Florence + The Machine paint the Proms blood red

Florence + The Machine delivered a captivating performance at the Royal Albert Hall, marking the conclusion of the 2024 Proms season. Florence Welch, renowned for her dynamic stage presence, typically dazzles audiences with her energetic movements and vibrant performances. However, during her debut at the BBC Proms, she took a more subdued approach, remaining mostly behind her microphone stand. This choice allowed the music to take center stage, creating a powerful atmosphere. The concert featured an orchestral reinterpretation of her acclaimed debut album, Lungs, which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. The album serves as a reflection of Florence's tumultuous teenage years, filled with both chaos and creativity. The orchestra, under the direction of Jules Buckley, infused the performance with a rich tapestry of sound, enhancing the album's gothic elements through the use of harpsichords, lutes, and dramatic percussion crescendos. The song Kiss With A Fist transformed into a lively, witchy hoedown, while Blinding opened with an eerie blend of whispered incantations. The iconic You Got The Love made full use of the Royal Albert Hall's impressive 'Voice of Jupiter' pipe organ, adding to the concert's haunting ambiance. Throughout the performance, the venue was bathed in blood-red lighting, perfectly complementing Florence's flowing claret dress, which swayed gracefully in time with the music. The audience embraced the theme, donning pre-Raphaelite dresses, Toreador jackets, and even crowns of flowers, with one attendee dazzling in a full outfit of fairy lights. This harmonious blend of music and setting was aptly described by Radio 3 presenter Georgia Mann as 'Renaissance meets rock. ' Florence specifically requested the inclusion of medieval instruments in the orchestra, leading to the rare appearance of the theorbo, a large bass lute that added a unique flavor to the performance. Titled Symphony Of Lungs, this concert was the most sought-after event of the 2024 Proms season. Tickets were released in May and sold out within hours, with over 20,000 fans queuing online for the chance to purchase same-day tickets priced at just £8. This concert marked Florence + The Machine's only UK performance of 2024, despite her plans for a year off. When the invitation arrived, she was thrilled and immediately accepted. The orchestral arrangement was crafted over several months, involving numerous drafts, revisions, and rehearsals, all overseen by conductor Jules Buckley, who is known for his innovative approach to the Proms. Over the past decade, he has produced concerts featuring the music of artists like Stevie Wonder and Nick Drake, as well as events dedicated to genres like grime and dance music. Buckley expressed that Florence's music was particularly well-suited for orchestral interpretation, highlighting the incredible harp playing, extensive percussion, and the romantic harmonic sequences present in her songs. He emphasized that they were not aiming for a delicate or quaint sound, stating, 'We’re putting the pedal down.