What's On / Proms Plus

Proms Plus Events 2008

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A new, expanded series of more than 70 introductions, interviews, workshops and other Proms-related events means that it is easier than ever to get to know the music and musicians featured during the season.

Most of the Proms Plus events will be held at the Royal College of Music.
Visit the category pages via the coloured tabs for more details, or see below for the full schedule and listen options.

July events
August events
September events

Proms Plus recordings are no longer available.

July

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In Tune

Friday 18 July, 5 - 8pm: In Tune  
Broadcast live on Radio 3.
Sean Rafferty and Petroc Trelawny present a special edition of In Tune, live from the RCM, featuring Proms artists, live music and a preview of the Proms Literary Festival with Ian McMillan.

Literary Festivals

Saturday 19 July 4.45 - 5.30pm: Literary Festival  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Sunday 20 July, 7.00pm
Hermione Lee discusses English Romanticism from William Wordsworth to Thomas Hardy with Duncan Wu, Paul Farley and Kate Kennedy.
Free to ticket-holders.

Family Orchestras

Sunday 20 July 10am - 12pm: Proms Folk Family Orchestra  
Come and join us to create a folk-inspired premiere

10am -12pm: Proms Folk Family Chorus   
The chance to learn folk songs form around the British Isles

12am - 3pm: Proms Folk in the Park  
Mini Folk festival in Kensington Gardens

Literary Festivals

Sunday 20 July, 5.45 - 6.30pm: Literary Festival  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Sunday 20 July, 8.20pm
Ian McMillan and his Orchestra present a cabaret of words and music, showcasing the connections between folk music, poetry and storytelling.

Proms Intros

Monday 21 July, 5.45 - 6.30pm: Proms Intro  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Monday 21 July, 8.30pm
Organist Olivier Latry - who performs Messiaen in the evening Prom, talks to Tom Service about the great French composer.
Free to ticket-holders.

Tuesday 22 July, 5.15 - 6pm: Proms Intro  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Tuesday 22 July, 8.40pm
Sir Roger Norrington, one of today's most versatile conductors, talks to Martin Handley about the challenge of working with different orchestras.
Free to ticket-holders.

Literary Festivals

Wednesday 23 July, 5.15 - 6.00pm: Literary Festival  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Wednesday 23 July, 10.15pm
Matthew Sweet profiles the cultural events of 1958, with writers Alan Sillitoe and Anthony Thwaite, and historian Dominic Sandbrook.
Free to ticket-holders.

Proms Intros

Thursday 24 July, 5.45 - 6.30pm: Proms Intro  
Managing and Artistic Director of the English Music Festival, Em Marshall, and pianist Ashley Wass discuss Bax, Vaughan Williams and English music with Petroc Trelawny.
Free to ticket-holders.

Composer Portraits

Friday 25 July, 5.45 - 6.30pm: Composer Portrait  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Friday 25 July, 9.30pm
Portrait Simon Holt, in conversation with Radio 3's Sarah Walker, discusses his new Proms commission and introduces performances of some of his chamber works.
Free to all.

Young Composers

Saturday 26 July, 5.15 - 6pm: Proms Young Composers Winners' Day  
Tom Service discusses Tevot, alongside live performances of commissions by the winners of the 2007 Proms Inspire Young Composers' Competition.
Free to all.

Family Orchestras

Sunday 27 July 2 - 4pm: Proms Family Orchestra  
The orchestra plays music inspired by the Dr Who Prom.
Free to all.

Proms Intros

Sunday 27 July, 5.15 - 6pm: Proms Intro  
A Romantic modernist - Messiaen's music from the vantage point of La Transfiguration, with Dr Christopher Dingle and musicians from the RCM, presented by Tom Service.
Free to ticket-holders.

Monday 28 July, 5.45 - 6.30pm: Proms Intro  
Writer and critic Paul Griffiths joins conductor David Robertson and oboist Nicholas Daniel, with presenter Andrew McGregor, to discuss the music of Elliott Carter.
Free to ticket-holders.

