International Statement – Alan Bell and Roger S Dexter (CHAPAV34, Classical Excellence)

Описание: Performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1946 by Sir Thomas Beecham, who wanted a British orchestra with real presence and personality. From the start they became known for a warm, polished sound and a willingness to step outside the usual classical lanes.

Over the years they have performed everything from major symphonic repertoire to crossover projects, chart albums and library sessions. They were the orchestra behind Hooked on Classics, the hugely popular series arranged and conducted by Louis Clark. Clark had a real talent for blending classical themes with modern rhythm, and the RPO carried his ideas with style.

Clark also worked in library music, writing pieces for labels such as Bruton. Some of those tracks ended up in Prisoner, which creates a neat connection to the orchestra’s own later appearance in the series. On the KPM album Fantasia, composed by Richard Harvey, the Royal Philharmonic performed The Four Winds. That piece forms the final musical notes heard in the story itself before the very last gate slam. It is a quiet and elegant link between library music, Clark’s work and the RPO.

The orchestra’s versatility does not stop there. They have recorded orchestral tributes to ABBA, giving those melodies a rich symphonic glow, and they have created high profile Elvis Presley projects such as If I Can Dream and The Wonder of You, pairing Elvis’s original vocals with new RPO arrangements. They have also tackled Buddy Holly and other classic artists, always bringing their smooth and unmistakable sound.

Today the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra remains one of the busiest and most recognisable orchestras in the world. Classical concerts, pop collaborations, library albums, television history, they have moved through all of it without losing their identity. For anyone who knows Prisoner, it is rather fitting that the final emotional notes of the story came from them.