Sam EmanuelA special concert is to be held in Norwich this year to mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, and tickets will be going on sale next week.Sam Emanuel
A special concert is to be held in Norwich this year to mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, and tickets will be going on sale next week.
The Bands of the Royal Air Force will be performing at the Norwich Theatre Royal on Sunday, November 7.
The concert, which is one of 13 in the bands' 2010 nationwide tour, features one of the three main bands of the Service, augmented by the big-band sound of the Squadronaires plus the Salon Orchestra, a quintet of musicians who provide a stringed element to the programme.
Concert tour manager Philippa Hayday-Brown said: 'Last year's tour proved the most successful to date, with the majority of venues selling out. We hope to build on that success in this very important anniversary year, whilst at the same time promoting the excellent work of our parent charity, the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust.'
The Trust was established in 2005 to help foster a spirit of 'airmindedness' in young people. The charity also supports the wider RAF family of charities plus RAF station-based initiatives that benefit Service personnel and their families.
Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs, the RAF's Principal Director of Music, will be conducting a programme at the Norwich concert which reflects the Battle of Britain theme with a selection of wartime classics.
Alongside stirring marches such as Fighter Command, written by Kenneth Alwyn and reflecting his own flying experience during the war, there will be compilations including Target London, a medley of music, sound effects and popular songs arranged by Chief Technician Ian Laidler; Glenn Miller classics from the Squadronaires; plus some of the best-loved vocal numbers including I'll Be Seeing You, (There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover, and We'll Meet Again.
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the air campaign waged by the German Air Force against Britain during the summer of 1940.
The aim of the campaign was to gain superiority over the RAF, but the failure of Germany to achieve its objectives of destroying Britain's air defences was the enemy's first major defeat of the war.
The performance at the Theatre Royal starts at 7.30pm and tickets cost �14.50, �17.50 and �20.50. They are available from the Box Office on 01603 630 000, or from the website at www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk
More information and full concert tour venue details are available on www.airtattoo.com/Concerts_and_Events
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