Beeb launch Classical Century season

100 years of great music-making marked by the landmark BBC season.

“The UK has a rich creative history in classical music and a bright future too. At the BBC we’re proud to have played a vital role in that story and we’re keen to ensure classical music can be enjoyed as widely as possible. This autumn marks the most ambitious classical music programming to date, exploring a century of classical music across BBC TV and radio. We’re also releasing some of our archive and hope to give audiences the rich history of these great performance moments as we look forward to those to come.” – Tony Hall, Director-General of the BBC

UK’s classical music soundtrack is to be explored with host of well-known guests in documentaries and performances, celebrating the most memorable musical moments from 1918-2018.

Sir Lenny Henry is the first to join Suzy Klein in a four-part chronological series on BBC Four as part of Our Classical Century. A range of guides across the season include Brian Cox and Lucy Worsley on BBC Two, and Katie Derham, Tom Service and Josie D’Arby on BBC Four.

BBC Orchestras welcome television audiences into the studio for a series of broadcast Discovery Concerts and BBC Radio 3 celebrates the season throughout the year with coverage across the network.

Our Classical Century ends with a newly commissioned work on the First Night of the BBC Proms, bringing the classical music story to the present day. The season of music programming will take place across the year in four parts.

“Classical music has never been more vibrant in the UK than today, and it all started one hundred years ago when the UK firmly positioned itself back at the centre of the musical world, in the wake of the tragedy of World War One. We have seen how classical music has grown and developed in the UK as the life blood of our existence. We look back to reflect and celebrate this great story in a way only the BBC can; by joining forces, we can revisit this great music and look to the future. BBC Four, in partnership with Radio 3, BBC Two, all the BBC Orchestras and Choirs and BBC Proms will mark this legacy. We will explore how classical music has comforted and defined the UK in difficult times and we will re-live the artistry of performers and composers who have brought outstanding experiences in classical music to audiences.” – Jan Younghusband, Head of Commissioning, BBC Music Television