91Èȱ¬

The Proms is the biggest, longest-running musical festival in the world. If you've ever wondered what it is, how much it costs to present or who listens to the festival, here are the facts.

What is the 91Èȱ¬ Proms?

The 91Èȱ¬ Proms is the world's biggest classical music festival, packing around 170 events featuring some of the world's greatest artists and composers into the two-month season. In 2009 there are 100 concerts – 76 at the Royal Albert Hall, 19 at Cadogan Hall, and five 91Èȱ¬ Proms in the Park events on the Last Night – more than 70 free Proms Plus events taking place daily at the Royal College of Music – including talks, workshops, demonstrations, concerts, Proms Family Orchestra, Proms Composer Portraits and the Proms Literary Festival – as well as an afternoon of free activities in Kensington Gardens and eight films at the Royal Geographical Society.

How can I find out what's on when?

The 91Èȱ¬ Proms Guide, published on Friday 10 April 2009, contains full details of the complete programme of concerts, along with articles about the music and artists, and an advance booking form. Full details are also on the Proms website: bbc.co.uk/proms.

Why is it called the "Proms"?

"Proms" is short for Promenade concerts – informal and inexpensive concerts where Promenaders ("Prommers") stand to watch the concert for £5. The 91Èȱ¬ Proms have up to 900 Prommers standing in the central Arena ("the best 'seats' in the house") and a further 500 standing, sitting or even lying down in the Gallery.

Where is the Proms held?

Since the first home of the Proms, the Queen's Hall, was bombed in 1941, the Proms has been held in the Royal Albert Hall as a key part of the Hall's programme of events. The Proms team works closely with the RAH on all aspects of the season's logistics, but the responsibility for running the Proms and its artistic programme is the 91Èȱ¬'s.

When did the Proms begin?

The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts began at 8.00pm on Saturday 10 August 1895. Even then, Prom concerts were not a new idea: they started in France in the 1830s and were introduced to the UK shortly afterwards.

Whose idea was it?

The Proms was the brainchild of impresario Robert Newman, whose ambition, along with a young conductor named Henry Wood, was to enable people to enjoy "serious music". Dr George Cathcart, a London throat specialist, provided the financial support necessary for the new venture to be launched. At that time, other concerts were usually expensive, so Proms tickets costing only one shilling meant that large audiences could hear a variety of orchestral music for the first time. This remains true today with tickets remaining at £5 for the Arena and Gallery, which between them hold up to 1,400 people.

Who was Henry Wood?

Henry Wood was the first conductor of the Proms, aged 26, and the energetic and inspired programme-planner of many Proms seasons – he conducted almost every concert for nearly half a century. How many people attend the Proms? In 2008, 281,934 tickets were sold for 91Èȱ¬ Proms concerts, an increase of 4% compared with 2007. Average attendance for the 76 main evening concerts was 90% compared with 87% the year before, when there were 72 concerts.

How many people watch and listen to the Proms?

In 2008 91Èȱ¬ Proms reached around 16 million people across all platforms.

How much do the tickets cost?

There are different price bands for different concerts; apart from the Last Night, seat prices range from £7 to £54. Arena and Gallery tickets cost just £5 each. A Promming season ticket costs £190 (Arena) and £170 (Gallery), bringing the cost per concert down to as little as £2.23. There are many free events, including a Free Family Prom in the Royal Albert Hall, and seats for under-16s are half-price.

How much do the Proms cost to put on?

The total cost of the Proms season, including hire of the RAH, artistic costs, management and extra events, not including Proms in the Park, is £8.8 million.