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Florence + the Machine stun at the BBC Proms with orchestral 'Symphony of Lungs' [Review and Gallery]

When The BBC announced that Florence + the Machine would be returning to the stage for their one and only live performance in 2024 at the BBC Proms (69), we knew it would be something unmissable. Last night’s spectacle proved us right, and a whole lot more!

Photo: Andy Paradise / BBC

Set at the Royal Albert Hall (a venue Florence + the Machine have played twice before for the Teenage Cancer Trust, last in 2012), the band took the audience - both in-person and on BBC Radio 3’s live stream - on a whirlwind of nostalgia.

Florence herself noted the throwbacks the band had lined up for the gobsmacked audience:

“So many of these songs were written when I was a teenager or in my very early 20s… we threw so many good songs off the album and they became bonus tracks!”

She also stated the incredible range of the album, and we witnessed this first hand through the gentle plucking of an acoustic abridged version of ‘Hurricane Drunk’, to the swelling violin and organ of ‘Blinding’, and power of ‘Howl’.

Photo: Andy Paradise / BBC

At many occasions, the audience just couldn’t stay seated any longer - ‘Rabbit Heart’ saw most of the hall leap to their feet, ready to receive Florence’s offering as she raised it (and the roof) up. ‘Dog Days’ and ‘You’ve Got the Love’ received equally energetic receptions. Even as songs came to their close, there were several standing ovations as tears were brought to the eyes of many of the onlookers; the gentle ebbs and powerful flows of Jules Buckley’s orchestral arrangements heightening an already hard-hitting album.

Not only did Buckley’s orchestra so poignantly and carefully reimagine the entirety of ‘Lungs’ with medieval undertones, they also stepped up to the challenge of some special treats, including ‘Bird Song’, ‘Hardest of Hearts’, ‘Swimming’ and ‘Falling’ - many of which Florence had not played since 2010. A treat to behold.

You can listen to the full performance now on BBC Sounds.

The video version will be available to watch at the conclusion of the Proms on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two, available for 1 year.

  • 'Drumming Song’

    ‘My Boy Builds Coffins’

    ‘You Got the Love’

    ‘Bird Song Intro’

    ‘Bird Song’

    ‘Swimming’

    ‘I’m Not Calling You a Liar’

    ‘Kiss With a Fist’

    ‘Howl’

    ‘Girl With One Eye’

    ‘Hardest of Hearts’

    ‘Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)’

    ‘Blinding’

    ‘Hurricane Drunk’

    ‘Cosmic Love’

    ‘Between Two Lungs’

    ‘Dog Days Are Over’

    ‘Falling’

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Florence + the Machine to perform 'Lungs' at BBC Proms

Photo by Lillie Eiger

Exciting news has broken for all Florence + the Machine fans.

Florence + the Machine will be performing at the BBC Proms 2024, at the Royal Albert Hall. Their performance will be accompanied by an orchestra, including with medieval instruments, conducted by Jules Buckley.

The band are set to perform the entirety of their debut multi-platinum-selling album ‘Lungs’.

Speaking to Vogue, Florence states she’s most excited to rework lesser-known songs like ‘My Boy Builds Coffins’ and ‘Girl With One Eye’ - “it’s actually the ones you’d think wouldn’t work orchestrally that I’m interested to figure out”. It will mark her only gig for this year, and despite being on a hiatus, she couldn’t let the opportunity pass: “When [the invitation] came in, they were like, ‘We know you’re off, but would you…?’ and I was like, ‘Yes!’”

The BBC Proms is one of the world’s most renowned classical music festivals, and amongst the highlights in the Royal Albert Hall’s annual calendar.

Photo by Something For Kate via Flickr

Florence + the Machine last performed at the Royal Albert Hall in 2012 for the Teenage Cancer Trust, also alongside an orchestral ensemble that is widely regarded as one of their best live performances to date.

Tickets on sale from 18th May 2024 at 09:00 BST. The band will be performing on 11th September 2024 from 20:00 BST.

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