Kiri Te Kanawa is among the stars of the first of two live public concerts from the gardens of Buckingham Palace. Part of BBC Music Live, tonight's classical performance opens the weekend's Jubilee entertainment in the presence of the Queen and other members of the royal family, and also features baritones Roberto Alagna and Thomas Allen, soprano Angela Gheorghiu, cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, clarinettist Julian Bliss and pianist Ashley Wass.

Andrew Davis conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra and BBC Symphony Chorus, while the London Adventist Chorale, the Band of the Royal Marines and soloists of the Royal Ballet also take part.

The music chosen reflects the historic nature of the occasion and includes Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks, Holst's Jupiter from The Planets, Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No 1 and works by Puccini, Verdi, Mozart and Gershwin.
(The concert will be broadcast on Tuesday at 2pm on Radio 3)

Websites: [web addresses removed]
Our Jubilee special begins on page 17; Starry nights: p23; Tickets to the Hampton Court Palace Festival: p46; Jubilee souvenirs: p48

Today's Choices: Prom at the Palace 8.10pm BBC1
Television loves a good party, and it also revels in big national occasions, so the Queen's Golden Jubilee provides ample opportunity for both this week. If you can't face the thought of such mass flag-waving cheerfulness, then you'd better try to find a last-minute holiday booking somewhere fast, because over the next few days, you will not be able to avoid it. Perhaps you should just give in to the prospect of a country-wide celebration and settle down with this, the first of the Golden Jubilee's big entertainment events. Michael Parkinson is our host for the evening as he introduces two hours of popular classical music from the splendid gardens at Buckingham Palace.
Prom at the Palace - which is also part of BBC Music Live 2002 - is noteworthy for many reasons, particularly as it is the first live concert ever to be broadcast from the royal residences.
The BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Andrew Davis, leads a glittering line up of performers, including Kiri Te Kanawa, Julian Bliss, Thomas Allen, Mstislav Rostropovich, Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna, members of the Royal Ballet and the London Adventist Choir.

Starry nights: page 2 3; tickets to the Hampton Court Palace Festival: page 46