The 1996 BBC Proms climaxes with the traditional Last Night Of The Proms presented by James Naughtie from London's Royal Albert Hall. BBC Prime will show the first part of this event on June 24 at 19h00 and the second part the following Sunday.

James Naughtie made his first appearance as presenter of this famous occasion. He states: “It's the climax of a great festival that spans the whole summer - long nights of fine music and huge crowds. That's why you can't stop it being something of a party. And the Proms should be celebrated: they're shining evidence that excellence doesn't mean exclusiveness and stuffiness.”

The party includes Glinka's rousing Overture Ruslan and Lyudmila and music by Malcolm Arnold which he wrote for the David Lean film The Sound Barrier, played by the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Dame Felicity Loti and Ann Murray regale the audience with arias and duets by Berlioz, Offenbach and Puccini and later encourage everyone - not exactly a difficult task - to join in singing Rule, Britannia! and Jerusalem.

They follow the other traditional Last Night of the Prom pieces, Elgar's Land Of Hope And Glory (more properly known as the Pomp And Circumstance March No 1) and the Fantasia On British Sea-Songs by Proms founder, Sir Henry Wood.

The evening ends with another tradition, the Last Night of the Proms speech by conductor Andrew Davis.