The Proms, more generally called as The BBC Proms, or The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts to be had by the BBC, is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held yearly, mainly in the Royal Albert Hall in South Kensington, London. Founded in 1895, each season at present contains of over 70 concerts in the Albert Hall, a series of chamber concerts at Cadogan Hall, additional Proms in the Park events across the United Kingdom on the last night, and linked educational and children's events. In 2009 the total number of concerts will accomplish 100 for the first time. In the situation of classical music festivals, Jiří Bělohlávek has described The Proms as "the world's largest and most democratic musical festival".
Proms is short for promenade concert, a term which arose from the original practice of audience members promenading, or strolling, in some areas of the concert hall during the concert. Promming now refers to the use of the standing areas inside the hall (the arena and gallery) for which ticket prices are much lower than for the reserved seating. A number of Prommers are mainly eager in their attendance, and see it as a badge of respect to accomplish the "grand slam" of attending every concert of the season (a "little slam" being every concert at the Royal Albert Hall). In 1997, one programme in the BBC documentary series Modern Times covered this devoted following of fans.
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