Prince of Wales will host a Classic FM show to discuss his love of music including a ‘terribly romantic’ Richard Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll piece he had performed for Camilla’s 60th birthday
- Prince Charles, 71, set to appear on two Classic FM radio programmes next week
- The royal will speak with presenter Alan Titchmarsh about his love of live music
- The duo are set to discuss how performers have been impacted by pandemic
- Will also host a two-hour show and select some of his favourite classical pieces
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
The Prince of Wales will take to the airwaves next week and present a two-hour radio programme about his love of classical music.
Prince Charles, 71, will join presenter Alan Titchmarsh on Classic Fm for a two-hour interview at 8pm on Monday to talk about his love of live music and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on performers.
The next day he will go solo to host his own two-hour show, selecting some of his favourite classical pieces performed by his musical patronages.
Among the pieces he has chosen is Richard Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll, which Prince Charles previously revealed he had the Philharmonia Orchestra play as a ‘terribly romantic’ gift for Camilla on her 60th birthday.
Prince Charles, 71, is set to take to the airwaves next week on Classic FM from his Aberdeenshire home Birhall, where he will present a programme about his love of classical music (pictured, at Birkhall)
Prince Charles, who learnt the cello and trumpet at boarding school, has been vocal about the role music has played in his life, previously listing favourites ranging from classical composers to 1930s dance bands and singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen.
Next week the royal will highlight some of his favourite classical tunes, including Richard Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll, which the composer wrote for his second wife and arranged for musicians to wake her up with it on Christmas morning in 1870.
Prince Charles revealed in December 2018 that he had organised for the Philharmonia Orchestra to play the piece for Camilla on her 60th birthday.
At the time, the prince was even persuaded to conduct the music, saying: ‘There is something terribly romantic about it.’
The royal, who learnt to play the cello and trumpet at boarding school, has spoken about his love of classical music in the past
He will give his personal reflections on works such as both of Frederic Chopin’s piano concertos, the Four Last Songs of Richard Strauss, and Julius Benedict’s Piano Concerto in E-flat.
Other pieces he is selecting include choruses from the St Matthew Passion by Bach and Hubert Parry’s Bridal March Of The Birds from The Birds Of Aristophanes.
The royal will also feature recordings from two of the Duchess of Cornwall’s musical patronages – the National Youth Orchestra and the London Chamber Orchestra.
Classic FM presenter Titchmarsh said: ‘It is always a privilege to spend time in the company of His Royal Highness and none more so than when it involves our mutual enjoyment of classical music.’
The Prince of Wales will reveal his favourite classical tunes, and join Alan Titchmarsh for an interview about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on performers
He added: ‘It is typically thoughtful of him to choose to highlight the plight of his many musical patronages, alongside the difficulties that all musicians face, during an unprecedented period when enjoyment of live music has been curtailed.
‘I am looking forward to welcoming him to Classic FM.’
The prince is patron of the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the Monteverdi and Bach Choirs, the Royal Opera House and Welsh National Opera.
Among the songs Prince Charles will feature on the programme is Richard Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll, which he previously revealed he asked the Philharmonia Orchestra to play for Camilla for her 60th birthday (pictured together earlier this month on VE Day)
Phil Noyce, Classic FM’s managing editor, said: ‘His Royal Highness shares our vision of bringing classical music to as wide an audience as possible.
‘We are acutely aware of the challenges the music world is facing at the moment and we are honoured to collaborate with the Prince of Wales – a lifetime supporter and champion of the arts – for these two special programmes.’
With the country in lockdown and Charles staying at his Birkhall residence, and Titchmarsh also at home, the interview was recorded by video conference call.
Prince Charles learnt both the cello and trumpet at Gordonstoun and went on to play the cello in the orchestra at Trinity College, Cambridge.