Trafalgar 200

A composition specially commissioned for the Trafalgar Bicentennial year and given a Royal performance with an audience of 10,000 in London’s iconic Trafalgar Square.

The work celebrates Britain’s maritime heritage covering the 200 years from Nelson to the present day.

Trafalgar Square 200 was the grand finale to a comprehensive series of major events across the globe commemorating the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar and Nelson’s death. The event was broadcast live round the world and featured on the BBC’s prime evening schedule in the UK.

The theatrical action, as well as capturing the historic context of the Battle of Trafalgar, encompassed the architecture of the square itself. Royal Marines fast roped down the face of the National Gallery, Free-runners scaled the column and Tameside unit performed an acrobatic window ladder display.

The finale included performances by the choir of The Royal Grammar School, Newcastle and operatic soloists Susan Jiwey and Alex Pidgen.

Below you can view highlights from the BBC’s coverage of the event, hear the dramatic and poignant story of H.M.S. Hood and the Bismarck the musical setting of the Battle of Trafalgar with the Finale “Oh for the Sea”

Trafalgar Square 200 was directed by Robert Alge for Innovision.

Credits

Photographs – Vassilia Katsani

Event organisers – Trafalgar 200
Event producers – Innovision
Executive producer – Will Glendinning
Writer – Stuart Blake
Producer and Show Director – Robert Alge
Choreography – Wanda Rokiki, Rocky Smith, Gina Martinez
Lighting Design – Durham Marenghi
Sound Design – Paul Keating at Delta Sound
Voice recording – Adrian Sear at Soundtracks
Narrator (Nelson) – Terence Wilton
Choir arrangements and orchestral consultant – Jill Jarman
Choir director and conductor – Neal Parker
Solo Soprano – Susan Jiwey
Solo Tenor – Alex Pidgen
Lyrics (“Oh for the Sea”) – Julian Scott, Dominic Scott
Soundtrack conceived, composed and produced by Julian Scott