THE FINAL preparations are being made for this year’s grand proms at Glamis Castle.

This year will see more lighting in the car park area and there will be new recycling bins on site.

Thousands of people are expected to enjoy the classical night on Saturday and the opera night on Sunday on the front lawn at the home of the Earl of Strathmore.

The stage was erected yesterday and musicians are expected today for rehears- als and sound checks.

Orchestra leader John Reid said, “The car park is now beautifully lit so everyone will be able to see where they are going.

“Ticket sales have gone very well considering the weather we have had this summer and also the fact that there have been lots of events going on.

“The weather forecast is good for this weekend, which is great news. This is important as people like to spend time having their picnic.”

“For the first time this year, people have been able to book over the internet, which has been very successful.

Saturday’s Prom includes music by Strauss and Mendelssohn (Fingal’s Cave).

Violin virtuoso Leland Chen plays Max Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy and British tenor Peter Auty sings Scottish songs and arias by Puccini and Verdi.

The National Symphony Orchestra of Scotland, conducted by Iain Sutherland, will play The Great Gate at Kiev by Mussorgsky to celebrate the new Queen Mother’s Gates at Glamis Castle as well as Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 and Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture to a magnificent firework display.

Sunday’s Grand Opera Prom, which is becoming increasingly popular, brings four wonderful voices from the opera world.

Peter Auty will return to sing Nessun Dorma and the duet from the Pearl Fishers with baritone Andrew Slater. Andrew will open the show with the Prologue to Pagliacci and the famous Toreador Song from Carmen.

Kate McCarney will sing the Chanson Boheme from Carmen and the dramatic Stride la Vampa from Il Travatore.

The most famous soprano arias in all opera, One Fine Day from Madame Butterfly, and Vissi d’Arte from Tosca, will be sung by the brilliant young soprano Rachel Nicholls.

The concert will end with a firework display to the Can-Can by Offenbach.

John added, “We have brought in extra fireworks for the 1812 Overture. It should be spectacular.

“Peter Auty is fantastic. It’s a rare chance to see him in this part of the country and I’m sure the audience will love him.

This year there will be another route into the event for individuals, buses and taxis looking to drop people off. This entrance is situated about half a mile from the main gate heading towards Kirriemuir.