A night of 1,000 ukuleles at the Proms

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Many brought their own instruments in what organisers claim is the world record for most ukuleles played at once

Strum-along: a crowd of thousands watched the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain

The Proms has never heard anything quite like it.

The sound of more than a thousand ukuleles filled the Royal Albert Hall last night in one of the most unusual concerts in the festival's 115-year history.

Not only was the programme dedicated to the miniature guitar made famous by George Formby, but the audience was encouraged to join in with a rendition of the Ode To Joy from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

A crowd of 6,000 packed into the hall to see the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain make their Proms debut, part of the BBC's attempts to broaden the Proms' appeal beyond classical music lovers.

Earlier in the day about 1,400 promenaders had queued for up to eight hours to be sure they got in.

The eight-piece band, dressed in dinner jackets and evening gowns, had the audience cheering with a hilarious singalong version of Anarchy In The UK by the Sex Pistols.

Unique orchestrations of classical favourites including Saint-Saëns's Danse Macabre and Ride Of The Valkyries by Wagner were mixed with witty reworkings of songs by David Bowie, Talking Heads, The Who, Robbie Williams and the 2000 pop hit Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus.

Some 992 ukulele enthusiasts had registered to take part and strummed along in the arena after learning the score through online tutorials.

Many more are thought to have been present for what organisers claimed was an unofficial world record for the most ukuleles played simultaneously.

And in a surreal encore, hundreds of brightly coloured ukuleles were waved as band leader George Hinchliffe sang Kate Bush's Wuthering Heights.

Prom-goer and ukulele-player Brian Wernham, 48, a project manager from West Hampstead, said: "Everyone has come out grinning from ear to ear.

"It was just the most fantastic fun. This is what the Proms should be about - bringing music to the people."

Retired Hazel Morris, 63, from Chiswick, said: "It's not what most people expect at the Proms but it was very funny and different and I loved it."

Roger Wright, controller of BBC3 and director of the Proms, joined in with his ukulele.

He said: "The Proms is all about wonderful musicianship and widening participation and we had plenty of both."

The orchestra, who formed as a joke with a one-off gig at a London pub 25 years ago, have since toured all over the world.

BBC presenter Verity Sharp said: "When I turned up this afternoon there was already a long queue. They were playing ukuleles while they were having their picnics."

 

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