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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Celebrating 60

Ken Bruce salutes the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra on their 60th anniversary and recalls the life and music of the man they called "Mr Friday Night" - Sidney Torch.

Ken Bruce salutes the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra on their 60th anniversary and recalls the life and music of the man they called "Mr Friday Night" - Sidney Torch.

Tonight's featured archive concert features a Friday Night is Music from 25th July 1969 recorded at the Assembly Hall, Worthing. Sidney Torch conducts the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra with guests Valerie Masterson (soprano), John Mitchinson (tenor), Leslie Fyson (bass); William Davies (piano) and vocal group "The Friday Nights". Jimmy Kingsbury presents.

Sidney Torch was born Sidney Torchinsky on 5th June 1908 in the hustle and bustle of London's Tottenham Court Road. His first professional appearance was as an accompanist to the violinist Albert Sadler. His early career involved playing for silent films and he soon graduated to the organ, becoming one of Britain's leading theatre organists during the 1930s. He was organist at the Regal Marble Arch 1932-34. From there he moved to the Regal, Edmonton, and then the Regal Kingston before opening the magnificent Wurlitzer at the Gaumont State in Kilburn which was then the largest cinema organ in England.

During the war he served in the RAF. Based in Blackpool he trained as an air gunner and attained the rank of Squadron leader but as conductor of the RAF Concert Orchestra he became fascinated by the art of the orchestral arranger. He started composing as well sometimes in his own name and often using the anagram "Denis Rycoth". After the war he worked extensively in radio on programmes such as Much Binding in the Marsh.

In 1953 he devised the successful formula for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio's Friday Night is Music Night, in which he conducted the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra regularly until his retirement in 1972. Friday Night is Music Night was "to help people relax after the week's hard work and put them in the right mood for a happy weekend". Sidney's tenure on the show produced a wealth of fine orchestra arrangements and compositions - some of which are still regularly performed by the orchestra today.

Sidney was a stickler for discipline - many a singer quavered under the so called "glare of the torch" they received when they displeased him. He was a perfectionist and could be difficult. He admitted that he was often cruel to his producers but felt that they probably benefited from the experience. But after a disagreement with the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ management - Sidney left the show in 1972 and went into retirement.

Today, the 60 musicians who make up the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra broadcast weekly in Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2's Friday Night Is Music Night. They are equally at home playing Bach and Beethoven as accompanying Dame Shirley Bassey. In this 11-part series, Ken Bruce trawls the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra archives for some classic performances from their first 60 years.

1 hour, 57 minutes

Last on

Fri 3 Feb 2012 20:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2

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Clip

Music Played

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb: Barry Wordsworth

    High Adventure

    (Charles Williams)

    • Friday Night Is Music Night.
    • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ.

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb: Sidney Torch

    Dance of the Comedians (The Bartered Bride)

    (Bedrich Smetana)

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb: Sidney Torch

    Waltzing with the Ladies

    (Various)

  • Valerie Masterson & John Mitchinson

    Song of Songs

    (Moya) (Ft. Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb: Sidney Torch)

  • Valerie Masterson & John Mitchinson

    Duet: You Are Love (Showboat)

    (Kern) (Ft. Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb: Sidney Torch)

  • John Mitchinson

    The Flower Song (Carmen)

    (Bizet) (Ft. Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb: Sidney Torch)

  • William Davies

    Gershwin Selection

    (Gershwin) (Ft. Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb: Sidney Torch)

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb: Sidney Torch

    Elizabeth of Glamis (Three Elizabeth Suite)

    (Coates)

  • The Friday Nights, Valerie Masterson, John Mitchinson & Leslie Fyson

    Gems of Gilbert and Sullivan

    (Gilbert and Sullivan) (Ft. Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb: Sidney Torch)

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb: Sidney Torch

    Overture: William Tell

    (Rossini)

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb: Barry Wordsworth

    High Adventure

    (Charles Williams)

    • Friday Night Is Music Night.
    • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ.

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb: Robin Stapleton

    Friday Night Is Music Night Opening Sig Tune

    (Charles Williams)

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb: Robin Stapleton

    Blaze Away

    (Holzmann/Torch)

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb: Robin Stapleton

    On A Spring Note

    (Torch)

  • Sidney Torch

    Hotter Than Ever Medley

    (Ellington)

    • The Cream of Sidney Torch.
    • Pea Flapper.

  • Mary Hegarty and Jonathan Gunthorpe

    Song of Songs

    (Moya) (Ft. Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb: Robin Stapleton)

  • Mary Hegarty and Jonathan Gunthorpe

    Love Is A Many Splendoured Thing

    (Fain) (Ft. Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb: Robin Stapleton)

  • Mary Hegarty, Bonaventura Bottone and The London Voices

    Romance of Ivor Novello

    (Novello) (Ft. Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb: Robin Stapleton)

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb: Robin Stapleton

    Hungarian Rhapsody No 2

    (Liszt)

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra Cb: Barry Wordsworth

    High Adventure – Sig Tune

    (Williams)

    • Friday Night Is Music Night.
    • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ.

Broadcast

  • Fri 3 Feb 2012 20:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2