BBC Radio 2 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Light Programme.

BBC Radio 2

Radio 2

Carte Blanche

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media: Arts

French singer Vincent Niclo presents a series celebrating talented beloved in France

French singer Vincent Niclo presents Carte Blanche, a brand new series, celebrating talented artists,  independent and determined, who are beloved in France and around the world.

French singer Vincent Niclo presents Carte Blanche, a brand new series, celebrating talented artists, celebrated and creative, independent and determined, who are beloved in France and around the world.

Carte Blanche: Composer Michel Legrand recalls his greatest collaborations

Composer Michel Legrand recalls his greatest collaborations

BBC Radio 2 - Carte Blanche, Composer Michel Legrand recalls his greatest collaborations

Composer Michel Legrand gives Vincent Niclo carte blanche to talk about his life.

Michel Legrand - composer, orchestrator, conductor and pianist -  talks candidly with Vincent about his work, his collaborations and why he never listens to his music.

French singer Vincent Niclo presents Carte Blanche, a brand new series, celebrating talented artists, celebrated and creative, independent and determined, who are beloved in France and around the world.

In part 2, composer Michel Legrand, gives Vincent carte blanche to talk about his life and career. The French born composer, orchestrator, conductor and pianist has been writing, arranging and performing music for over half a century.

A child prodigy at the piano, he converted from classical to jazz under the nose of his disapproving teacher, the composer Nadia Boulanger. He started out as an orchestrator; his earliest triumph was I Love Paris, a set of jazz standards which sold seven million copies in two years. 

Then for 10 years he composed for the Nouvelle Vague directors. Among his enduring works are musicals made for the screen. Les Parapluies de Cherbourg was an unexpected success in 1964, followed by Les Demoiselles de Rochefore three years later. He returned to form in Yentl and won an Oscar for the score - the film’s only nomination.

Michel’s collaborated widely with the likes of Miles Davis and Kiri Te Kanawa, Barbra Streisand and Jean-Luc Godard, Jacques Demy and Gene Kelly, Joseph Losey and Edith Piaf.

He’s won awards, plaudits and honours, including four Oscars.

Some of Michel’s most famous compositions and collaborations created modern standards such as “The Windmills of Your Mind,”  “What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?” and “I Will Wait For You.”

He talks candidly with Vincent about his music and his collaborations and explains why he never listens to his music.

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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Composer Michel Legrand recalls his greatest collaborations

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