Superstar tenor’s Lehár brings down the house as well as the underwear at the famous Last Night.

Jonas Kaufmann has made Proms history by becoming the first German to sing the British patriotic anthem Rule Britannia at the BBC Proms. That statistic in itself is interesting enough to generate a column inch or two, but in a gift to press gallery the world’s media were treated to behaviour more reminiscent of a Tom Jones bash. Yes, in return for offering a packed Albert Hall arias by Puccini and Lehár, a couple of over-excited Prommers responded by throwing their knickers at the superstar tenor.

The famous Last Night is always an excuse for classical music to let its hair down, but with Kaufmann fielding lingerie (and at this stage it’s unclear whether the garments were worn or fresh), and conductor Marin Alsop whipping out a selfie stick to snap herself on the podium with the crowd as backdrop, viewers might be forgiven for thinking they were at a middle-aged rock and roller gig.

The evening started sedately enough with young pianist Benjamin Grosvenor (due in Australia this November) delivering...