Speaking to The Telegraph, film composer David Arnold – whose soundtrack credits include five Bond films – described his role organising the Olympic Closing Ceremony as being “like spinning plates and they’re all on fire” [via NME]

Titled A Symphony of British Music, the show will be a celebration of British music from the last 50 years, and will unfold over two and a half hours. All the included tracks have been pre-recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra, with vocalists performing live over backing tracks on the night.

“To me, this should be the greatest after-party in the world”, Arnold said. “It will wrap up the spirit of what these Games have been, which is slightly anarchic, slightly mischievous, funny, heart-warming, emotional, inspiring, and uniquely British.”

Arnold kept schtum on the line-up for the event, but this morning we reported on artists who will be – or might be – performing at the ceremony. Muse are a shoe-in, whilst appearances from Kate Bush, The Spice Girls, Ed Sheeran and George Michael have been confirmed with various degrees of certainty.

After the ceremony, music performed on the night will be released on an album with the snappy title of A Symphony of British Music: Music for the Closing Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, which will be released on August 12.