Sunday Night is Music Night

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The world's longest-running live orchestral programme featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra

The world's longest-running live orchestral music programme on radio, featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra and broadcast from locations throughout the UK

Sunday Night is Music Night: Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald

BBC Radio 2 - Sunday Night is Music Night, Ella Fitzgerald

Sunday Night is Music Night celebrates Ella Fitzgerald.

Singer and broadcaster Clare Teal celebrates the centenary of the greatest female singer of them all: Ella Fitzgerald. With guests Emma Kershaw, Louise Marshall and Mica Paris.

Another chance to hear a special tribute concert recorded at the Hackney Empire, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of the legendary singer Ella Fitzgerald.  

Starring Clare Teal, Mica Paris, Louise Marshall and Emma Kershaw with the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Richard Balcombe. 

Amazingly, the greatest female jazz singer of the 20th century started out wanting to be a dancer. She had no ambitions for her voice at all. But fate, in the form of Ella's own nerves, took a hand. Having entered a talent competition as a dancer, she panicked when she saw the strength of the competition, and decided at the last minute not to dance, but to sing instead. A good decision: Ella won the contest and history was made. 

The concert covers Ella's story from her earliest beginnings, working with band leader Chick Webb, to being introduced to the great producer Norman Granz and her extraordinary project with him recording the groundbreaking Songbooks series. These classic albums, arranged by the likes of Nelson Riddle, Duke Ellington, Billy May, Paul Weston and Buddy Bregman, featured the best songs of Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, The Gershwins, Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer, Duke Ellington and Rodgers and Hart, and wrote a new chapter in recording history. 

These luscious arrangements are heard alongside songs from her work with Louis Armstrong and Oscar Peterson. The concert also premieres new arrangements of Ella classics by the country's leading jazz arranger for orchestra and big band, Guy Barker.

First broadcast in 2017.

Amazing music. Played by an amazing line up.

Radio 2: Amazing music. Played by an amazing line-up. The home of great music, entertainment and documentaries

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Ella Fitzgerald

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