The Essay: A Different Way to Listen

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The Essay: A Different Way to Listen: Paul Whittaker OBE

Paul Whittaker OBE

A Different Way to Listen

BBC Radio 3 - The Essay, A Different Way to Listen, Paul Whittaker OBE

Paul Whittaker is a deaf sign language performer for classical and musical performances

Paul Whittaker OBE is one of the UK’s first sign language performers for the classical music scene. He takes us through how he got there and why it matters.

A five-part series of essays that explore the dichotomy between being a deaf professional and working with music. Each essayist tells their own story from across the deaf spectrum, including a sign language performer with a passion for musicals, a violinist who switched to classical piano after a cochlear implant, and a flautist who uses visual art to describe music to deaf children. From horn players to punchy performance artists, all of the essayists consider music from a deaf perspective with illuminating results. 


Professional music sign language performer Paul Whittaker OBE explains how he has carved out a unique space in the classical musical world by being a pioneer in the field of sign language performance.  Despite initial scepticism, he pursued a career in music starting with a degree from Oxford, before founding  'Music and the Deaf' to promote musical accessibility. With meticulous preparation and passion, Paul talks us through how he translates complex musical pieces into expressive sign language, capturing the essence of each composition. He details how he makes his sign language performance ‘sing’ in genres stretching from iconic musicals to Handel’s Messiah and how he hopes his interpretations enhance the audience's understanding and enjoyment, bridging the gap between deaf and hearing communities.

A Different Way to Listen is produced by Sophie Allen and Emma Glassar with Mark Rickards as Executive Producer. It is a Flashing Lights Media production for BBC Radio 3. A British Sign Language version was filmed, edited and subtitled by Fifi Garfield.

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Five essayists explore the dichotomy of being a deaf professional working with music.

From horn players to punchy performance artists, five essayists explore the dichotomy of being a deaf professional working with music - with illuminating results.

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