And the Band Played On
Presented by Sir John Drummond
Produced by Martin Cotton

BBC Radio 3, 6 half-hour programmes
Broadcast 13/05/2000 – 10/06/2000

In a six-part series, Sir John Drummond took a searching look at the state of orchestral provision in Britain.

1 The Isle is full of noises
John Drummond began with an overview of the current situation, in conversation with composer, conductor and festival director Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, trumpeter John Wallace, and conductor Sir Simon Rattle.

2 The London problem
Are there too many orchestras in London? Are the halls good enough? Why should a world-class conductor want to work there? John Drummond explored these issues in conversation with Clive Gillinson, then Manager of the LSO; Karsten Witt, then Director of the South Bank Centre, and Kurt Masur, Music Director of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

3 Covering the Country
John Drummond looked at the valuable contribution and the problems faced by regional orchestras, in conversation with four people closely involved with their management and planning over the years: David Richardson, Edward Smith, John Summers and Hugh MacDonald.

4 Small Forces, Big Impact
The early music movement and the proliferation of chamber orchestras have had a profound effect on the musical scene. John Drummond discussed their impact with conductor Sir Roger Norrington, Director of the Proms Nicholas Kenyon and Stephen Carpenter, manager of the City of London Sinfonia.

6 Strategies or Solutions
In the final programme of the series, John Drummond talked to the then Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Chris Smith; Libby MacNamara of the Association of British Orchestras, and previous contributors to the series about the prospect for orchestras in the future.