Alexandra Parker who, as reported earlier, played over records by the girl group Bond, apologised a short while ago on Twitter to one of its members, Eos Chater.

‘I’m really sorry,’ she tweeted.  ‘I didn’t know what I was doing was wrong – I did play live on BGT and was told it was ok to do this x’

Eos replied: ‘I accept you didn’t know- and I’m sorry you found out the hard way. You can’t just play someone elses cd.’

So that’s all right, then?

Not at all. Who told Alexandra it was ok? Someone from Simon Cowell’s Britain’s Got Talent, in all likelihood.

They ought to hear soon from lawyers at Universal Music, who issued Bond’s records.

Still at least we know that Britain’s Got Talent is a misnomer. Nicked Talent, maybe.

Here‘s the Youtube link to Alexandra Parker playing over Bond.

Alexandra Parker, or someone using her Youtube identity, has responded to serious allegations that she played over a Bond track on TV.

If it is indeed AP here , and we need to be careful here, she appears to be making a full and frank admission.

Here’s what appears on her video blog at Youtube:

femaleviolinist

@TeamStephenson i played over the top of their track huni – i had a wireless pack on for my violin – i used their track as a backing track and played louder over the top of it 🙂 am not a fraud i can’t mime to save my life he-he x

Alexandra seems a nice enough person, more than a tad naive, but she does need to play up for herself, not use other people’s tracks.

A statement by Bond’s representatives will be issued later today on the overdub scandal. No response has yet been forthcoming from the alleged perpetrators.

Here’s the statement:

BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT VIOLINIST “PLAYS ALONG” TO BOND TRACK

9 MAY 2011

The original electric string quartet, BOND, which has sold almost 5 million albums worldwide, has made a complaint to TalkBack.

Electric violinist, Alexandra Parker, chose to perform one of BOND’s tracks, Gypsy Rhapsody (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dKpKIG9hgY), from the quartet’s best-selling album, Shine. Instead of ‘covering’ the track in the acceptable way (in this context, by creating and playing live over a backing track), Britain’s Got Talent simply broadcast BOND’s original album track whilst the BGT entrant seemed to “play along” on the clip aired to the public on Saturday’s show.

Says BOND’s manager, Terri Robson, “copyright, moral and legal issues aside, it is a questionable practice to mislead the public in this way. It could be compared to a violinist performing along to Nigel Kennedy’s recording of the Four Seasons and claiming it as their own interpretation or a singer singing along to a Girls Aloud track.”

The BGT violinist has further chosen to exploit BOND’s music by commercially marketing herself on her website. www.femaleviolinist.co.uk features a section showcasing the musician’s tracks. “Have a listen to my music in the player below”, is followed by 3 Bond tracks, recorded and marketed throughout the world at great expense by Decca/Universal; again, Alexandra Parker ‘plays over’ the tracks. The violinist has also posted clips on YouTube of herself playing along to BOND tracks at various corporate events.

Adds Robson, “we have politely requested that Ms Parker remove these tracks from her website and to desist in exploiting BOND’s music in this way but have, as yet, received no response.”

BOND violinist, Eos Chater, meanwhile, began tweeting furiously on the subject once she heard her own playing being used by the television company in this way. Says Eos, “we get many messages from string players asking for tips and always encourage them, giving them advice on playing and the music industry. People often send clips of themselves covering one of our tracks and it’s very touching. What I take exception to is a commercial TV show playing our recording, with a musician playing along (not even playing the tune) at a level quieter than our CD. Still, we’re glad BOND has got through to the next round of BGT without ever having to appear on it.”

‘sexy violinist’ Alexandra Parker, from The Sun

First, they meddled with the voice tracks to stop contestants singing flat.

Now, a violinist on the so-called talent show is accused of playing over a pre-recorded track by the girl-band, Bond. It is not yet established how much she is playing along to the track, using it illegitimately as wallpaper, and how much sound she actually makes. A forensic engineer should soon sort that out.

The alleged miscreant is Alexandra Parker, 22. The judges thought she was wonderful on TV and the show drew an 11.5 million audience.

But Eos Chater, a Bond member and mate of mine, recognised the track as Gypsy Rhapsody from their second album Shine. Bond, playing at the Guildhall Saturday night, ‘ got bombarded with messages of people saying someone was playing a bond track on BGT,’ says Chater.

