Proms 2013

Who says classical music must be enjoyed in silence? Despite a summer of mobiles, coughs and even a misfiring hearing aid, Kate Molleson refuses to join the tutters

Opening for the Vienna Philharmonic, Klaus Sonnleitner made gleeful use of the Royal Albert Hall's beast of an organ, writes Erica Jeal

Marin Alsop's historic occupancy of the podium for the Last Night of the Proms energised the event musically and politically, writes Martin Kettle

Royal Albert Hall, London

Chris Christodoulou has been the Proms' inhouse photographer, capturing the artists and the atmosphere, for over 30 years. We asked him to pick his favourite shots from this year's season, and tell us why

Well-performed operatic chunks couldn't make up for the lack of Verdi in this year's Proms – but the Tchaikovsky was electric, writes Tim Ashley

Górecki's famous Third Symphony was spellbinding, writes Martin Kettle

Vasily Petrenko delivered a Beethoven/Bruckner double bill while David Hill drew a magical performance from the BBC Singers, writes George Hall

The Mozart and Schubert specialist talks about sitting under the family piano as a three-year-old, making a career by following what she loves – and why she hates backhanded compliments