Events

Listen Up 2006

Our second Listen Up! Festival of Orchestras, in association with BBC Radio 3 and Making Music, had a rousing start with the BBC Symphony Orchestra brass under Jiri Belohkavek giving a spirited rendition of the Listen Up! Fanfare by Gareth Wood.  The work was in several formats, including full orchestra, brass and string arrangements is available from www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/listenup. 

The Listen Up! Festival of Orchestras 2006 showcased the talent, diversity and sheer vibrant energy of Britain's professional and amateur orchestras in a five-week extravanga of broadcasts, concerts and educational events.

More than 450 events took place in 275 venues, including shopping malls, schools, hospitals, and living rooms across the land - as well as in concert halls and on radio. The 2006 festival aimed especially to promote the UK's treasury of dynamic and diverse contemporary British composers. For 36 consecutive nights, BBC Radio 3 broadcast concerts featuring more than 30 British orchestras and works by 22 living British composers. Performances included five world premieres, by Sally Beamish, Jonathan Dove, Deirdre Gribbin, Michael Omer and Joby Talbot.

London's leading orchestras gave the public a unique opportunity to witness their rehearsals on the opening weekend of Listen Up! through Open Rehearsal, a Mayor of London initiative. 

Musicians from 30 orchestras visited listeners' homes to play live concerts in their living rooms. The Musicians On Call scheme enabled members of the public to phone in to nominate a friend, neighbour or relative who was unable to attend a concert, for a performance in their own home - or workplace - no matter where they lived. Over 100 visits took place, including a special guest appearance by cellist Julian Lloyd Webber.

Education and outreach were also represented - children from more than 30 schools worked in eight projects to compose new works in collaboration with British orchestras and composers. The projects, devised by Creative Partnerships, featured on BBC Radio 3 as part of Listen Up!

To attract new audiences, orchestras pioneered new ways to present their work. These included live video-mixing by 'VJs', large-screen projections, and even audience participation in an orchestral work that mimicked a horse race. Congratulations to the LSO, ViVa and Epsom Orchestral Society, joint winners of the Listen Up! Concert Presentation Challenge!

"Live music is a distinctive part of BBC Radio 3's unique output and orchestral concerts are a vital part of the rich musical life of the UK. After the success of the first Listen Up! in 2004, I am delighted that this year's festival has such a strong focus on British music. It will play a magnificent role in celebrating Radio 3's 60th birthday."
Roger Wright, Controller, BBC Radio 3

Listen Up! Links
Official Website: www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/listenup

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