Bauer Media’s brand-new classical music and entertainment radio station, Scala Radio, will hit the airwaves at 10am this Monday 4 March.
The first voice that listeners will hear will be a familiar one as award-winning broadcaster Simon Mayo kicks off the first of his new mid-morning entertainment shows with an eclectic mix of classic and contemporary music, listener requests and confessions with a classical twist, along with special guest and fellow Scala Radio presenter conversations.
Offering classical music for modern life, Scala Radio anticipates an explosive growth in the genre and an ever growing cross-over into the mainstream, bringing together familiar masters along with fresh and exciting new classical pieces.
The station promises to surprise and delight listeners with its accessible tone and unique format, along with conversation and features. The line up features Charles Nove at Breakfast, Simon Mayo on Mid-mornings, Sam Hughes on Afternoons, Mark Forrest on Drive and Jamie Crick on Sunday breakfast. Music innovators Goldie and William Orbit will also launch their own series – Goldie’s Classic Life and William Orbit in The Space.
Evenings, from 7-9pm, will begin with a launch week series on the London Symphony Orchestra in Scala Radio Spotlight fronted by Jack Pepper. Magic’s Hannah Cox will present Late Night Scala, from 10pm to 1am, with ‘classical music inspired love stories.’
Angellica Bell will lead the weekend, while Mark Kermode will bring alive his love of film scores, and Chris Rogers and Anthea Turner will host a live Sunday brunch show with guests.
Also joining the line-up are comedian and trombonist, Faye Treacy (Saturday and Sunday 6-8pm), and Edinburgh-based composer, arranger and sound artist, Luci Holland, who will front The Console, a show dedicated to music in video gaming, on Saturdays at 5pm.
Pianist and composer, Alexis Ffrench, will present Music in Motion, a show set to take listeners on a journey into his musical influences, from neo-classical and ‘the piano chill zone’ to rebel composers. Listeners can expect everything from Chopin to Shostakovich and Beach Boys to Beastie Boys as he looks at the relationship between classical and contemporary styles.
Scala Radio presenter, Simon Mayo, commented on the launch:
“There are hundreds of radio stations playing rock and pop, and only two classical music stations up until now. We’re different because we’re going all out to entertain, laugh with the listeners, and have a good time. Some of it will be familiar, some new and exciting but all timeless, beautiful and all absolutely relevant to today.”
Steve Parkinson, Bauer Group Managing Director, National Radio, said:
“Scala Radio’s mix of music, personality and conversation will make it both intriguing and completely unique. We’ve completely re-imagined a format and designed it to appeal to a modern audience. This will be the very best in classical music for today.”
Scala Radio will feature a broad and topical variety of music, including familiar masters from Mozart and Holst to surprising new works from living composers such as Karl Jenkins, Rebecca Dale and Thom Yorke. The station will also feature topical shows covering the influence of classical music in gaming, mindfulness and special guest weekly round ups.
Listen on national DAB digital radio, online, via smart speakers and via mobile apps. Further information on how to listen can be found at www.scalaradio.co.uk.