War Horse Prom, Royal Albert Hall

How do you engage younger audiences with classical music, while teaching them about war? Horses will gallop across the stage of the Royal Albert Hall at the ‘War Horse Prom’ on 3 August.  Many esteemed musicians, such as Pet Shop Boys and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, are set to appear, but it is the life-size puppets, designed by the Handsprings Puppet Company for the National Theatre smash hit War Horse, that are generating the most excitement.

Inspired by Michael Morpurgo’s best-selling children’s novel, the puppets offer a charming visual addition to a concert celebrating the centenary of World War I. Classics from Elgar and Holst are joined by Adrian Sutton’s Olivier-nominated ‘War Horse Suite’, part of his original score composed for the play.

Audiences can expect a contemporary reflection on military life, too, as family-favourite conductor and choirmaster Gareth Malone leads his chart-topping Military Wives Choir: an ensemble dedicated to creating a bond between women in the military community, as well as raising funds for the armed forces.