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BBC Proms

Music: Classical

The world's greatest classical music festival - stunning performances and collaborations.

The world's greatest classical music festival. Stunning performances, unique collaborations and the sheer joy of live music. Relive 2023's highlights before the new season begins.

BBC Proms: 2010: Proms Plus

BBC Proms: 2010: Proms Plus: Proms Literary Festival: Divine Poetry

Proms Plus

24/08/2010

Proms Literary Festival: Divine Poetry

2010

BBC Radio 3 - BBC Proms, 2010, Proms Plus, Proms Literary Festival: Divine Poetry

James MacMillan and poet Michael Symmons Roberts on links between poetry and the divine.

In an audience discussion, Susan Hitch is joined by composer James MacMillan and religious poet Michael Symmons Roberts to explore the relationship between poetry and the divine.

Composer James MacMillan, whose music often reflects his Catholic faith, and religious poet Michael Symmons Roberts explore the relationship between poetry and the divine.

From John Donne to Elizabeth Bishop to John Berryman, writers have used poetry to contemplate the sacred. And poetry has in turn inspired composers in their own exploration of the divine, from Elgar's Dream of Gerontius, a personal favourite of James Macmillan, to Alexander Scriabin's The Divine Poem which is part of tonight's BBC Prom.

James Macmillan and Michael Symmons Roberts have often worked together to create new poems and new compositions. They join presenter Susan Hitch and an audience at the Royal College of Music to share their ideas on why poetry is the written form that lends itself to musings on the divine, why it continues to appeal to composers, and how music and language can illuminate each other.

Recorded in front of an audience at the Royal College of Music as part of this year's Proms Literary Festival.

Producer: Allegra McIlroy.

BBC Proms: 2010

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All broadcasts from the 116th season of the BBC Proms

Series of events providing a context to the 2010 Proms season's music and artists

Series of events providing a fascinating context to the 2010 BBC Proms season's music and artists

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