South Bank Show

Tasmin Little is one of Britain’s best known concert violinists and has developed a reputation as an audacious player who is not afraid to venture into unexplored areas of the violin repertoire.

Tasmin Little is now ready to take the next step of her career. This South Bank Show witnesses the huge challenge she has set herself as she embarks on a unique new journey that will bring her closer to audiences than ever before.

Tasmin’s revolutionary project The Naked Violin was a huge success and boldly embraced the internet when she offered up a free downloadable recital. (Not even Radiohead went that far, asking people to pay what they felt appropriate when offering their recent album on the internet).

Prompted by the success of the internet project The South Bank Show follows her as she performs a series of concerts in unlikely locations at grass roots level, including a homeless hostel in Brighton, Belmarsh Prison and a Power Station in Scotland.

The genesis for the project came after busking outside Waterloo Station last year. She was surprised by the reaction she got which served to remind her that there is a vast untapped audience for classical music in need of coaxing in the right direction.

The South Bank Show also sees Tasmin Little making another departure from her more conventional role as a performer, with her conducting debut with the London Mozart Players.

Another string to her bow is as the Artistic Director of this year’s Spring Sounds Festival in Stratford-upon-Avon where she premieres a new work by the composer Roxanna Panufnik.

Presented and edited by Melvyn Bragg.
Produced and directed by Mathew Tucker.

Preview DVDs: carly.levene@itv.com

Last edited: Tuesday, 3 June 2008