Latest news with #orchestras
BBC News
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
BBC Arts and EBU partner on first new Eurovision music co-production in more than 40 years
A pioneering new series from BBC Arts showcasing some of the best broadcast and independent orchestras, alongside a quartet of today's most exciting young conductors, signals the first new Eurovision music co-production with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) since Eurovision Young Musicians, which first aired in 1982. Eurovision Classical Concerts celebrates four talented and versatile ensembles that not only love and perform the classics of the repertoire to the highest standards, but commission and premiere the classics of the future, playing a unique part in moulding the musical landscape in Europe. Featuring the world's oldest radio orchestra, the BBC's Philharmonic Orchestra, WDR's Symphony Orchestra, Yle Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and RTP partner the Gulbenkian Orchestra, the series will tell their stories in a fresh and engaging way, intertwined with music that displays the orchestras' individuality and versatility, while shining a light on the cities and concert halls they perform in. The four concerts are filmed at some of Europe's most iconic and inspiring concert venues and will be broadcast on BBC TV and offered to all 113 EBU Member organisations across 56 countries, reaching a potential audience of millions. Suzy Klein, Head of BBC Arts and Classical Music TV, said: 'BBC Arts is delighted to be partnering with some of the leading broadcasters of the EBU, joining forces to present some of the great classical ensembles of Europe. Together, we wanted to show how richly talented these orchestras are, and to present them side by side under the banner of our shared vision of public service broadcasting.' Jean Philip De Tender, Director Media and Deputy Director General at the EBU, said: 'This collaboration marks an exciting new chapter in the EBU's commitment to supporting world-class music co-productions among our Members. Eurovision Classical Concerts is not only a celebration of exceptional orchestras from across Europe, but a testament to what's possible when public service broadcasters come together with a shared vision. We're proud to be working with BBC Arts and we look forward to seeing more Members take part in shaping the future of classical music broadcasting.' Nicholas Collon, Chief Conductor of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, said: 'For the last 100 years, radio and television have helped shape everyday life. From those first crackly radio and fuzzy television programmes, many broadcasters were hungry for music and so radio orchestras were born. Now you're just as likely to see these orchestras on television and online as hear them on the radio, and I'm absolutely thrilled to take audiences on a tour around Europe, whose cities are home to the world's best orchestras, to celebrate four exciting and innovative groups of musicians – and the concert halls they play in. From the very first radio orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic, to the one where I'm chief conductor, the Finnish Symphony Orchestra; along with the WDR Symphony Orchestra and the Gulbenkian Orchestra in Lisbon, Eurovision Classical Concerts is a great way to celebrate the versatility of these much-loved groups of musicians and bring them to an even wider audience.' Repertoire will include: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Aviva Studios in Manchester, United Kingdom Adams A short ride in a fast machine Tchaikovsky Swan Lake - selection Vaughan Williams Fantasia on Greensleeves Adès Dante: The Earthly Paradise; The Heavenly Procession; The Ascent Moross, The Big Country main title Ben Gernon, conductor Gulbenkian Orchestra Grande Auditório of the Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon, Portugal Smetana Vltava Debussy La Mer Ravel La Valse Aziz Shokhkimov, conductor WDR Symphony Orchestra Philharmonie in Cologne, Germany 'Fairytale Sounds' Lyadov - The Enchanted Lake Stravinsky Petrushka (1947 version) Marie Jacquot, conductor Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra The Music House in Helsinki, Finland Kaija Saariaho: Le ciel d'hiver Uuno Klami: Kalevala-Suite Sibelius: Finlandia Nicholas Collon, conductor Eurovision Classical Concerts is a co-production from BBC Arts and the European Broadcasting Union. The project manager for EBU is Amelie Rossignol. The Executive Producer is Peter Maniura and the Commissioning Editor for BBC Arts is Stephen James-Yeoman. The European Broadcasting Union is the world's leading alliance of public service media (PSM). We have 113 Member organizations in 56 countries and have an additional 31 Associates in Asia, Africa, Australasia and the Americas. Our Members operate nearly 2,000 television, radio and online channels and services, and offer a wealth of content across other platforms. Together they reach an audience of more than one billion people around the world, broadcasting in 153 languages. We operate Eurovision and Euroradio services. AM2 Follow for more
The Guardian
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Sebastian Farrall obituary
My friend Sebastian Farrall, who has died aged 32 in a cycling accident, was a gifted conductor and composer. He was also a champion of community music whose vision transformed the musical landscape of Coventry and Warwickshire. Seb had a rare gift for seeing potential in everyone. He believed that choirs and orchestras should be welcoming to all, regardless of ability or background. This conviction shaped his career, which ranged from founding community ensembles to creating digital tools that helped people make music from home during the pandemic. Seb was born in Bristol, the son of Sheila and Paul Farrall. He attended St Mary Redcliffe school and played the drums in a Salvation Army band from a young age. Seb moved to Coventry in 2010 to study music composition at Coventry University. He graduated with first-class honours and the Robert Ramskill composition award, already showing the blend of bold creativity and human warmth that would define his career. In 2014 he and I co-founded Sing It Loud, a vibrant choir based in Leamington Spa, and in 2021 he helped launch the Coventry City of Culture Orchestra, an ensemble open to everyone – from professional musicians to those who had not picked up an instrument in decades. Seb also led numerous choirs across the region, and created a resource hub for singers and musical directors. He had a wonderful sense of humour, an irrepressible creative streak and a deep faith rooted in his membership of the Salvation Army. He often volunteered at the Coventry Winter Night Shelter, and brought the same empathy to his music-making as he did to his faith. Seb had a vast network of friends, singers and fellow musicians whose lives he changed – not only through music, but through love, laughter and the belief that everyone deserves a place in the song. He met Fran Pritchard, a music teacher, pianist and French horn player, online in 2019 but they almost immediately realised they had previously performed at the same concert, when Seb conducted the Warwickshire Symphony Orchestra, which Fran played in. They married in 2022. Seb is survived by Fran and their daughter, Maisy, and by his parents.
