Another afternoon play:

Afternoon Play – The Orchestra
Friday 23 July
2.15-3.00pm BBC RADIO 4


David Adams is half-way through a five-year contract as principal conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestra when things start to go wrong. A row with the brass section leads to a dressing down by the board. Suddenly David is experiencing a deep crisis of confidence. David wonders how this has happened and whether he will be able to recover his self-belief sufficiently to return to the podium and win the orchestra back.

Improvised drama The Orchestra is based on real-life interviews with orchestral players, conductors and managers about the working life of an orchestra to be as accurate and true to the orchestral experience as possible. The cast stars Colin Metters, head of conducting at the Royal Academy of Music, which helps provide real insight into this very particular world.

Philip Franks plays David Adams, principal conductor; with Christine Kavanagh as Kate Adams, conductor's wife; Julian Rhind-Tutt as Patrick Hardy, leader of the orchestra; Hayley Doherty as Marie Cherrington, principal horn; George Irving as Sean Jackson, second trumpet; Colin Metters as Harry Bennet, conductor's advisor; Rumon Gamba as Marc Altschuler, guest conductor; and Joshua Oates as Leon Adams, conductor's son.

Actuality of rehearsal is provided by the BBC Philharmonic, with conductor Rumon Gamba. The Orchestra is devised, directed and produced by Rosie Boulton.

Producer/Rosie Boulton for the BBC

BBC Radio 4 Publicity

Yay!

Thanks for spotting this Kath!

"Improvised drama" eh? Thought he tried to do as little improv as possible?!

I have put this up on esnips for anyone who missed it on iplayer...

http://www.esnips.com/doc/bc6c9dd3-0867-4e42-b527-615b3a5c926e/The-Orchestra-24-07-2010_09;08;41