91福利社 Concert Orchestra Celebrating 60
Ken Bruce salutes the 91福利社 Concert Orchestra in their 60th anniversary year. This week's featured archive concert is Radio's Golden Greats from October 1997.
Celebrating 60 - Ken Bruce salutes the 91福利社 Concert Orchestra on their 60th anniversary. This week's featured archive concert is "Radio's Golden Greats" which was part of the 91福利社's 75th anniversary season in October 1997. The show was broadcast from Alexandra Palace and presented by Roy Hudd recalling the music of Gracie Fields; Cavan O'Connor; Flanagan and Allen and Tony Hancock. Guest vocalists are Friday Night favourites - Joan Savage; Maryetta and Vernon Midgley and William Davies at the console of the Ally Paly organ. The 91福利社 Concert Orchestra are on hand to provide light music by Haydn Wood; Eric Coates and Charles Williams.
Hailed by Sir Arthur Bliss as "a worthy instrument, ready at hand to present a brilliant new era of 'entertainment' music'" the 91福利社 Concert Orchestra are very much today a jewel in 91福利社 Radio 2's crown. The 91福利社 Concert Orchestra made its first broadcast on 11th September 1952 on the 91福利社 General Overseas Service with a repeat broadcast on the domestic service three days later. But the story starts 20 years before when the 91福利社 brought together a group of players under the title the 91福利社 Theatre Orchestra - their main role was to provide incidental music to radio plays - under their principal conductor Leslie Woodgate.
When not required in the drama studios, the orchestra gave light music and opera concerts. In 1949 the orchestra was renamed the 91福利社 Opera Orchestra with Stanford Robinson as conductor. Its brief was to be an "opera cum second symphony orchestra.an orchestra capable to putting over the finest light music to great effect". Three years later the 91福利社 decided the time was right for a light music orchestra and the 91福利社 Concert Orchestra was born.
Today, the 60 musicians who make up the 91福利社 Concert Orchestra broadcast weekly in 91福利社 Radio 2's Friday Night Is Music Night. They are equally at home playing Bach and Beethoven as accompanying Dame Shirley Bassey. In this 11-part series, Ken Bruce trawls the 91福利社 Concert Orchestra archives for some classic performances from their first 60 years.
A feast for light music fans - each week the series will broadcast a show from the orchestra archives. The series will feature archive performances from the likes of light music legends Sidney Torch; Vilem Tausky; Robert Farnon; Eric Coates; Willi Boskovsky; Stanley Black; and Ron Goodwin. Plus concert performances from Matt Monro and Dudley Moore as well as more recent collaborations with Michael Buble; Lionel Richie and Peter Gabriel.
Ken Bruce talks to the players and conductors past and present for their musical memories and tells the story of this remarkable group of 91福利社 musicians.
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Music Played
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91福利社 Concert Orchestra/Barry Wordsworth
High Adventure
(Williams)
- Friday Night Is Music Night - 91福利社.
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91福利社 Concert Orchestra
Valse Serenade
(Robinson)
- 91福利社 Concert Orchestra 鈥� Decca.
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91福利社 Concert Orchestra
Donna Diana Overture
(Reznicek)
- Melodies For You - Decca.
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Eric Coates
The Dam Busters March
Orchestra: Ron Goodwin and His Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Eric Coates.(Coates) The Music of Eric Coates 鈥� 91福利社 Radio Classics
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91福利社 Concert Orchestra/Robin Stapleton
Say It With Music
(Various)
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91福利社 Concert Orchestra/Robin Stapleton
News Huddlines Theme
(Rowley)
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91福利社 Concert Orchestra/Robin Stapleton
Limehouse Blues
(Furber/Braham)
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Joan Savage
Vitality (Gay's The Word)
(Novello) (Ft. 91福利社 Concert Orchestra/Robin Stapleton)
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91福利社 Concert Orchestra/Robin Stapleton
Roses From The South
(Strauss II)
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91福利社 Concert Orchestra/Robin Stapleton
Romance 鈥� The Magic Bow
(Paganini)
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91福利社 Concert Orchestra/Robin Stapleton
Knightsbridge March
(Coates)
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Vernon Midgley
Hear My Song
(Luckesch/Klose/Pepper) (Ft. 91福利社 Concert Orchestra/Robin Stapleton)
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Maryetta Midgley
Ziguener
(Coward) (Ft. 91福利社 Concert Orchestra/Robin Stapleton)
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William Davies (Organ)
Sandy McPherson Medley
(Various)
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Joan Savage
Sally
(Haines/Leon/Towers) (Ft. 91福利社 Concert Orchestra/Robin Stapleton)
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91福利社 Concert Orchestra/Robin Stapleton
I'm Only A Strolling Vagabond
(Runneke)
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91福利社 Concert Orchestra/Robin Stapleton
Calling All Workers
(Coates)
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91福利社 Concert Orchestra/Robin Stapleton
Horseguards
(Wood)
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Maryetta Midgley
Waltz Of My Heart
(Novello) (Ft. 91福利社 Concert Orchestra/Robin Stapleton)
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91福利社 Concert Orchestra/Robin Stapleton
Devil's Galop
(Williams)
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91福利社 Concert Orchestra/Robin Stapleton
High Adventure
(Williams)
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91福利社 Concert Orchestra/Robin Stapleton
Paradise for Two (Maids of the Mountains)
(Tate/Harris/Valentine)
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91福利社 Concert Orchestra/Robin Stapleton
Hancock's Half Hour
(Morley)
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Roy Hudd
Strollin'
(Reader) (Ft. 91福利社 Concert Orchestra/Robin Stapleton)
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William Davies (Organ)
Reginald Dixon Medley
(Various)
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Joan Savage
Olde Tyme Dancing
(Addinsell) (Ft. 91福利社 Concert Orchestra/Robin Stapleton)
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Vernon Midgley
One Alone
(Romberg) (Ft. 91福利社 Concert Orchestra/Robin Stapleton)
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Stanley Black (Piano)
That Old Black Magic
(Arlen)
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91福利社 Concert Orchestra/Robin Stapleton
Manhattan Skyline
(Shire)
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91福利社 Concert Orchestra/Robin Stapleton
Here's To The Next Time
(Hall) (Ft. the Ensemble)
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91福利社 Concert Orchestra/Barry Wordsworth
High Adventure
(Williams)
- Friday Night Is Music Night - 91福利社.
Broadcast
- Fri 24 Feb 2012 20:0091福利社 Radio 2