David Baddiel is calling on amateur musicians to dust off their instruments for a chance to play at the Last Night Of The Proms.
The comedian and keen piano player is joining BBC’s Get Playing Virtual Orchestra which will create a digital performance of The Toreador Song from Bizet’s opera Carmen to play at the world famous final night of the music festival.
Anyone over 16 who can get a tune out of anything from the bagpipes to the ukulele can upload a short video of themselves performing the song to the BBC Get Playing website which will then be edited down into a three-minute performance to be played on big screens at Proms In The Park around the UK and on BBC iPlayer on September 10.
David said: “There is something about playing music as an amateur which is brilliant and life-enriching. This is a unique opportunity to be part of something amazing on the biggest night in the classical music calendar, and I hope that everybody will feel able to have a go and join in the fun.”
The Virtual Orchestra will be led by celebrated conductor Marin Alsop and feature musicians from the Royal Academy of Music.
Marin said: “For me it’s incredibly important to support amateur musicians because music is a way to connect, communicate, transcend barriers, transcend differences and perhaps it’s a way to promote tolerance and peace in a world that desperately needs it.”
Free public practice events will be put on during the summer and the BBC is also providing six special online masterclasses with some of the world’s greatest musicians including pianist James Rhodes, percussionist Evelyn Glennie and saxophonist Courtney Pine.
Arrangements for The Toreador Song are available on the Get Playing website and videos need to be submitted by August 27.
Visit www.bbc.co.uk/getplaying.
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