She’s in with the lawyers today and I should have more details soon…. One way or other, the show is tainted all over again.

If Ms Parker did what she is alleged to have done, it is unlikely she could have done so without the knowledge and connivance of the show’s producers. Watch this space.

Best news of the day, so far.

The Buffalo Philharmonic conductor JoAnn Falletta has been named chief conductor of the Ulster Orchestra, a post left vacant since Kenneth Montgomery’s retirement. JoAnn’s just the right kind of livewire to blow cobwebs off a band, and just the right kind of personality to spread sweetness and light across the north of Ireland. Here’s the first report, in the Belfast Telegraph.

I wish to could go to hear the Kensington Symphony Orchestra player Mahler’s fourth tomorrow night, but I’m down for a theatre premiere.

The KSO defines itself as an amateur orchestra. In fact, it contains lots of conservatory graduates, music-biz professionals, journalists, PRs and generally civilised chaps and chapettes. The word from rehearsal is that Mahler 4 went really well. The soloist is Katharine Watson, the conductor Russell Keable, and the other item on the programme is Lutoslawski Chantefleurs et Chantefables. Wish I could be there. Booking details here.

Like Manchester United, which renewes Ryan Giggs year by year, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra has extended Vladimir Ashkenazy’s contract as principal conductor and artistic advisor to the end of 2013. The initial deal, ending 2012, was for four years.

This is a tad unusual for big-name conductors, who like to have everything inked in the diary three years in advance, but it makes a lot of sense in present circs. Shorter contracts mean greater flexibility, spontaneity and the opportunity for invention.

Ashkenazy, 73, has worked wonders with the Aussies. I hope the extension is not the last. In any event, it’s a good model for the rest of us.

US orchestras take note: one year contracts could be just the thing.

Here’s the announcement.

I promised you the full story of how the oil company and the Royal Opera House plans to storm the 2012 Olympics. It’s a big exhibition, apparently. The press conference starts in half an hour.

Here’s the press release, just out:

Monday 9 May 2011

BP, THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE AND THE OLYMPIC MUSEUM TO BRING A UNIQUE EXHIBITION TO LONDON IN CELEBRATION OF THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES

The Olympic Journey: The Story of the Games

BP and the Royal Opera House today announced together in the presence of Olympic gold medallist Jonathan Edwards that they are collaborating with The Olympic Museum to create a free and unique exhibition telling the Olympic story through the endeavours of ancient and modern Olympians.

Called The Olympic Journey: The Story of the Games, the exhibition will be created and staged at the Royal Opera House for the duration of the Olympic Games next summer from 27^th July to 12^th August 2012. It will include unique artefacts, graphics, film and audio from The Olympic Museum in Lausanne being shown in London for the very first time, and promises to be a highlight of the London 2012 Festival, the finale of the Cultural Olympiad.

The Olympic Journey: The Story of the Games will include a display of all the Olympic Medals since 1896 and all the Olympic Torches since 1936. There will also be a ‘Hall of Champions’ featuring the stories and inspirational achievements of great Olympians from the modern Games.

Visitors will be taken on a journey from ancient Greece, the original home of the Olympic Games, through the vision of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the man behind the revival of the Games many centuries later. The experience will continue with the stories of some of the iconic Olympic athletes and moments of the last hundred years of Olympic history.

The exhibition is being curated by The Olympic Museum in partnership with leading exhibition designers Metaphor.

“BP is a longstanding supporter of arts and culture in the UK, partnering with leading institutions for over 30 years,” said Peter Mather, BP’s Regional Vice President for Europe and Head of Country UK.  “As an Official Partner of the London 2012 Games and a Premier Partner of the Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 Festival, it is fitting for BP to build upon our strong relationship with the Royal Opera House to bring this new exhibition to London for the Games.

“Behind the great spectacle of the Olympic Games lie powerful human stories.  The purpose of this exhibition is to inspire visitors by highlighting some of the remarkable athletes and tales from the rich history of the Games. It will be a free, fun and popular destination and we are delighted to be collaborating with The Olympic Museum to put on a once in a lifetime experience for visitors from all over the world at the London 2012 Olympic Games next year.”

