In 1974 John Betjeman, then Poet Laureate, became an unlikely pop star, recording his verse to music by Jim Parker for the album Banana Blush. It became a cult classic, regularly played on radio by John Peel, and is treasured by many musicians including Jarvis Cocker and Suggs (Madness).
In this special performance in the wonderful setting of Malmesbury Abbey, Zeb Soanes (Classic FM) will perform Betjeman’s much loved verse, accompanied by the dazzling virtuosity of the Chris Warner Ensemble, transporting the audience from 20’s cocktail party to village bandstand in a hour of toe-tapping delight.
Zeb Soanes (Classic FM) performing Betjeman’s poems in Banana Blush
Jim Parker’s music will be instantly familiar from countless memorable TV series: House of Cards, Foyles War, The House of Elliot, Mapp and Lucia and Midsomer Murders. He has won the BAFTA for Best Original Television Music four times. After the early success of Banana Blush, Parker composed the music for a series of other recordings in which he set Betjeman’s poems to music; Late Flowering Love (1974), Sir John Betjeman's Britain (1977) and Varsity Rag (1981). Parker sadly died on 28 July 2023, aged 88, following a long illness, but we thank him for his kind permission for us to use his music for this concert.
Sir John Betjeman and Jim Parker in the studio
Zeb Soanes presents Smooth Classics at Seven on Classic FM, the UK’s most popular classical music station. For over 20 years he was an authoritative newsreader and reassuring voice of the Shipping Forecast on BBC Radio 4. He presents concerts with the UK’s leading orchestras and is the author of the bestselling Gaspard the Fox series of books.
Chris Warner is a composer, sound designer, arranger and orchestrator with a passion for telling stories through music and sound. He is equally at home working in the theatre as he is in the recording studio, from small scale rural touring theatre projects and educational media work to major TV series and large scale theatrical productions.