Literary Festivals

Tuesday 29 July, 5.45 - 6.30pm: Literary Festival  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Tuesday 29 July, 7.30pm
Ian McMillan is joined by Professor Christopher Ricks and other guests, to take a new look at the poetry, life and times of A. E. Housman.
Free to ticket-holders.

Proms Intros

Wednesday 30 July, 5.15 - 6pm: Proms Intro  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Wednesday 30 July, 9.00pm
Lucy Duran introduces tonight's World Music Award-winners in conversation with Rita Ray; plus a tribute to Andy Palacio, Americas Award-winner 2008, who died earlier this year.
Free to ticket-holders.

Thursday 31 July, 5 - 6pm: Proms Intro  
Emmanuelle Haïm discusses tonight's opera with Suzy Klein, followed by a presentation of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment's and Glyndebourne's Poppaea film project.
Free to ticket-holders.

August

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Proms Intros

Friday 1 August, 6.15 - 7pm: Proms Intro  
Martin Handley in discussion with RLPO Executive Director Andrew Cornall, Composer-in-the-House Kenneth Hesketh and conductor Vasily Petrenko. With musicians from the RCM.
Free to ticket-holders.

Films

Saturday 2 August 1pm: Film
Not available online
Music Masters: Stockhausen (48 mins); In absentia (23 mins). Double bill introduced by Robert Worby. Free to all.

Proms Intros

Saturday 2 August, 4.15 - 5pm: Proms Intro  
Ivan Hewett talks to Paul Hillier, Morag Grant, Robin Rimbaud and Robert Worby about Stockhausen.
Free to ticket-holders.

Literary Festivals

Sunday 3 August, 5.45 - 6.30pm: Literary Festival  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Sunday 3 August, 8.00pm
Susan Hitch discusses nature, wilderness and gardens with two poets for whom the pastoral is an important source of inspiration: Kathleen Jamie and Sarah Maguire.
Free to ticket-holders.

Proms Intros

Monday 4 August, 5.45 - 6.30pm: Proms Intro  
Margaret Reynolds talks to Roz Trübger and tonight's violinist Tasmin Little about the music of Dame Ethel Smyth, in the composer's 150th-anniversary year.
Free to ticket-holders.

Literary Festivals

Tuesday 5 August, 5.15 - 6.00pm: Literary Festival  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Thursday 7 August, 8.25pm
Matthew Sweet discusses how Victorian entertainment is portrayed in novels, films and television - with writer and critic John Sutherland, and Michael Kilgarriff.
Free to ticket-holders.

Young Composers

Wednesday 6 August, 5.30pm: Young Composers  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Friday 8 August, 9.10pm
Inspire Day The Aurora Orchestra performs the winning entries of this year's BBC Proms Inspire Young Composers' Competition.
Free to all.

Music Intro

Thursday 7 August 5.45 - 6.30pm: Family Music Intro
Not available online
Get a sneak preview of what's going to be played in tonight's Prom, and learn the stories behind the music. Bring your instrument for a chance to take part!
Free to ticket-holders.

Proms Intros

Friday 8 August, 5.15 - 6pm: Proms Intro  
Composer Chen Yi and Stephen Hallett discuss tonight's programme, and wider Chinese cultural issues, with Sara Mohr-Pietsch.
Free to ticket-holders.

Family Orchestras

Saturday 9 August 2 - 4pm: Proms Family Orchestra  
The Proms Family Orchestra plays Jazz!

Family Music Intro

Saturday 9 August 5.15 - 6pm: Family Music Intro
Not available online
Learn more about tonight's jazz-based music.
Free to ticket-holders.

Proms Intros

Sunday 10 August, 5.45 - 6.30pm: Proms Intro  
Tonight's conductor, Edward Gardner, talks to composers Michael Berkeley and Stuart MacRae, whose new works he will be conducting tonight. Ivan Hewett hosts.
Free to ticket-holders.