“Arts and culture have an important role to play alongside the magnificent sporting competition next summer. The London 2012 Festival, the finale of the Cultural Olympiad, is already shaping up to be one of the finest of any Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Royal Opera House is delighted to be playing its part. We are looking forward to welcoming thousands of new visitors to the Royal Opera House in 2012,” added Tony Hall, Chair of the Cultural Olympiad Board and Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House.

Deborah Bull, Creative Director of the Royal Opera House, commented “We are delighted to be working with The Olympic Museum and BP to create this unique Olympic experience. The Olympic and Paralympic Games are an example of the best of human spirit and physical endeavour. The Games in our city offer a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the inspirational talent of the world’s greatest athletes, reminding us – like the artists who more usually perform on our stages – of the extraordinary achievements of which human beings are capable.”

“Exhibits from The Olympic Museum have been displayed in different Olympic host cities before, but this exhibition is particularly exciting; it is much more ambitious and will truly bring the Olympic spirit to London,” saidFrancis Gabet, Director of The Olympic Museum.

“By hosting this exhibition in one of the world’s leading arts and culture institutions we hope that our collaboration for London 2012 will set a new benchmark for future Olympic host cities.”

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Rowland Jack

Hill & Knowlton

email:rjack@hillandknowlton.com

Francis Gabet

The Olympic Museum

email: francis.gabet@olympic.org

Mark Salt
BP Group Press Office

email: mark.salt@uk.bp.com

Elizabeth Bell

Royal Opera House

Head of Corporate Communications

Tel: +44 (0)20 7212 9717

email: elizabeth.bell@roh.org.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Olympic Museum

The Olympic Museum, a world class museum based in Lausanne, provides to the Olympic movement a unique multichannel platform to spread the Olympic soul throughout the world. Its mission is to produce cultural and educational programmes  where visitors – from all nations and cultures, young and old, Olympic fans or not – feel, experience and understand the complex and enthralling story of the people – individuals or groups, sportsmen and entrepreneurs, heroes and ordinary people – who come together to make Olympism contribute to a better world through sport.

www.olympic.org/museum

BP and London 2012

BP is the Official Oil and Gas Partner for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. London has been the home of BP’s headquarters for over a century. So for BP, welcoming the Olympic and Paralympic Games to London is an exciting opportunity – one that BP believes can make a difference for London and the UK for many years to come. Through the partnership with London 2012, BP is fuelling the Games in ways that are intended to inspire millions of people to think about the mobility choices they make every day. With its arts, cultural and educational partners, BP is creating exciting opportunities for young people. And BP is supporting some extraordinary athletes as they prepare for the London 2012 Games.

www.bp.com/london2012

BP and Arts & Culture

BP has supported arts and culture in the UK for over 30 years and currently focuses its support on long-term partnerships with four world class institutions; The British Museum, The National Portrait Gallery, The Royal Opera House and Tate Britain. More than 2.4 million people across the UK engaged with BP supported activity in 2010. A Premier Partner of the Cultural Olympiad, BP’s support of the London 2012 Open Weekend and other London 2012 Festival projects is helping to showcase the UK’s cultural excellence and diversity to an even wider audience.

www.bp.com

Royal Opera House and London 2012

The Royal Opera House is an iconic building in the heart of London’s theatreland. Each year, almost 700 performances are given on our stages by the world class artists of The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, as well as international guest singers and, through ROH2, the contemporary arm of the Opera House, a wide and diverse range of artists and small companies.

It’s a place where the art forms of ballet, dance, opera and music are nurtured and developed, and where boundaries are pushed.  Partnerships with other innovative companies and artists are central to this work, and our education and community outreach programmes encourage and inspire thousands of people of all ages to explore their own creativity and potential.

The Royal Opera House is a resource for the nation and, with the developments in digital technology, is increasingly become a global resource through cinema screenings, our interactive website and iTunes U.

