Last Night of the Proms

Rain fails to foil Last Night

By Malcolm Fitzwilliams

Thousands of music lovers were expected to brave the elements for the biggest ever Last Night of the Proms.

Belfast, Swansea, Manchester and Hyde Park, London, all held their own versions of the 110-year-old event, with big screen link-ups to the main concert stage at the Royal Albert Hall. Bad weather forced the last-minute cancellation of a fifth scheduled outdoor concert in Glasgow.

Around the world, millions more tuned in on television and radio for "Pomp and Circumstance" (Land of Hope and Glory), "Auld Lang Syne", "Jerusalem", "Rule Britannia" and the National Anthem.

In a break with the classical diet on offer at the Albert Hall, last night's regional concerts also celebrated popular music. The Corrs and Abba tribute band Bjorn Again were scheduled to perform in Hyde Park. Flautist James Galway, percussionist Evelyn Glennie and singers Ramon Vargas, Aled Jones and Bruno Caproni, were also due to appear around the country.

Organisers say this year's Proms have been the best attended for three years, with 250,000 tickets sold since the series opened on 17 July.

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