±«Óãtv

Saturday 12 September 2009, Hyde Park, London.
Line-up also includes legend Barry Manilow, glamorous mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins and the amazing tenor voice of Garoar Thor Cortes. Sir Terry Wogan presents with the ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra conducted by Martin Yates.

Talented electronic string quartet Escala, who rose to fame on ITV1's Britain's Got Talent, are to join this year's ±«Óãtv Proms In The Park – the annual extravaganza held in London's Hyde Park, and broadcast live on ±«Óãtv Radio 2, that allows music lovers to enjoy the magic and passion of the much-loved Last Night Of The Proms.

Since their overnight success, Escala – violinists Victoria Lyon and Izzy Johnston, viola player Chantal Leverton and cellist Tasya Hodges – have grown into a musical sensation.

Fusing contemporary sounds with classical instruments, the ensemble signed to the Syco (SonyBMG) label in June 2008. Their self-titled debut album, produced by Grammy Award-winning British musician Trevor Horn, was released on 25 May 2009 and went straight in at No. 2 in the UK album chart.

Going from strength to strength, the gifted quartet continue to perform at many prestigious events. In October 2008, they opened the James Bond Quantum Of Solace world premiere in London's Leicester Square and recently made their American debut performing on the Oprah Winfrey show. They have just announced that they will support Katherine Jenkins on her national UK tour, which starts next March.

Escala join a star-studded line-up that includes international legend Barry Manilow and award-winning mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins, who performs at the London Proms In The Park concert for the first time.

The Hyde Park event is Barry Manilow's only UK live appearance this year.

The event includes performances from Icelandic tenor sensation Garoar Thor Cortes and the ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra under the baton of Martin Yates.

It culminates in a live video link-up with the Royal Albert Hall and a nationwide sing-along to traditional favourites including Jerusalem and Rule, Britannia! with the help of the Royal Choral Society.

As ever, crowds are encouraged to bring picnics and flags, to sing along and enjoy the music and fireworks.

Tribute bands to two of the world's best rock groups start the entertainment in the afternoon's warm-up events, which is hosted by Radio 2 presenter Ken Bruce.

The Counterfeit Stones entertain with their individual take on The Rolling Stones and Gary Mullen and The Works prepare audiences for the main event with the best of Queen.

This year's Proms In The Park follows the success of last year's event, which featured Sharleen Spiteri, Jose Carreras and Lesley Garrett.

Fans across the UK are able to tune into the Hyde Park concert and watch it live, by pressing ±«Óãtv Red Button during the Last Night Of The Proms on ±«Óãtv Two.

Viewers can also relive the great evening on ±«Óãtv iPlayer for seven days after the event, as part of the Hyde Park Prom.

Now an integral part of the UK's musical calendar, ±«Óãtv Proms In The Park is hosted, for its 14th year, by Sir Terry Wogan, in Hyde Park.

The event on Saturday 12 September, supported by NS&I (National Savings & Investments), is one of five major outdoor shows staged by the ±«Óãtv in five locations across all four nations of the United Kingdom – Glasgow, County Down, Salford, Swansea and London – which bring the magic of the Last Night Of The Proms to many thousands of music lovers around the UK.

The expanding programme of ±«Óãtv Big Screens takes Proms In The Park even further around the country including Bradford (Centenary Square), Bristol (Millennium Square), Cardiff (The Hayes), Derby (Market Place), Dover (Market Square), Edinburgh (Festival Square), Hull (Queen Victoria Square), Leeds (Millennium Square), Liverpool (Clayton Square), Manchester (Exchange Square), Middlesbrough (Centre Square), Norwich (Chapelfield Plain), Plymouth (Armada Way), Portsmouth (Guildhall Square), Rotherham (All Saints Square), Swindon (Wharf Green), Waltham Forest (Walthamstow Town Square), Woolwich (General Gordon Place) and other new screens currently being commissioned across the UK.

Listings information

±«Óãtv Proms In The Park, Hyde Park, London
±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra conducted by Martin Yates
Hosted by Sir Terry Wogan
Line-up: Barry Manilow, Escala, Garoar Thor Cortes, Katherine Jenkins
Pre-broadcast entertainment hosted by Ken Bruce
Line-up: The Counterfeit Stones, Gary Mullen and The Works

Gates open 4.00pm; entertainment on stage from 5.30pm.

Tickets: £25 (under-threes free). Telephone booking: See Tickets on 0844 412 4630 (24-hours national rate, £2 transaction fee applicable) and from the Royal Albert Hall on 0845 401 5040 (9.00am-9.00pm, £2.75 transaction fee applicable) or online at bbc.co.uk/proms (transaction fees vary, see website for details).

±«Óãtv Proms Publicity