The Snowman by Howard Blake

Eavesdropping on rehearsals for a special screening of the beloved Christmas animation, as musicians prepare to perform the soundtrack live with its hit song, Walking in the Air.

Every winter, the Carrot Productions orchestra comes together to create a big-screen version of one of Britain’s most iconic Christmas-television treats: The Snowman. Ambitions are high and the pressure is on as the rehearsal date arrives. In just a few hours, they will be taking their show on the road and bringing it to eager audiences across the country. The players have just one morning to transform themselves into a cohesive ensemble and bring the complex musical score to life. If that wasn’t enough, there’s the added challenge of synchronising their performance to the live animated pictures!
We are invited inside their rehearsal space to witness the magical process of turning musical notes on a page into a story that breathes and soars. Leading the way is conductor, George Morton, who shows us how he homes in on key moments to fix problems and finesse the drama. The players give us a musicians-eye view of their experiences on stage and we hear from the young soloist who is stepping up to sing the famous Christmas hit at the centre of the story, “Walking in the Air”.

Producer: Chris Taylor for BBC Audio Wales