September 2024

For information about past and upcoming episodes of Friday Night is Music Night on BBC Radio 3 you can follow this link: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xmxc/episodes/player

It will show previous episodes which are still available for replay via BBC Sounds (for up to 30 days after broadcast).

Broadcast: 27 September 2024
Celebrating Ernest Tomlinson:
Helen Harrison conducts the BBC Concert Orchestra in music by light music master and Ivor Novello winner Ernest Tomlinson in celebration of his centenary. Harpist Anne Denholm and flautist Ileana Ruhemann also feature in music by Mozart, John Williams and Hoagy Carmichael. Recorded in July at Fairfield Halls, Croydon. Presented by Clare Teal.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0022zqd

Upcoming episodes:

4th October 2024 at 7.30pm
from Snape Maltings
Soprano Eleanor Dennis and bassoonist John McDougall are soloists with the BBC Concert Orchestra and conductor John Andrews in a concert recorded in August at the Maltings, Snape.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00236mf

11th October 2024 at 7.30pm
Once again, Friday Night is Music Night!
Another chance to hear the Radio 3 debut of the popular BBC radio programme that promises music for everyone. With Katie Derham, the BBC Concert Orchestra and Anna-Maria Helsing.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xmx7

18th October 2024 at 7.30pm
The Great Outdoors
Singers Louise Dearman and Graham Bickley join conductor Richard Balcombe and the BBC Concert Orchestra in music celebrating the great outdoors. Presented by Petroc Trelawny.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xvzs

25th October 2024 at 7.30pm
On Tour in China
Another chance to hear Chief Conductor Anna-Maria Helsing and the BBC Concert Orchestra in the Shenzhen Concert Hall, on tour in China last New Year. They are joined by Chinese soprano Ying Huang, in an eclectic mix of music from James Bond to Johann Strauss II. Presented by Petroc Trelawny. First broadcast in April.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001y2q7

September 2024

The Story of Light Music

Sunday 22nd September 2024 at 7:15pm on BBC Radio 3

Marking the centenary of composer Ernest Tomlinson’s birth (whose 'Little Serenade' – 1955 - is one of the treasures of British light music) and exploring the sound-world of pioneering light composers Eric Coates, Robert Farnon, Frederic Curzon, Ronald Binge, Peter Hope and others – presenter and singer Catherine Bott takes a look at what light music means today and its deep legacy for radio, television and film scores as well as its re-emergence on digital platforms like Tik Tok. Contributors include composer Peter Hope, conductor John Wilson, Ernest Tomlinson's daughter Hilary Ashton, modern day light music composer Thomas Hewitt-Jones and organist Richard Hills.

The programnme is available here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002383y

September 2024

BBC Proms

Sunday 1st September at 1.00 pm

On Radio 3 there was a repeat of a programme, first broadcast in March, looking at Henry Mancini's life and career including archive interviews.

Monday 2nd September at 7.30 pm

BBC Proms presented Ultra Lounge - Henry Mancini & Beyond.

Henry Mancini was more than one of the greatest composers in the history of film music. He was also one of the most versatile musicians of his or any time. Marking a century since the flautist, composer and conductor’s birth in Ohio, Edwin Outwater and the BBC Concert Orchestra celebrate the man and his music in styles ranging from jazz to light classical and film music.

Among the classics are the slinky 'Lujon' and themes from The Pink Panther and Peter Gunn, joined by gems from the lounge music and space-age pop genres Mancini helped inspire, including easy-going tracks by Burt Bacharach, Les Baxter and Juan García Esquivel.

Broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 2. It is now available on BBC iPlayer for 11 months here: bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0022njg

Anthony Wills

August 2024

A Centenary Celebration - Three Musical Luminaries –
Trevor Duncan, Ernest Tomlinson and Angela Morley

On Bank Holiday Monday, August 26th 2024 Serenade Radio presented a special feature to commemorate the centenaries of these famous composers, who made a great contribution to world of British Light Music in the years after World War Two.

Compiled and introduced by André Leon and produced by Tony Clayden, the programme features some of the trio's most prominent compositions.

You can catch up on our LLMMG streaming service.

August 2024

The Troxy – 490 Commercial Road, London E1 0HX.

August 2024

THE BIG INTERVIEW - John Wilson

There is a new item in the Articles section of the website reproducing an in-depth interview with John Wilson by George Hall which appeared in 'The Stage' during June.

June 2024

Mark Fitz-Gerald Orchestra
concert at The British Home

A report on this event can be found in the Reports section of the website - here

Click here for archived news items