The Battle Proms at Burghley House
With 20 years of provenance, the Battle Proms at Burghley House has been a long-standing fixture in Stamford’s summer calendar offering a great blend of classical music, live entertainment and the chance to enjoy a picnic!
On this scept’red isle and at a time when hope and glory are two much-needed commodities, we’re thrilled to welcome the return to Stamford of the Burghley Battle Proms, organised by JSL Productions.
This year represents the 20th anniversary of the event at Burghley, and the chance to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day too, with a rousing, patriotic celebration of music plus a spectacular firework display and lots of other treats besides.
The core of the event is a programme of uplifting classical music from Holst’s Jupiter accompanied by an aerial display from the legendary Grace Spitfire; the 1812 Overture and Beethoven’s ‘Battle Symphony’ complete with 200 live firing cannons; themes from The Great Escape and 633 Squadron; much-loved operatic arias from superstar soprano Denise Leigh, and all closing with a jubilant flag-waving, sing-along finale, with all the traditional proms favourites like Jerusalem, Rule, Britannia!, Land of Hope and Glory and more… under a sky of dazzling fireworks!
However, that programme don’t mean a thing if you ain’t got that swing, so warming up a crowd of around 8,000 prom-goers before the main musical programme are the Battle Prom Belles and Victory Swing Dancers.
The parkland of Burghley House opens from 4.30pm affording plenty of time to secure a good view and set up your picnic, and a good opportunity to look around the event’s Living History displays where the UK’s leading re-enactors will present vintage delights from WWII including military vehicles, and the Napoleonic era.
At 6.15pm, the horsemen and women of the Worcestershire Cavalry present a display of skill-at-arms, including the ever-popular musical ride.
Also dropping in on the act are some rather more modern military men and women in the form of The Red Devils British Army Parachute Team, who perform a freefall demonstration in the skies over the stately home, complete with colourful smoke and gigantic flags.
At 7pm the musical programme begins, conducted by Douglas Coombes MBE and compéred by BBC presenter Pam Rhodes. An evening gun salute just before 8pm and performance by soprano Denise Leigh all help to build up to a sunset finale with, quite simply, the very best fireworks you’ll ever see.
To help your evening along the organisers can also provide hampers with Prosecco and a picnic – from truffles to grazing boxes to a Symphony Gourmet Picnic for two. They can also provide a hire service with chairs and tables or gazebos available. New for this year, The Battle Proms’ organisers are even offering a hotel package to ensure everyone can raise a glass of Champagne and celebrate the evening together.
It’s always a treat to attend the Battle Proms, and many return year after year, ensuring that at Burghley House – and the event’s three other venues – over 30,000 people thoroughly enjoy this quintessentially British ‘party in the park.’
Pack a picnic, chill the fizz and join in the party too, we can promise the finest music and an evening that always goes with a bang!
See www.battleproms.com for more details or call 01432 355 416. Tickets are £55/adult, £23/child from five to 15.
For more local events and live performances, see https://issuu.com/pridemagazines/docs/stamford_pride_july_2025