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Top C's & Tiaras™BRIGHT THOUGHTS COMPANY PRODUCTIONS
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Top C's & Tiaras™
NOTES: 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 Wrotham Park for reasons of being able to do a weekly turnaround. All shows one hour transmission. 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. Host American soprano Julia Migenes.
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:
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 Wrotham Park for reasons of being able to do a weekly turnaround. All shows one hour transmission. 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. Host American soprano Julia Migenes.
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)
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Commissioning Editor: Cecil Korer
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The Top C's project |
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The Top C's story |
What they say |
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Channel 4 |
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Digital recordingNOTE: 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.
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