Last week's Doctor Who Prom demonstrated perfectly the fine balance of the readily popular and the innovative that makes the Proms such a highlight of our cultural summer. Alongside Murray Gold's bland compositions for the new Doctor Who series, the young audience was introduced to some popular classics from Wagner and Holst, as well as a UK premiere from one of our most significant contemporary composers, Mark-Anthony Turnage. Only midsummer madness would allow us to enjoy orchestral music so much. And who knows? Maybe next year's Prom programmers can persuade Michael Nyman to turn the 1967 classic The Tomb of the Cybermen into the opera it truly deserves to be. Michael: I'll do the words, if you do the notes. Go on, it's summer.
Taking this suggestion completely seriously, I'd think "The Pyramids of Mars" would make a better opera: smaller cast, restricted setting, tragic themes such as fratricide and arrogance...