The Continent’s Only Radio Orchestra Back in Business?

A year ago we reported on the demise of the CBC Radio Orchestra.  Now it looks as though the orchestra may have new life.  Time will tell, but the orchestra members have reunited with the help of  Montreal venture capitalist Philippe Labelle, and while they may not have their airtime restored (airtime is expensive real estate!) , they are at least collaborating with the CBC for a broadcast or two.  Instead, the old orchestra with a new name ( “National Broadcast Orchestra”) is going to be on YouTube and on its own website.

They will have a gala fundraiser on January 8th and they have big plans to record and tour.  It’s a tough time to raise funds for an orchestra, but there is a national will for this particular group.  You can read more about it here.

NBO Music Director Alain Trudel says spirits are high.

“The first rehearsal was really unbelievable,” said Trudel, who conducted the CBC orchestra’s final concert last fall and was reunited with the players on Monday. “The orchestra hadn’t played together for a year, and it felt like it was only yesterday.”

We at Scanning the Dial wish the NBO well and are looking forward to getting them back on the air!

About Marty Ronish

Marty Ronish is an independent producer of classical music radio programs. She currently produces the Chicago Symphony Orchestra broadcasts that air 52 weeks a year on more than 400 stations and online at www.cso.org. She also produces a radio series called "America's Music Festivals," which presents live music from some of the country's most dynamic festivals. She is a former Fulbright scholar and co-author of a catalogue of Handel's autograph manuscripts.

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