So that’s what we’ve done. Classic FM with it’s six and a half million listeners, and now their sister station ‘The Jazz’ will broadcast much of the music played on the Saturday and Sunday nights of Woburn Live. Artists like Van Morrison, Hayley Westenra, Julian Lloyd Webber, Curtis Stigers, Marti Pello and Vittorio Grigillo will be performing, thanks to a partnership, particularly with Universal Musical.

And with Yamaha as headline sponsors you can guarantee the pianos will always sound world class and that there’ll be plenty of opportunities for people coming to the events to try their hand at playing an instrument.

But one of the most important elements in this new partnership is the team at Woburn Abbey lead, of course, by His Grace the Duke of Bedford and her Ladyship the Duchess (Check), and we thank them for making us so welcome today. 

Woburn Live will take place in the magnificent courtyard just outside this room beginning on Friday 27th July with a show from the legendary Van Morrison, with support by the wonderful voice of James Hunter. What can we say about ‘Van the man’ that hasn’t already been said. The bottom line is that he has a repertoire of some of the biggest hits in pop spanning 40 years in the business.

Saturday 28th July will see ‘Classic FM Live’ presenting a fantastic programme with the 75 piece English National Orchestra backing the wonderful voices of Hayley Westenra and Vittorio Grigolo.  They’ll be performing the parts of Tony and Maria from the classic West Side Story which is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year.  And our partners at Universal Music will be releasing a collection of work from West Side Story, featuring Hayley and Vitorio on the Monday 30th July, immediately following the event.

On the same evening the orchestra will be playing a selection of the greatest film themes as well as accompanying Julian Llyod Webber playing a section of the Elgar Cello Concerto, this time to celebrate the 150th anniversary of his birth. Classic FM Live will then be rounded off with a hugely celebratory proms close.  

Highlights from the night will be broadcast on Classic FM as a Katie Derham Hall Of Fame concert on Sunday 29th July, and both Katie and Classic FM breakfast show host ,Simon Bates will be with us at ‘Woburn Live’ to present the evening.

And so on to our first performance today…..

Our guest has performed to the world’s most high profile audiences, including The Queen, Prince Charles, Tony Blair and President Bush. Not only is she a triple platinum artist, she’s also the youngest ever Ambassador of UNICEF. Here today to perform West Side Story’s ‘I have a love’ and her mood inspiring Pokarekare Ana….Please Welcome Hayley Westenra.

Many thanks to Hayley Westenra and our pianist James Pearson. And you’ll  obviously be able to hear more from Hayley on Saturday 29th July.

Now to Ronnie Scotts In The Park which happens on Sunday 29th July, the closing evening of Woburn Live.

This is actually a historic event with Ronnie Scotts leaving its London home for the first time ever. This time the orchestra will be the world famous Ronnie Scott’s big band and a rolling sequence of guests will include names such as Curtis Stigers, Marti Pellow, Peter Grant, and Jacqui Dankworth. There’ll be a mix of Jazz and Swing classics from Bassie and Ellington through the Rat Pack to more recent times and I promise you it’ll be about as cool as it gets.

Again highlights from the evening will also be broadcast on the new national radio station ‘The Jazz’.

All of which leads us to our second performer today. This outstanding artist hit the headlines last month when she was plucked from obscurity to perform for George Clooney and Brad Pitt at the Cannes Film Festival. She’s here now to give us a taste of her new album ‘Whatever Happened to the Romance?’ as well as an appetite for her full performance onstage at Woburn Live on Sunday 29th June. Ladies and gentlemen, Fresh from her appearance at Glastonbury, please welcome - Victoria Hart.

Thanks to Victoria Hart and thanks again to our pianist James Pearson who is actually the Ronnie Scotts principal pianist who’ll be on stage with the big band on Sunday 29th.

Now both Victoria and James are also joining us this evening on the second stage of our media marathon, Upstairs at Ronnie Scott’s alongside Peter Grant. So if any of you are on Frith street in Soho between 6 and 8pm tonight do let us know and we’ll make sure your names on the door so you can drop in for a drink.

But for now - On behalf of Classic FM – the jazz the Team at Woburn Abbey and all of the partners involved in Bringing Woburn Live to life, thank you very much for coming and we look forward to welcoming you to a festival which we believe will grow into a regular highlight in the broadcast and concert going calendar.