Basel Proms 2024

After the resounding success in 2022, Basel Proms is back on November 2, 2024! Inspired by the legendary music festival at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Basel Proms - the first of its kind in Switzerland - is a glittering gala evening that brings together Swiss, UK and international artists in a grand celebration of music, arts and culture. This event will feature the Basel Proms Orchestra, the Basel Proms Chorus, as well as a number of international and Basel-based soloists.

Photo: Rubén Bañol Herrera

Basel Proms 2024

The Proms, short for promenade, began in London in 1885 as a series of outdoor concerts that the general public could attend as they promenaded around the park. This inclusive attitude was carried over when the event was taken over by the BBC and ever since it has been a highly anticipated event that appeals to all music lovers - classical or otherwise.

With Basel Proms this tradition now comes to Basel, representing the unique qualities of Basel itself, with its multilingual mix of Swiss and international flavours. This year, for the first time, the Basel Proms Orchestra, a professional orchestra made up of members of the Basel Festival Orchestra and other Basel-based musicians, will be featured and led by Principal Conductor David Lawrence. David Lawrence is one of the UK’s most acclaimed and versatile conductors who works with orchestras, symphony choruses, and national youth choirs. He was awarded a prestigious award by the Royal Academy of Music, is a Gramophone nominee, and holds the Guinness World Record for conducting the UK’s largest choir.

The Basel Proms Chorus

2022 Basel Proms Chorus, Photo: Rubén Bañol Herrera

In February of 2024, the team launched two new websites (see below) and began recruiting for the heart and soul of the project, the Basel Proms Chorus. Over 100 singers have already signed up to take part in this choir, which includes highly anticipated singing workshops with David Lawrence. This choir consists of a mix of amateurs and professionals, Swiss and foreign nationals, encompassing all ages and professional backgrounds.

The addition of David Lawrence to this formidable collaboration is quite special, not just because he is a distinguished and versatile conductor, but also for his incredible skill in conducting 'mass choirs'. Lawrence has helped form and conduct mass choirs around the world, often with participants who have no musical training. He holds the Guinness World Record for conducting the UK's largest choir with 6,846 singers, in addition to regularly conducting choirs of leading orchestras in the UK, such as the London Philharmonic Choir, the London Symphony Chorus, among many others.

David Lawrence, Photo:Young Voices

With Basel Proms, Lawrence's considerable skills will be demonstrated as he not only conducts the community choir made up of (up to) 120 people, but the orchestra as well! When interviewing organisers, Beverley Worboys and Caterina Ciani about his involvement, their excitement was palpable, citing Lawrence's enthusiasm, joy, warmth and devotion to the choral arts.

How to get involved

The participation in this choir is open to the general public, whether you have musical training or not, and a small number of chorus seats are still open for those who are interested (especially tenors and basses!). The only requirement is a love of singing, a commitment to attend the choir workshops (see details below) and a fee. Rehearsals begin on April 27, 2024.

Start by visiting the Basel Proms Chorus website. Here you will find information on the monthly preliminary rehearsals held by chorus master Maija Gschwind, as well as the intense yet highly enjoyable choral workshops held by David Lawrence in September. For a fee of CHF 195 (CHF 175 for students) anyone can sign up until the workshop dates. Once you sign up, choral techniques are also conveyed through a private Facebook group where participants have exclusive access to preparation materials and video and audio files for various techniques.

The workshops are a fantastic way to improve your voice and will be a 'bootcamp' of sorts, training participants about the history and style of choral singing, how to follow a conductor, read music, breathing techniques as well as how to present yourself and sing in a group. The testimonials from 2022 say it all, as one person put it, “It was an incredible experience and everything that shared music-making should be”. Visit our website to read more!

A Programme with Something for Everyone

Soloist Beverley Worboys performing, Photo: Rubén Bañol Herrera

Even if you are not keen on being part of the choir, Basel Proms still has a compelling programme with something for everyone. Keeping with the tradition of the Proms, the song selection is eclectic and wide reaching, with songs in English, German, and French as well as old favourites that are easily recognisable. Audience participation is encouraged and concert goers will be invited to sing along with favourite tunes such as 'Edelweiss' and ‘My Favourite Things' from the Sound of Music, among others!

The newly renovated Stadtcasino Basel

This event is also a great excuse to experience the refurbished Stadtcasino Basel, one of Switzerland's premier concert venues. Although this venue is impressive, organisers are committed to keeping the event affordable. Tickets go on sale in August. Follow our website for information and join our Facebook and Instagram profiles to be the first to be updated.

The evening culminates in the ever iconic 'Pomp and Circumstance', as is tradition in the 'Last Night of the Proms', and audience members are also invited to bring a flag to wave during this song. Beverley Worboys sees this as a symbol of the inclusive atmosphere of the event and invites people to bring any flag they like; from home countries, Swiss cantons or any other groups. This sea of diversity will be seen as a representation of the unique diversity of Basel itself; a city that is both Swiss and international.

Make sure to mark your calendars for this incredible event!