Classic FM celebrates 20 years on-air

28/06/2012 - 14:15 | 5 Replies More

The UK’s first national commercial radio station turns 20 this September and is celebrating with a special concert at the Royal Albert Hall.

The evening will be broadcast live with hosts John Suchet and Margherita Taylor.

Classic FM Live, on Monday 24th September, will feature performances from internationally-renowned musicians and artists.

Classic FM’s Orchestra in Scotland, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, will make their Classic FM Live debut. Joining them will be a host of classical stars, including the thrilling violinist Tasmin Little, the dynamic young pianist HJ Lim and tenor favourite Wynn Evans, as well as performances from the Crouch End Festival Chorus, plus other special guests still to be announced.

The repertoire on the night includes performances of Classic FM Hall of Fame favourites, such as Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.2, Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending and Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, compete with a firework finale.

Classic FM’s Managing Director Darren Henley said: “When Classic FM launched in 1992, we changed the way that people listened to classical music. Two decades on, we’re the UK’s biggest classical music radio station and as part of our 20th birthday celebrations, Classic FM Live promises to be one of the most exciting musical nights of the year.”


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Category: Station News

  • Mat25

    Let me get this, Classic Fm is owned by Global radio, and the brag how people listen to Classical music, and how good Classic is, yet the more Popular Galaxy was axed to make way for Hit Music, when actually Galaxy changed the way people listened to Specialist music.
    The owners obviously have no clue, or are extremely old.

    • MB

      It’s about the branding, not the number of listeners.

      Classic is a national brand which attracts a large number of ABC1 listeners, the kind that advertisers particularly like to target, and there are spin-off products such as CDs and magazines.

      Galaxy was a brand which struggled to make an impact on London advertising agencies. Capital is a much bigger brand and several major national sponsorship campaigns have been aired on the network, which wouldn’t have happened on Galaxy. In monetary terms the rebrand has been a big success. 

  • Marc le Guen

    Dear Classic FM
    I can now lisen to your program on my wifi radio in France, and enjoy it very much. My wife does’t know England, but likes classical music, and it would be a wondeful memory if we could be invited to your 20th birhtday concert in Sept. Have entered most of your competitions, no win alas. Live in hope. Have a nice weekend.
    Regards
    Marc le Guen.

  • Bob Dinan

    Your treatment of Mark Forrest – a brilliant, warm, intelligent presenter – was disgraceful, and an insult to your listeners

  • DAB_Badboy

    I feel obliged to wish Manx Radio a very happy birthday on the occasion of their 48 years on the air which they celebrated over this past weekend …

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