Queen’s First Symphonic Performance of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ at the BBC Proms

Queen’s performance at the Last Night of the Proms marked a historic and emotional moment, as the band performed their iconic song ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ for the first time in a symphonic arrangement. Sir Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen joined the BBC Symphony Orchestra and BBC Symphony Chorus to celebrate the song’s 50th anniversary at the Royal Albert Hall. Tenor Sam Oladeinde stood in for Freddie Mercury, who passed away in 1991, performing the high vocals in the famous ‘Bismillah!’ section. Despite a few on-stage hiccups, including a missed cue, the performance was a success and received a loud ovation from the audience. This year’s Proms finale also featured comedian Bill Bailey, who performed Leroy Anderson’s ‘The Typewriter’ on a typewriter, and celebrated conductor Elim Chan’s debut. The concert, which featured both playful and patriotic moments, ended with traditional favorites like ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ and ‘Auld Lang Syne’. The season included a variety of performances from genres spanning jazz to classical, with more than 290,000 tickets sold. The 131st season of the Proms is set to return in 2026.