Monday 11 Aug, 5.45 - 6.30pm: Proms Intro  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Monday 11 August, 8.20pm
Suzy Klein discusses tonight's opera, Puccini's 'Il tabarro', with musicologists Roger Parker and Alexandra Wilson.
Free to ticket-holders.

Literary Festivals

Tuesday 12 August, 5 - 6pm: Literary Festival  
Ben Haggarty explores the extraordinary world of the 1,001 Nights in this family-friendly storytelling session.
Free to ticket-holders.

Literary Festivals

Tuesday 12 August, 9.15 - 9.45pm: Literary Festival  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Wednesday 20 August, 8.15pm
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, joins Susan Hitch to talk about and introduce the work of one of his literary heroes: Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
Free to all: ticket required, available on the day at the RAH Box Office until 9.00pm and then on the door at the RCM.

Composer Portraits

Wednesday 13 August, 5.45 - 6.30pm: Composer Portrait  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Wednesday 13 August, 10.00pm
Anders Hillborg, in conversation with Stephen Johnson, discusses his new Proms commission and introduces performances of some of his chamber works.
Free to all.

Proms Intros

Thursday 14 August, 5.15 - 6pm: Proms Intro  
Members of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra talk to the Controller of BBC Radio 3 and Director of the Proms, Roger Wright.
Free to ticket-holders.

Films

Friday 15 August 1.00pm: Film
Not available online
The Cunning Little Vixen (75 mins). Animation by Geoff Dunbar, introduced by Geoffrey Chew.
Free to all.

Proms Intros

Friday 15 August, 5.45 - 6.30pm: Proms Intro  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Friday 15 August, 8.20pm
Conductor Pierre Boulez discusses the music of Janacek with Roger Wright.
Free to ticket-holders.

Saturday 16 August, 4.45 - 5.30pm: Proms Intro
Broadcast on Radio 3: Saturday 16 August, 7.20pm
Catherine Bott talks to critic, writer and broadcaster Roderick Swanston and theatre historian Sarah Lenton to explore Handel's Belshazzar.
Free to ticket-holders.

Films

Sunday 17 August 1.00pm: Film
Not available online
Messiaen: La liturgie de cristal (88 mins). A film by Olivier Mille introducing Messiaen's musical universe through a series of archive clips filmed between 1964 and 1987. In French with subtitles.
Free to all.

Literary Festivals

Sunday 17 August, 5.45 - 6.30pm: Literary Festival  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Monday 18 August, 8.25pm
Matthew Sweet goes on an urban safari - exploring the inspiration of wildness and nature in the city - with Iain Sinclair and Robert Macfarlane, author of The Wild Places.
Free to ticket-holders.

Proms Intros

Monday 18 August, 5.45 - 6.30pm: Proms Intro  
Cellist Alban Gerhardt and musicologist David Nice in conversation with Martin Handley.
Free to ticket-holders.

Tuesday 19 August, 5.15 - 6pm: Proms Intro  
The electronic music revolution - Jonathan Harvey talks to Andrew McGregor about how technology has introduced a radically new creative environment for today's composers.
Free to ticket-holders.

Wednesday 20 August, 5.15 - 6pm: Proms Intro  
Christopher Cook talks to Director of the Royal Ballet, Monica Mason, about the company, its history, conductors and dancers.
Free to ticket-holders.

Literary Festivals

Thursday 21 August, 5.45 - 6.30pm: Literary Festival  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Saturday 23 August, 7.30pm
Ian McMillan is joined by novelists Conrad Williams and Frank Tallis to discuss how classical music is portrayed in fiction.
Free to ticket-holders.

