Calmest Moments at the Proms
Have you been craving a moment of pause this summer? From tranquil choral miniatures and reflective concertos to dreamlike orchestral soundscapes and immersive late-night experiences, this year’s Proms offers countless opportunities to pause, breathe and listen. Discover some of the calmest musical moments from the 2026 season here.
Ultimate Calm
What better way to unwind at the Proms than with Ultimate Calm, a Late Night Prom inspired by BBC Radio 3’s acclaimed show of the same name.
After dark, presenter and composer Erland Cooper is joined by Isobel Waller-Bridge, Belle Chen, Lucinda Chua, Alice Boyd, the City of London Sinfonia and the BBC Symphony Chorus for a uniquely atmospheric programme that blends classical and ambient music with soundscapes and electronics.
With a programme spanning Rheinberger’s timeless Abendlied, world premieres of new arrangements of Isobel Waller-Bridge’s Satie Reinventé and Erland Cooper’s Music for Growing Flowers (Nocturne), alongside music by Ravel, Debussy and Jóhann Jóhannson, as well as a specially recorded musical safe-haven from Ólafur Arnalds.
Joaquín Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez, second movement
One of the most celebrated works to emerge from the Iberian Peninsula, Joaquín Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez has captivated audiences since its premiere in 1940. The first guitar concerto to achieve international acclaim, it remains a cornerstone of the Spanish classical repertoire and is especially beloved for its tranquil second movement.
Named after the royal town and palace of Aranjeuz, south of Madrid, the concerto evokes the beauty and atmosphere of its historic gardens. The centrepiece of the work is the second movement Adagio, an extended meditation that opens with quiet guitar chords which are answered by a traditional Andalusian melody by the cor anglais. A long, reflective cadenza weaves haunting textures and recalls the movement’s principal theme. Gradually the full ensemble reunites with the guitar, and builds towards a luminous and satisfying conclusion in the major.
The movement’s profound emotional resonance has often drawn comparisons with the aria ‘Erbarme dich’ from J. S. Bach’s St Matthew Passion, a work Rodrigo greatly admired, that like the concerto is also set in B minor.
Guitarist Rafael Aguirre performed Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez with the Spanish National Orchestra on 19 July. Listen on BBC Sounds.
Charles Villiers Stanford’s The Bluebird
Another moment of hushed stillness in this year’s Proms festival is Charles Villiers Stanford’s The Bluebird. As one of the most beloved part-songs in the choral repertoire, it’s miniature masterpiece whose magic lies in its wordpainting and tranquility. Setting a poem by Mary Coleridge, the work paints a delicate musical picture of a bluebird gliding silently across water.
Stanford’s writing places a soaring soprano line above gently shifting, unresolved harmonies, which creates the impression of music suspended in mid-air. Long, sustained notes preserve the glass-like calm of the landscape below. As the piece draws to a close, it fades into an open-ended chord, as though the bird has disappeared from the landscape. The effect is one of hushed wonder and beauty.
A special arrangement of the piece by Jonathan Manners made for the BBC Singers and saxophone player Jess Gillam was performed at the Choirs on the Concourse Prom at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Gateshead, on 25 July. Listen on BBC Sounds.
Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1, second movement
Admired for its memorable melodies, emotional directness and virtuosity, Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 is one of the most enduring works in the violin repertoire. It’s perhaps best-known for its sublime second movement, a stunning Adagio that has become one of the most cherished slow movements in Romantic music.
The solo violin introduces a broad, singing melody of remarkable warmth and tenderness, which is answered by the orchestra in rich, expressive counterpoint. The movement unfolds through a series of soaring melodic lines, gradually building to a passionate climax before gently subsiding. With its combination of heartfelt lyricism and intimate and lyrical beauty, the Adagio remains beloved for its ability to suspend time and speak directly to the emotions.
Violinist Daniel Lozakovich performed Bruch’s Violin Concerto No.1 with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen on 31 July. Listen on BBC Sounds.
Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune
For a moment of dream and wonder, look no further than Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune(Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun). One of the defining works of musical Impressionism, it was inspired by Stéphane Mallarmé’s dreamlike poem of the same name. Hovering between reality and fantasy, it unfolds in a world of shimmering colours, fluid textures and elusive melodies, evoking the hazy sensuality of a half-remembered dream.
Opening with a languid, wandering melody in the flute (representing the faun), muted horns and soft harp glissandos respond. As the music unfolds, the main theme passes through a succession of instrumental colours, while hushed tremolo strings bathe the soundscape in a warm, drowsy glow. New ideas emerge in the woodwinds, and the piece slowly expands towards a radiant climax before subsiding once more. The first theme returns, more relaxed than before, reading to an enchanting close in which flute, cello and oboe intertwine above shimmering harp phrases and soft orchestral colours. The work fades away with a special delicacy, leaving the dream world suspended in the air long after the final note has sounded.
Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune will be performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Alain Altinoglu on 23 August 2026.
