BBC Proms: Rule, Britannia! will be sung on last night, BBC confirms

The BBC has reversed its choice to not have Rule, Britannia! and Land of Hope and Glory sung on the Last Night time of the Proms.

Media experiences had prompt the lyrics had been being dropped attributable to associations with colonialism and slavery.

The BBC mentioned last week the choice to carry out orchestral-only variations of the songs was prompted by Covid-19 restrictions.

Nonetheless, a choose group of BBC singers will now carry out the songs in any case.

“The pandemic means a special Proms this yr and one of many penalties, underneath Covid-19 restrictions, is we’re not in a position to deliver collectively massed voices,” the BBC mentioned in a brand new assertion.

“For that motive we took the creative choice to not sing Rule, Britannia! and Land of Hope and Glory within the Corridor.”

However, the assertion added, the BBC had been “wanting arduous at what else would possibly be potential” and had discovered “an answer”.

“Each items will now embrace a choose group of BBC Singers. This implies the phrases will be sung within the Corridor, and as we now have at all times made clear, audiences will be free to sing alongside at dwelling.

“Whereas it could’t be a full choir, and we’re unable to have audiences within the Corridor, we’re doing every little thing potential to make it particular and need a Last Night time really to recollect.”

The Last Night time of the Proms will happen on the Royal Albert Corridor in London on 12 September.