Proms Intros

Friday 22 August, 5.15 - 6pm: Proms Intro  
Andrew McGregor introduces tonight's musical recreation, with oboist Tom Owen and Marketing Manager Lilly Schwerdtfeger and composer Colin Matthews.
Free to ticket-holders.

Music Intro

Saturday 23 August 4.45 - 5.30pm: Family Music Intro
Not available online
National Youth Orchestra family event. Join some of the sensational young musicians from the NYO to discover the sound-worlds of Varèse, Rachmaninov and Copland. Bring your instrument and join in.
Free to ticket-holders.

Films

Sunday 24 August, 1.00pm: Film
Not available online
'O Thou Transcendent' (148 mins). Tony Palmer's new biopic of Vaughan Williams, the first full-length documentary on the composer. Introduced by the director.
Free to all.

Proms Intros

Sunday 24 August, 5.15 - 6pm: Proms Intro  
Sir John Eliot Gardiner and Mark Padmore discuss Bach's St John Passion with Christopher Cook.
Free to ticket-holders.

Family Orchestras

Monday 25 August, 11.30am - 4.20pm: Proms Family Orchestra  
A special extended Family Orchestra event. Join us to rehearse a new piece specially commissioned from Errollyn Wallen and perform in its world premier at the RAH at 4.00pm
4.00 - 4.20pm: Proms Family Orchestra The orchestra performs on the stage of the Royal Albert Hall.

Films

Monday 25 August, 1.00pm: Film
Not available online
Scott of the Antarctic (106 mins). Introduced by Anthony Payne.
Free to all.

Literary Festivals

Monday 25 August, 5.15 - 6.00pm: Literary Festival  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Monday 25 August, 7.50pm
A special family event for Bank Holiday. Children's authors Julia Donaldson and Michael Morpurgo discuss the role of music in children's fiction; with music from Malcolm Donaldon.
Free to all. Tickets available on the day at the RAH Box Office until 4.15pm and then on the door at the RCM.

Proms Intros

Tuesday 26 August, 5.45 - 6.30pm: Proms Intro  
RCM Chief and Deputy Librarians, Pam Thompson and Peter Horton, join Anthony Payne and Stephen Johnson to discuss Ralph Vaughan Williams on the 50th anniversary of his death.
Free to ticket-holders.

Family Music Intro

Wednesday 27 August, 5.15 - 6pm: Family Music Intro
Not available online
Philharmonia Orchestra family event. Bring your family to hear an introduction to the stories behind tonight's music. Bring your instrument along and take part.
Free to ticket-holders.

Literary Festivals

Wednesday 27 August, 9.15 - 9.45pm: Literary Festival  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Thursday 28 August, 8.25pm
Ian McMillan explores literature inspired by birds, with poet Katrina Porteous and nature writer Mark Cocker.
Free to all, ticket required, available on the day at the RAH Box Office until 9.00pm and then on the door at the RCM.

Composer Portraits

Thursday 28 August, 5.45 - 6.30pm: Composer Portrait  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Thursday 28 August, 9.45pm
Steven Stucky, in conversation with Andrew McGregor, discusses his new Proms commission and introduces performances of some of his chamber works.
Free to all.

Proms Intros

Friday 29 August, 5.45 - 6.30pm: Proms Intro  
Stephen Johnson joins Zarin Mehta, New York Philharmonic President and Executive Director, and musicians from the orchestra in an exploration of the Philharmonic's musical and educational activities.
Free to ticket-holders.

Family Orchestras

Saturday 30 August, 2 - 4pm: Proms Family Orchestra  
A virtuosic session with the orchestra.
Free to ticket-holders.

Literary Festivals

Saturday 30 August, 5.45 - 6.30pm: Literary Festival  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Thursday 4 September, 7.50pm
BBC Diplomatic Correspondent Bridget Kendall on Russian literature and current affairs.

Family Music Intro

Sunday 31 August, 2.15 - 3pm: Family Music Intro
Not available online
Discover the incredible world of the piano - its many styles, sounds and techniques - in this special Music Intro event dedicated to this dazzlingly versatile instrument.
Free to ticket-holders.

