The John Wilson Orchestra

The John Wilson Orchestra was formed by British orchestral conductor John Wilson in 1994. A lush symphonic orchestra built around a jazz big band, it is renowned for resurrecting the original arrangements, which John Wilson himself has re-created, of MGM musicals and the works of Rodgers and Hammerstein . These were featured in Prom concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in 2009, 2010, and 2011, recorded and broadcast by BBC Television. The John Wilson Orchestra has handpicked virtuoso performers, uses skilled session singers and top choirs, and attracts international star soloists of opera , musical theatre and jazz at its large-scale concerts. John Wilson is also a devotee of big band jazz and dance music, and British light classical music, such as the works of Eric Coates . Focus and configuration of the John Wilson Orchestra The John Wilson Orchestra has been acclaimed for showing how "authentic period performance" extends to screen musicals. In an interview with Rebecca Franks for the BBC Music Magazine prior to the 2010 Proms season John Wilson explained how the specific make-up of the orchestra reflects this purpose. He also highlighted the need for the best quality musicians: The orchestras been together a good 15 years and its make-up is very specific. Its modelled on the old contract movie orchestras in America. And thats basically the combination of a dance-band brass, rhythm and saxophone section, so four trumpets, four trombones, five saxes who all double, and a rhythm section, who are all very specific specialists in this style. And then on top of that you have a woodwind and French horn section. But I think the key thing is getting the right string players. It has to be a very high octane, high gloss, soloist sort of player. The string sound isnt blended down, its blended up. You play up to the best. Its a very in-your-face, expensive sort of string sound and it takes a lot of playing. You have to have the best players, but were spoilt in this country for terrific orchestral performers. [ edit ]BBC Prom Concerts The BBC Proms Concerts are a celebrated annual summer series in Londons Royal Albert Hall . Annually the BBC televises a few, bringing the music to a far larger audience. These have established the unique role of the John Wilson Orchestra in reviving original arrangements of classic film and theatre musicals. John Wilson is the man whose keen ears have reconstructed orchestrations thought lost to us for good and whose amazing orchestra has been custom made to deliver the kind of playing that takes you way beyond make-believe. "Technicolour for the ears?" Youd better believe it.