Unplucked

An episode from The Listening Service discussing how music - and the 2018 Proms - begin. During the 2018 Proms season we'll be publishing episodes of The Listening Service that relate to specific Proms. To hear them all, subscribe to The Listening Service podcast.

Vikki is backstage with the Stax stars and takes Sophie Ellis-Bextor to her first prom.

Vikki Stone takes singer and composer Imogen Heap on a prom date, reviews the proms Reformation Day and is backstage at the Metropole Orkest prom of the work of Charles Mingus.

On the floor at the Proms with a famous psychotherapist; that Daft Punk encore; in depth on the Ravi Shankar / Philip Glass collaboration; and DIY Gurrelieder with Sir Simon Rattle.

Pub landlord Al Murray is Vikki Stone's Proms Date, Marcus Brigstocke describes his Proms debut in Oklahoma! and choirs – does size really matter?

Vikki Stone on the art of interpretation, the cadenza, jazz standards, and Pointless.

Vikki is backstage at the Scott Walker Prom and explores the many New Pieces of the Week.

Vikki on tricky scores, film scores, the John Williams phenomenon, and Shostakovich.

Vikki Stone starts her summer of "Prom Dates" and makes a music quiz obligatory.

Vikki duets with Sir James Galway, rolls with Rick Astley, and queues the last night.

Vikki is on eternity with Daniel Barenboim and the best spot to nap at the Albert Hall.

Vikki watches football in a park, a Prom in a car park, and Simon Rattle explains Boulez.

Vikki speaks to the ones with their backs to us, in a conductors' special.

Vikki explores Mozart conspiracy theories and plays Bizet spoons with Radio 3 controller.

Vikki talks parties with the awesome Quincy Jones and his friend Sir Michael Caine.

Vikki takes a special look at the theme of Shakespeare and other potential Prom themes.

Vikki swings with the vocalists in a singers' special.

Vikki is at the Jamie Cullum Prom and tries a binaural v. stereo listening challenge.

Vikki on younger orchestras, science fiction, busking, and the first Proms Name That Tune

Vikki runs the inaugural Proms Unplucked (conductor's) Baton Relay athletics event.

Vikki Stone gets playing and meets the flash prommers, a glass rubber and a saw bower.

Vikki tries the tabla, talks electric violin and showbiz, and goes backstage at Bowie.

Vikki Stone focuses on the cello, one of the themes of this year's BBC Proms season.

The Proms Unplucked tonight features the glitz of Strictly, including encounters with dancers Aljaz Skorjanec and conductor Gavin Sutherland. As the hall operators sweep up the confetti and glitter, Vikki Stone has a play on the RAH organ, courtesy of organist Wayne Marshall. Gabriel Prokofiev explains crabbing and scratching, and BBCPO Principal Percussionist Paul Patrick lets Vikki have a whack on his self-commissioned big Verdi drum.

Vikki Stone takes you behind the scenes at the BBC Proms.

Vikki Stone is backstage for the first night of the greatest classical music festival