Proms Intros

Sunday 31 August, 6.15 - 7pm: Proms Intro  
Join Suzy Klein, Roger Parker and Susan Rutherford in this introduction to one of the best-known choral works in the repertory - Verdi's Requiem.
Free to ticket-holders.

September

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Family Music Intro

Monday 1 September, 5.15 - 6pm: Family Music Intro
Not available online
Bring your instrument along for a chance to join members of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester and discover more about tonight's music.
Free to ticket-holders.

Proms Intros

Tuesday 2 September, 5.45 - 6.30pm: Proms Intro  
Martin Handley talks to Tristan Murail and Roger Nichols about the ondes martenot, and this intriguing electronic instrument's role in Messiaen's Turangalîla Symphony.
Free to ticket-holders.

Family Music Intro

Wednesday 3 September, 5.30 - 6.30pm: Family Music Intro
Not available online
Find out more about Brahms and Shostakovich, plus a look at the Berliner Philharmoniker's education programme and a showcase of a recent project on Brahms.
Free to ticket-holders.

Literary Festivals

Thursday 4 September, 5.15 - 6pm: Literary Festival  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Saturday 6 September, 8.30pm
Ian McMillan introduces writing about the sea with poet Jean Sprackland and novelist Julie Myerson.
Free to ticket-holders.

Friday 5 September, 5.45 - 6.30pm: Literary Festival  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Friday 5 September, 8.35pm
Susan Hitch explores the world of Russian fairy tales with Moscow-born writer Zinovy Zinik and Robert Chandler, who is editing a new anthology.
Free to ticket-holders.

Literary Festivals

Saturday 6 September, 5.45 - 6.30pm: Literary Festival  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Tuesday 9 September, 8pm
TV dramatist Stephen Poliakoff joins Susan Hitch to talk about his favourite Russian literature and its influence on his work.
Free to ticket-holders.

Proms Intros

Sunday 7 September, 2.15 - 3pm: Proms Intro  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Sunday 7 September, 5.15pm
Tom Service, Messiaen scholars Peter Hill and Nigel Simeone and Artistic Director of the Netherlands Opera Pierre Audi discuss Messiaen's Saint Francis of Assisi.
Free to ticket-holders.

Composer Portraits

Monday 8 September, 5.45 - 6.30pm: Composer Portrait  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Monday 8 September, 9.45pm
Mark-Anthony Turnage, in conversation with Andrew McGregor, discusses his Chicago Remains and introduces performances of some of his chamber works.
Free to all.

Films

Tuesday 9 September, 5.15 - 6.30pm: Proms Films
Not available online.
Beyond the Score Discover Shostakovich's Symphony No.4; introduced by Martha Gilmer,Vice President for Artistic and Audience Development, Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Free to ticket-holders.

Literary Festivals

Wednesday 10 September, 4.45 - 5.30pm: Literary Festival  
Broadcast on Radio 3: Wednesday 10 September, 8.25pm
Ian McMillan gazes at the stars and discusses planetary literature with poet Lavinia Greenlaw, astronomer Paul Murdin and actor David Calder.
Free to ticket-holders.

Proms Intros

Thursday 11 September, 5.45 - 6.30pm: Proms Intro  
Suzy Klein, Keith James, composer David Matthews and guests discuss the influence of architecture in the music of Gustav Mahler.
Free to ticket-holders.

Friday 12 September, 5.45 - 6.30pm: Proms Intro  
Petroc Trelawny looks back on the 2008 Proms season, with Proms Director Roger Wright and Royal Albert Hall Chief Executive David Elliott.
Free to ticket-holders.

Saturday 13 September, 5.30 - 6.15pm: Proms Intro
Start your Last Night by joining others to sing favourite folk songs from the British Isles.
Free to ticket-holders.
Not available online.