BRIGHT THOUGHTS
  • Intro
  • About
  • Top Cs & Tiaras
  • Portfolio
  • Archive
  • News
Picture

Top C's & Tiaras™

BRIGHT THOUGHTS COMPANY PRODUCTIONS

Nonstop music . . .

​The original Bright Thoughts treatment offered Channel 4 innovations which simply could not be logistically achieved at that time by staff directors and producers at an ITV or BBC studio.  Therefore this format could only be produced by an independent production company.

Top C's & Tiaras™

PETER MORRISON
MARILYN HILL SMITH
BENJAMIN LUXON
'ROUTINING SESSION' with BURT RHODES
CONDUCTOR - HARRY RABINOWITZ
QUARTET ENSEMBLE
Top C's & Tiaras™ looks at operetta and musical comedy from around 1850 (Paris) through to about the 1950 (New York).  The one hour pilot for Channel 4 [currently missing in the British Film Archive] was recorded at the Warwick Arts Trust, Pimlico, Olympic sound-studios, London, and on location in Central London.

Top C's & Tiaras 2 was a special for a peak-time slot on a Bank Holiday, designed as fast-moving, popular non-stop music.  Recorded at Odyssey sound-studios, Kew Gardens, and other London locations [also currently missing in the British Film Archive].

The Top C's & Tiaras Series were all recorded (by Barcud) at a lavish Downton Abbey-like stately home Wrotham Park for reasons of being able to do a weekly turnaround.  All shows one hour transmission starring American soprano Julia Migenes*.  Burt Rhodes (music associate) and orchestra conducted by Harry Rabinowitz.  The ensemble singers included Marilyn Hill Smith (soprano), Peter Morrison (baritone) and guest stars including Benjamin Luxon.  Our tenors included Hugh Hetherington, Ramon Remedios, Neil Jenkins, David Fieldsend, and our mezzo sopranos included Jean Bailey, Della Jones, Eirian James, and Linda Ormiston.

Each episode features different themes within operetta with new musical arrangements for each.  The musical line-up being played by full orchestra, piano-only, and also an octet:  
  • Ep 1 - ‘This Will Be My Shinning Hour’ (TX 29/04/84)
  • Ep 2 - 'The Best of All Possible Worlds' (TX 06/05/84)
  • Ep 3 - 'One Night of Love' (TX 13/05/84)
  • Ep 4 - 'Dance Little Lady' (TX 20/05/84)
  • Ep 5 - 'Play To Me Gypsy' (TX 27/05/84)
  • Ep 6 - 'When Vienna Sings' (TX 03/06/84)​
Picture
Commissioning Editor: Cecil Korer

*Note: Julia Migenes went on to star in ​Carmen (1984 film) in the lead role opposite Placido Domingo, directed by Francesco Rosi.  The film won many awards and after which Julia decided to focus her career not in the UK.

The Top C's Concept

Produced and transmitted between 1982 and 1985, the concept was designed for a prime-slot, to be popular in the TV ratings.
The winning formula

Musical Extracts

​Just a handful of short clips from the extensive repertoire performed by some of the original cast for a new and  exclusive TV audience.
Clips from the shows

The Top C's Story

This genre of music was and still is under represented on TV and other media, popular entertainment with familiar titles and memorable tunes.
How Top Cs became a hit

Reviews & Notices

What they say .... a regular mail bag which included viewers requests for song titles.  Brief extracts from letters and other articles.
Viewer Feedback

Songbook & CDs

The songbook is still available to purchase, the CD set by Marilyn Hill-Smith and Peter Morrison was produced independently.
Discover more

Channel 4 Responses

"Top Cs won the channel’s most enthusiastic response by phone and letter for its stylish rediscovery of the middle ground of operetta."
Read extracts
Picture

Digital recording

NOTE:  All programmes were simultaneously recorded on 64-track for re-editing for CD release, video, merchandising and commercial exploitation.
Any YouTube clips are by viewers from their VHS tapes.
< catalogue
Add Support to Remaster
More on Wikipedia
Creative Commons
Quick Links:  INTRO | NEWS | ABOUT | TOP Cs & TIARAS | DISTRIBUTION | CATALOGUE | RESEARCH/HISTORY | ENQUIRIES

Website Policies: Privacy Notice
A N Originals  | v5.1 Copyright 2020-2025 © All rights reserved
Exterior photos of Neil Anthony 2024 by Frank Da Silva © FDAS.co 
Interior photos of Neil Anthony 2024 by Style Photography © 
 Stock images courtesy of Prexels and Pixabay
Picture
Picture
  • Intro
  • About
  • Top Cs & Tiaras
  • Portfolio
  • Archive
  • News