Talking Music

BBC Scotland have produced a rather interesting new series called Talking Music. Its a 4-part series which goes behind the scenes at the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, which is celebrating its 75th birthday in December this year. It features interviews with conductors composers, players and visiting soloists plus rehearsal footage, giving an interesting inside view into the process of how concerts are made.

There are 4 episodes each one devoted to a particular theme: Conductors, Players, Composers, Soloists. People interviewed include Donald Runnicles, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, James MacMillan, Nicola Benedetti and Lisa Milne, along with the orchestras principle trumpet, 1st and 2nd violins plus a cello player who has been with the orchestra for 41 years.

The first episode is broadcast on BBC2 Scotland on Tuesday 14th September at 11.20pm, repeated 15th December 2.00pm, with subsequent episodes at the same time the following weeks. It is NOT being broadcast on UK BBC2 alas, so if you don't live in Scotland you will have to use BBC Iplayer to see the programme, or hope that the BBC see sense and broadcast the show on BB2 (or perhaps BBC4)