​JulianBreamGuitar.com

Courtesy of the British Broadcasting Corporation

Courtesy of the British Broadcasting Corporation

February 10, 1997
Monday 19:00 on BBC London


THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Julian Bream


Unsuspecting Guest: Julian Bream (guest not revealed until the day of the show)
Code name: String

Contributors
Presenter: Michael Aspel
Director: Paul Kirrage
Producer: John Graham

Season 37,

Episode 20
Edition No: 967
Subject No: 942

Recorded: Thursday, January 16, 1997
Broadcast date: Monday, February 10, 1997
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Venue: BBC Television Studio

Webmaster's note:
the core principle of This Is Your Life was the surprise, so the guest was never officially announced beforehand; in fact, if the guest found out, the show would often be canceled or they'd walk away. The entire dramatic tension came from catching the person completely off guard with the "big red book" and their surprised life story. This episode was prerecorded. Live broadcasts for this show ended after 1980. 


Family and Friends present:
Stanislav Heller - harpsichordist
Noel George - nephew
June Axon - partner
John Williams - classical guitarist and close colleague/duo partner
Tony Bream - brother
Paul Bream - brother
Janice George-Allen (Bream) - sister
Jack Hughes - from his early working days/farm period
Jill Balcon - actress/friend
Johnny Underwood - roommate
John Bower
Humphrey Burton
Kate Bray - nurse/physical therapist
Colin Cowdrey

Filmed tributes:
Richard Baker - producer Third Programme
Stéphane Grappelli - jazz violinist
Malcolm Arnold - composer
Yehudi Menuhin - violinist and conductor
Tim Rice - lyricist

Julian Bream CBE (1933-2020)

"THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Julian Bream, classical guitarist, was surprised by Michael Aspel at the end of a special concert celebrating his 50 years as a performer at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London."

Michael Aspel: "This is Your Life"
Julian asked: "Do you think I could ask you for a lift? It's so hard getting a taxi round here!"

Michael Aspel briskly read through his Big Red Book, verbally documenting through Julian's life only pausing briefly to introduce guest or if Julian stopped him to correct a historical inaccuracy.



The Times, January 20,1997 (concert review article excerpt)
"THE appearance of Michael Aspel and his Big Red Book is the sort of cheap thrill a critic scarcely dare hope for in the course of duty. But there they were, just as Julian Bream was about to break into a Villa-Lobos encore at the end of a concert to celebrate 50 years of professional life.

The guitar and the lute have been Bream's life, from his debut in Cheltenham in 1947 at the age of 13. on to tours of five continents, OBEs and CBEs: and from the most elusive Elizabethan lute-song to a Hollywood soundtrack.


A tiny cross-section of that life was glimpsed in Thursday's concert...

Bream now seemed indefatigable. If Aspel's limo had not been waiting, the party might well have gone on all night."

Hilary Finch

For more information and pictures: 


Footnote:

  • BBC Archive, BBC One, This Is Your Life, Julian Bream, February 10, 1997, 

Courtesy of the British Broadcasting Corporation

THIS IS YOUR LIFE  - Julian Bream

Courtesy of the British Broadcasting Corporation