Global Radio’s Classic FM, the UK’s favourite classical music station, is celebrating twenty years of bringing the world’s greatest music to millions of listeners. Throughout September, Classic FM is marking this landmark occasion with special birthday programming and a series of live concerts around the country with its partner orchestras.
The celebrations started just after 6.00am today (Friday 7th September 2012), twenty years to the minute that the UK’s first national commercial radio station launched on air. Nick Bailey, Classic FM’s debut presenter, announced the station’s historic birthday and then introduced the first two pieces of music played twenty years ago – Handel’s Zadok the Priest and Weber’s Introduction to the Dance – before handing over to Tim Lihoreau, host of More Music Breakfast.
John Suchet (9am-1pm) continues the celebrations, while Jamie Crick (1pm-5pm) will host a special Classic FM Requests show, featuring listeners’ birthday wishes and dedications, as well as speaking to those who share Classic FM’s exact birthday!
In The Full Works Concert (8pm-10pm), Anne-Marie Minhall will play a selection of the new music and composers that Classic FM has introduced to its listeners over the last twenty years, including Cristobal de Morales’ Parce Mihi Domine from the million-selling album Officium and Ungar’s The Ashokan Farewell, which was originally played on the station in the 1990s and ended up being one of the highest-placed contemporary pieces in Classic FM’s annual Hall of Fame.
On Sunday 9th September at 9pm, Classic FM welcomes back a brand new fifteen-part series of The Classic FM Interview with Nick Ferrari. Nick’s first guest, fresh from her performance at the London 2012 Closing Ceremony, is the UK’s best-loved ballerina, Darcey Bussell. Further guests include a rare interview with the best-selling author of the Fifty Shades trilogy, E L James.
The birthday party continues with a series of stunning live concerts across the UK with Classic FM’s partner orchestras, to be recorded for broadcast. 
The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Classic FM’s Orchestra in the North West of England, will perform a birthday concert on Friday 7th September, the station’s official birthday, at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, hosted by Tim Lihoreau. On Sunday 16th September, Northern Sinfonia, Classic FM’s Orchestra in the North East of England, present an evening at The Sage Gateshead, titled Calling All Workers and featuring some of the best British Light Music. The following day, Classic FM will broadcast its entire daytime output from The Sage Gateshead, as it celebrates bringing the world’s greatest music to all corners of the UK.
Classic FM’s birthday celebrations in September culminate in a spectacular Classic FM Live concert on Monday 24th September at the Royal Albert Hall, hosted by John Suchet and Margherita Taylor. Classic FM’s Orchestra in Scotland, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, makes the journey south of the border to make their Classic FM Live debut. With a host of classical stars, including the thrilling violinist Tasmin Little, the dynamic young pianist HJ Lim and tenor favourite Wynne Evans, as well as performances from the Crouch End Festival Chorus, it promises to be one of the most exciting classical music nights of the year.
Classic FM’s Managing Director Darren Henley said: “With the flick of a switch back in September 1992, Classic FM transformed the way the UK listened to classical music. Twenty years on, we’re the most successful classical music station in the world – and our belief that classical music can be part of everyone’s lives remains undiminished.”