Sam Smith’s BBC Proms debut was a stunner, and now it lives online. Recorded under the iconic dome of London’s Royal Albert Hall in August 2024 and now streaming, the performance marked the tenth anniversary of Smith’s debut album ‘In the Lonely Hour’, with the first half devoted to reimagining its deeply personal songs in lush new arrangements. Backed by the full grandeur of the BBC Concert Orchestra under longtime collaborator Simon Hale, Smith’s soulful voice fills every corner of the historic hall. The orchestral treatment gives cinematic scope to beloved hits like “Stay With Me” and “Lay Me Down,” lifting the emotional pull of the lyrics, while guest turns from jazz singer Clare Teal and vocalist LaDonna Young show off Smith’s range. The night built to a standing ovation, a reminder of exactly what live music can do.