In just a few weeks' time on 21 April, the 2026 season of the BBC Proms will be announced, bringing details of more than 80 events at the Royal Albert Hall and beyond from 17 July to 12 September. In the meantime, die-hard enthusiasts equipped with cutting-edge technology will be also able to experience a moment from one of the 2025 season’s concerts at closer quarters than ever before, thanks to the launch of the first ever Prom in Apple Immersive Video.
View a special Proms concert from the heart of the action
When, on 7 September last year, Lukas Sternath made his Proms debut, British production company Livewire Pictures were there to capture the moment, getting up close and personal with the young Austrian pianist and the players of the BBC Symphony Orchestra as they recorded from right in the heart of the action. When viewed using an Apple Vision Pro mixed-reality headset, the resulting Debut at the BBC Proms Apple Immersive film allows users to see and hear Grieg’s Piano Concerto in 3D and Spatial Audio, bringing to life the occasion in extraordinarily vivid detail.
Thankfully, Sternath, a current BBC New Generation Artist who created waves as a multiple prize-winner at the ARD Music Competition in Munich in 2022, was again on fine form for his and the new filming technology’s first ever Proms outing, getting a warm reception from the audience and glowing reviews from the critics. ‘Playing at the Royal Albert Hall was incredible, and you can only get your BBC Proms debut once!’ he says. ‘I feel very fortunate that it was captured in such detail using this technology, allowing audiences to relive the experience with me again and again.’
Incredible sound and audio... or visit the Proms in person!
So far, so good. However, for the time-being, those audiences look set to be comparatively small, considering the Apple Vision Pro's £3,000+ price tag. The BBC has yet to reveal any plans for similar coverage this year, suggesting that this initiative may be one to develop in future seasons. In the meantime, at least, a ticket to attend a real-life Prom remains as low as £8.
‘BBC Arts is committed to seeking out new ways for people to experience arts and culture, and to reach new audiences with our rich offering,’ says Suzy Klein, head of arts and classical music TV. ‘We hope audiences are encouraged also to experience the magic of the Proms in person at the Royal Albert Hall this summer, or to follow from home on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds.’
