Max Hole confirms third Bristol Proms for 2015

29 July 2014, 01:46 | Updated: 29 July 2014, 12:32

The Bristol Proms will return to the Bristol Old Vic for a third year running in 2015, Universal boss Max Hole has confirmed.

The classical music festival, currently being held for a second year in Bristol, kicked off yesterday with a performance by Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel.

Speaking to Classic FM, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group International Max Hole, said 2015 could be the year when the Bristol Proms takes over the whole city.

"I’m looking forward to 2015,” said Hole. “We’ll try and make it even bigger and better. We’d like to keep the core of it at the Bristol Old Vic, but we’d like to think we can take over the city a little bit more.

“We’re hoping this will go on from year to year and become part of the classical music calendar.”

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The Bristol Proms aims to offer audiences world-class performers in an informal setting, often including an innovative digital dimension.

Last week, Hole told Classic FM that classical music would have to become more welcoming if it was to bring in new audiences. He returned to this theme last night, suggesting that the very word ‘classical’ might be the problem.

“Just because you like the Beatles or Bruce Springsteen it doesn’t mean you wouldn’t like classical music,” he said. “But often the word ‘classical’ just puts you off.

“What we’re trying to do is put together a festival of the greatest classical artists but make it more exciting, more passionate, more interesting and perhaps less formal.”