Arts & Ideas Folgen

The writers Simon Heffer and Andrew O'Hagan discuss the halcyon days of light music at the BBC and beyond with Matthew Sweet. With its jaunty melodies and cascading strings, they restore it to its proper place: the heart of British musical life. Recorded in front of an audience at the Royal College of Music as part of this year's Proms Plus events.

In a special event John le Carré celebrates the 50th anniversary of his groundbreaking Cold War espionage novel, The Spy who Came in from the Cold, the book which brought him international fame and which was described by Graham Greene as 'the best spy story I have ever read'. Anne McElvoy presents in front of an audience at the Royal College of Music as part of this year's Proms Plus events, with readings by John Shrapnel.

Wagner's stage directions are notorious: giant dragons; underwater singing; horses on stage; storms; destruction by raging fires. Designer Peter Mumford and Dr John Snelson of the ROH discuss the solutions available to 21st century artists and some famous 19th and 20th century stagings. Presented by Anne McElvoy and including readings by David Rintoul. Recorded in front of an audience at the Royal College of Music as part of this year's Proms Plus events.