The Royal Opera House is proud to be playing its part in celebrations of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Season with a variety of special events through the 2011/12 Royal Opera House Season, culminating in this extraordinary exhibition in partnership with The Olympic Museum and BP.

www.roh.org.uk

The Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 Festival

The London 2012 Cultural Olympiad is the largest cultural celebration in the history of the modern Olympic and Paralympic Movements. Spread over four years, it is designed to give everyone in the UK a chance to be part ofLondon 2012 and inspire creativity across all forms of culture, especially among young people. Since the Cultural Olympiad started in 2008 11.2 million people from across the UK have participated in or attended over 5,400 public performances as part of the Cultural Olympiad and programmes inspired by 2012 and funded by our principle funders and sponsors. Over 67,000 people have attended 6,800 workshops as part of Cultural Olympiad programmes. The culmination of the Cultural Olympiad will be the London 2012 Festival, bringing leading artists from all over the world together from 21 June 2012 in this UK-wide festival – a chance for everyone to celebrate London 2012 through dance, music, theatre, the visual arts, film and digital innovation and leave a lasting legacy for the arts in this country. For more details visit www.london2012.com/culture

Metaphor

Metaphor are masterplanners, exhibition designers, architects and content developers for museums, galleries and heritage sites worldwide. We work in museums, palaces, historic houses and landscapes, creating memorable visitor experiences at every scale from the display of a single object to the masterplan of a city quarter.

Current projects include The Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, The Olympic Museum in Lausanne, The Holburne Museum in Bath and the redisplay of the Cast Courts at the Victoria & Albert (V&A) Museum. Recent projects include the Museum of the Order of St John in Clerkenwell, The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, a strategic vision for the Topkapi Palace Peninsula in Istanbul, and major exhibitions such as the First Emperor at the British Museum and Surreal Things at the V&A and the Guggenheim Bilbao.

www.metaphor.eu

This is not quite Florence Nightingale: the Musical, but if London doctors can have a decent orchestra – and they do – there’s no reason the nurses shouldn’t kick off their flat heels and form a hard-hitting chorus.

It’s happening this Friday, May 13. The Irish composer John  Browne has been showing health care professionals how to blow off stress in a jolly good sing. They will premiere his cantata, A Nightingale Sang, on International Nurses Day.

Here’s the press release:

NURSES SING OUT!

World premiere performance by healthcare professionals of a new vocal work by John Browne – composer in residence at the Florence
Nightingale School of Nursing & Midwifery at King’s College London.

Event details: Friday 13th May 2011 at 8pm, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre

In celebration of International Nurses’ Day on 12th May; as part of Southbank Centre’s Chorus! weekend that this year focuses on the relationship between the voice and well-being and as part of its 150th anniversary year, the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery at King’s College London is delighted to announce the world premiere performance of a new cantata  ‘A Nightingale Sang’  by its composer in residence, acclaimed Irish composer, John Browne.

The concert takes place on Friday 13th May 2011 at 8pm at Queen Elizabeth Hall.

‘A Nightingale Sang’ is a moving reflection on Florence Nightingale herself as a pioneering nurse  and social reformer and on the nature of empathy.  The work layers several choirs including the choir of King’s College London; a 100 strong choir of nurses, midwives, healthcare professionals and students assembled especially for this event  together with ‘Mind and Soul’ – a choir of mental health patients from the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust; orchestra; dance and a nurses’ gamelan group.

John Browne’s residency has been made possible by a grant from the PRS for Music
Foundation  and the National Lottery through Arts Council England
(London) and is part of the School’s unique and  innovative ‘Culture
and Care’ programme,  offered to both staff and students alike.
‘Culture and Care’ explores the role that the arts in general and music
in particular can play in the professional development of nurses and
midwives and which puts creativity at the heart of the educational
experience.

Professor Anne Marie Rafferty, Head of the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery at King’s College London
noted: “A Nightingale Sang represents the culmination of John Browne’s
residency and a musical meditation on the nature of empathy, which is
such a crucial element in our capacity to care.  I am thrilled that the
School’s Nightingale choir will be playing a leading role in this
prestigious congregational event”.

Commented composer John Browne:
“I have long been convinced that music plays a vital role in health and
well-being.  It is an honour and a privilege to work alongside
healthcare professionals to present this new work which demonstrates
the power of music in our lives”.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:
Karen Pitchford, KHJ Communications Ltd /
karen_pitchford@lineone.net

Tickets : £10.00 / £5.00 concessions
http://ticketing.southbankcentre.co.uk/find/music/classical/tickets/a-nightingale-sang-57781