Festival of Remembrance, 10 Nov 2007

[Richard]

Hello everybody!

All Angels, Katherine Jenkins and Alfie Boe will be appearing in this year's Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall. This will be shown on BBC1 TV on Saturday 10th November 2007, starting at 9:05pm. Highlights will also be broadcast on BBC Radio 2 from 8:00pm.

More information: www.bbc.co.uk/religion/remembrance/programmes/festivalofremem.shtml

Note the BBC have made a mistake with the date!

Edit: I've amended the transmission times.

Richard

[dazza]

Hi Richard,

Thanks for the information (again ) I think i will just post the same reply here as I did on the AAI forum.

This is excellent news. I knew that Katherine Jenkins was performing but I didn't know that the All Angels are as well. Even more reason to look forward to it now. Should be fantastic.

Always an emotional occasion too, remembering those that have have given their lives for this county in the great war. I think that it is great to see young people, such as the All Angels getting involved and helping to keep the memory alive, so that we always remember what those people did for this country.

Dazza

[Richard]

Hello again everybody!

The transmission times stated on the BBC's website are incorrect. According to this week's Radio Times, coverage begins on BBC Radio 2 at 8:00pm, and on BBC1 TV at 9:05pm. I've amended my previous post.

Richard

[Jeff]

richnorri said:

Hello again everybody!

The transmission times stated on the BBC's website are incorrect. According to this week's Radio Times, coverage begins on BBC Radio 2 at 8:00pm, and on BBC1 TV at 9:05pm. I've amended my previous post.

Richard

That means I can tune into Radio2 first, then BBC1 and hear some of it twice !

[Richard]

Hello Jeff!

There are two performances at the Royal Albert Hall, the first this afternoon and the second this evening. I believe the radio broadcast is highlights from the afternoon show, while the TV broadcast is from the evening show.

Richard

[dazza]

Hi Everybody,

The All Angels gave a fantastic performance of Sancte Deus (Nimrod) at the Festival of Remembrance.

Unfortunately the camera was following the proceedings, so we didn't get to see them much, the red dresses were very apt and they sounded beautiful.

Dazza

[Richard]

Hello folks!

Dave has posted a video of All Angels' performance here on the AAI Forum.

Many thanks Dave!

Richard

[Jeff]

I watched it on TV but it was rather spoiled by Huw Edwards talking over the music. These newsreaders DO like the sound of their own voice !

[gerrit]

I'm just wondering ifn't Huw Edwards was under instructions to provide running commentary.

Nevertheles, it rather spoiled the broadcast..

Gerrit

[roger]

Well, yes, the commentary did spoil the broadcast for those who were watching specifically to see and hear All Angels. But that was not the purpose of the transmission. It was, first and foremost a Festival of Remembrance and the commentary was therefore meaningful, respectful and dignified - and merited.

Roger

[Stephany]

Hi everyone,

This All Angels performance was superb. I also liked Katherine's solo performance on 'Jerusalem' and 'Requiem for a Soldier'.
We don't have a 'Remembrance day' in France (November 11 is only for the World War 1 soldiers) so I was particularly interested to follow this programme. I also went to the Manchester commemoration this morning and it was very moving.

I bought my poppy from a British soldier who guessed immediately that I was from France! Don't know what I said to be spotted so quickly

Stephany

[Dave]

I can sympathise to a certain extent with anyone who was disappointed in the short bit of commentary, half way through... but as Roger implies, there was a notable difference between All Angels' contriibution and that of the other performers.

All Angels were an integral part of the proceedings... the presenting of the Book of Remembrance. It was not a "performance" as such, which is presumably why they they received no on-screen credit, no close-up camera shots and the (excellent) commentary was allowed to continue. They were simply there as part of the ceremony itself so the focus was on... the ceremony.

I think they should feel very honoured indeed that they were chosen to participate for the second year in succession and this time, not just as performers but as a tightly integrated part of the key moments in the actual ceremony. I bet they feel as proud as punch - and so they should do!

Cheers, Dave

[graemek]

richnorri said:

Hello folks!

Dave has posted a video of All Angels' performance here on the AAI Forum.

Many thanks Dave!

Richard

Thanks from me too Dave....I'm actually glad I just had the video clip of the girls......Glorious is a word that could be used !!!!!!!!
Graeme

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

John McCrae (1872 - 1918)

The poppies are worn because in World War One the Western Front contained in the soil thousands of poppy seeds, all lying dormant. They would have lain there for years more, but the battles being fought there churned up the soil so much that the poppies bloomed like never before. The most famous bloom of poppies in the war was in Ypres, a town in Flanders, Belgium, which was crucial to the Allied defence. There were three battles there, but it was the second, which was calamitous to the allies since it heralded the first use of the new chlorine gas the Germans were experimenting with, which brought forth the poppies in greatest abundance, and inspired the Canadian soldier, Major John McCrae, to write his most famous poem. This, in turn, inspired the British Legion to adopt the poppy as their emblem.

[Richard]

Hello everybody.

From the Express & Star...

Heroine Michelle’s honour



Military heroine Lance Corporal Michelle Norris was chosen to carry The Book of Remembrance into a celebrity-filled memorial service at the Royal Albert Hall.

The courageous 20-year-old, of Stourbridge, became the first woman to be awarded the Military Cross earlier this year.

The Wolves-mad soldier made national news when she dodged sniper fire to save the life of her commanding officer while on her first tour of duty in Iraq last year. And she was given a central role at The Royal Festival of Remembrance on Saturday evening.

Lance Corporal Norris was back in York today with the Royal Armoured Medical Corps who are preparing to return to Iraq before Christmas. Her mother Susan, who was at the service, said today: “It was just absolutely unbelievable. Michelle said it was the greatest honour that could have been bestowed on her.”

Hundreds of ex-servicemen and women packed the hall for The Royal Festival of Remembrance.

The auditorium fell into silence as thousands of petals fell from the dome, representing those who had died in combat.

A host of celebrities also took part in the event, with Life on Mars and Dr Who actor John Simm and Bill Roache aka Coronation Street’s Ken Barlow giving readings. The ceremony was narrated by newsreader Huw Edwards and the Duke of York read the Lesson. Forces’ sweetheart Katherine Jenkins added a touch of glamour to proceedings. Male group Blake sang Hallelujah while All Angels performed Sanctus Deus.

There were moments of great poignancy, such as when 109-year-old war veteran Harry Patch appeared on the stage in his wheelchair. From Wells, Somerset, he was called up in 1917 and saw service at Passchendaele.

The Torch of Remembrance, an expression of hope, was carried by Corporal William Rigby, 4th Battalion, The Rifles, whose twin brother John was killed in Iraq.

The service was conducted by the Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch, Bishop of Manchester and National Chaplain to the Royal British Legion.

Richard

[Joe]

richnorri said:

Hello folks!

Dave has posted a video of All Angels' performance here on the AAI Forum.

Thanks Dave and Richard. It is a stirring and emotional performance by All Angels.

Huw Edwards also kept rabbiting on during the televised State Opening of Parliament last week.

Joe