards. Kylie’s appearance at this year’s Proms in the Park promises to get everybody in the party mood as they take part in the fun, festivities and flag-waving of the Last Night of the Proms celebrations.
Kylie says:
“I’m delighted to be performing at one of the UK’s most outstanding nights of the musical calendar, and to sing in front of thousands of people whilst being accompanied by the legendary BBC Concert Orchestra in such a special year is truly a dream come true.”
Also announced today Il Divo will join the line-up of internationally acclaimed musical stars to make their first ever appearance at BBC Proms in the Park. Recently named ‘Artist of the Decade’ at the Classic Brits, the operatic pop group has enjoyed 27 million album sales since their multiplatinum debut album in 2004, 160 gold and platinum discs and the success of releasing the only crossover classical album ever to enter the US Billboard Top 200 at No 1.
Also taking to the stage is tenor Alfie Boe, the London Community Gospel Choir and Proms in the Park regulars, the Royal Choral Society who will perform alongside the BBC Concert Orchestra under conductor Richard Balcombe. Abba tribute band Björn Again, the Chicago Blues Brothers, the BBC Big Band, the cast of the new West End musical Let It Be and introducing the Gypsy Queens who will all appear at the event which culminates in a live video link-up with the Last Night of the Proms in the Royal Albert Hall and a nationwide sing-along to favourites including ‘You'll never walk alone’ as well as Last Night classics such as Rule, Britannia! and Land of Hope and Glory.
Radio 2 DJ Tony Blackburn will host the early evening entertainment for the first time, while Sir Terry Wogan looks forward to his yearly sojourn to Hyde Park for the main evening performance:
“As listeners to Weekend Wogan on BBC Radio 2 are well aware, Prawns in the Pork is one of my favourite days of the year and to have the Princess of Pop herself Kylie Minogue performing in Hyde Park promises to make the concert an unforgettable spectacle.”
The event is one of four Last Night of the Proms celebrations staged across the UK by the BBC on Saturday 8 September. The others will be held in Belfast (Northern Ireland), Glasgow (Scotland) and Caerphilly (Wales), inviting music-lovers from across the nations, to enjoy the magic of the Last Night of the Proms.
Proms in the Park fans across the UK are able to tune in to the concert live on BBC Radio 2 or for selected coverage by pressing the Red Button during the Last Night of the Proms on BBC TV. The concert will be available on BBC iPlayer for seven days after the event.