Maestro
Maestro title card
Created byCelina Parker
Presented byClive Anderson
JudgesSir Roger Norrington
Zoë Martlew
Simone Young
Dominic Seldis
Maxim Vengerov.
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes6
Production
Running time60 minutes
(1st and 5th episodes 90 minutes)
Production companyBBC
Original release
NetworkBBC Two
Release12 August (2008-08-12) –
13 September 2008 (2008-09-13)

Maestro is a 2008 reality TV talent show-themed television series produced by the BBC's Classical Music Department in the United Kingdom. It was shown on BBC Two between 12 August and 13 September 2008.[1]

The show features eight celebrities (described by the BBC as "famous amateurs with a passion for classical music") competing for the chance to conduct the BBC Concert Orchestra at the 2008 Proms in the Park at Hyde Park in London on 13 September 2008 as part of the BBC Proms series Last Night of the Proms. The show was presented by Clive Anderson.

Format

The aim for each of the students is to prove that they have what it takes to conduct a piece in the London section of Proms in the Park.

The first stage of preparation was a week-long "Baton Camp" for the students in the last week of May. A mentor has been assigned to each student (see below). The mentors are all established professional conductors, and each will work with their respective protégés, helping them to master the disciplines of orchestral, choral and operatic music with Soprano, Rebecca Evans and Tenor, Alfie Boe. Rehearsals continue throughout the summer, with the students learning how to inspire and engage with the orchestra and the music.

In August the students conduct in the weekly show, which is broadcast on BBC Two in front of a studio audience and an international judging panel made up of acknowledged experts in the field. The contestants conduct the BBC Concert Orchestra (and also learn how to conduct a large choir – in this case, the BBC Symphony Chorus). Each week, one student is eliminated: the marks of the judging panel determine the two weakest contestants, and members of the BBC Concert Orchestra then vote to decide who stays and who must go.

Judging panel

The panel is led by conductor Sir Roger Norrington[2] (who conducted the Last Night of the Proms 2008 at the Royal Albert Hall), and comprises composer and cellist Zoë Martlew,[3] conductor Simone Young[4] and double bassist Dominic Seldis.[5] In the final programme (9 September), a guest judge, the Russian violinist and conductor Maxim Vengerov stood in for Simone Young, who had a prior engagement.

International versions

  Franchise with a currently airing season
  Franchise with an upcoming season
  Franchise with an unknown status
  Franchise that had ceased to air
Country/Region Local title Network Winners Judges Hosts
 Netherlands Maestro AVRO (1)
AVROTROS (2–)
 Norway Maestro NRK1
 Sweden Maestro SVT

Contestants and eliminations

The following table (containing the contestants along with their mentors) shows the scores obtained each episode by each contestant, along with those who were eliminated (red), and those who were eligible for elimination, but survived (yellow):

Contestant Episode
1
(no scoring)		 2
(out of 40)		 3
(out of 40)		 4
(out of 40)		 5 – first round
(out of 80)		 5 – second round
(public vote)
Sue Perkins (TV & radio presenter, actress and writer)
Mentor: Jason Lai[6]		 - 35 33 32 67 Winner
Goldie (Electronic music artist, DJ and actor)
Mentor: Ivor Setterfield[7]		 - 28 35 27 73 Runner-up
Jane Asher (Actress)
Mentor: Christopher Warren-Green[8]		 - 24 25 29 64
Katie Derham (TV & radio presenter)
Mentor: Matthew Rowe[9]		 - 26 30 29
Alex James (Blur bassist)
Mentor: Brad Cohen[10]		 - 25 24 23
Bradley Walsh (Comedian and actor)
Mentor: Sarah Tenant-Flowers[11]		 - 17 23
David Soul (Actor)
Mentor: Natalia Luis-Bassa[12]		 - 22
Peter Snow (TV & radio presenter)
Mentor: Peter Stark[13]		 -

References

  1. ↑ "Eight passionate amateurs bid to become BBC Two's Maestro" (Press release). BBC. 23 May 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2008.
  2. ↑ "Roger Norrington (Conductor) - Short Biography".
  3. ↑ "Zoë Martlew". zoemartlew.com. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
  4. ↑ "Simone Young Profile". Nine-MSN. 5 April 1998. Archived from the original on 10 September 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
  5. ↑ "Dominic Seldis". dominicseldis.com. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
  6. ↑ "Jason Lai". jasonlai.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 October 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2008.)
  7. ↑ "Ivor Setterfield". newlondonsingers.org.uk. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2008.)
  8. ↑ Music Director of the London Chamber Orchestra and Orchestra of the Megaron, Athens ("Christopher Warren-Green". harrisonparrott.com. Retrieved 13 August 2008.)
  9. ↑ "Matthew Rowe". Clarion Seven Muses. Archived from the original on 3 May 2006. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
  10. ↑ "Brad Cohen". bradcohen.net. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
  11. ↑ "Sarah Tenant-Flowers". singscape.org.uk. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
  12. ↑ Principal Conductor of the Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra, Haffner Orchestra and Hallam Sinfonia ("Natalia Luis-Bassa". luis-bassa.com. Archived from the original on 5 June 2004. Retrieved 13 August 2008.)
  13. ↑ "Peter Stark". peterstark.co.uk. Archived from the original on 31 July 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
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