Richard Bacon
In the week beginning Monday 10th February, my guest will be TV and radio presenter Richard Bacon. It was great to be invited onto Richard's afternoon show on Radio 5 Live earlier this week, to help drum up some more ideas for pieces for Richard.
He's just getting into classical music after being gently prodded in that direction by a former guest of his, the super-motivating Gareth Malone. So along with my producer Chris Barstow I ventured over to one of the science-fiction-worthy little studios in New Broadcasting House (just a temporary home for Richard, who's normally based in Salford) and sat right next to him rather cosily at the high-tech desk. Chris & I had chosen a bit of Stravinsky's Petrushka as a classical taster for Richard, and he seemed quite bowled over by its energy. We chatted about ballet music in general: I suspect that its physicality and emotional directness makes it a good way into classical music.
My other top tip was to encourage Richard to use his imagination to consider what sort of visual images music might suggest. It's just one way to get the ear to focus. Anyway, I'm delighted that Richard's listeners - as well as our own here on Essential Classics - have sent in lots of ideas of pieces that might pique his curiosity and welcome him into the world of classical music. I'm really looking forward to meeting up with him again next week. Hope you can tune in and hear our interviews, starting on Monday the 10th of February.
If you’d like to listen to my conversation with Richard, you can find it here
