I was asked by Martha Greene at Saatchi's if I could write a version of Lakme as if orchestrated by Richard Strauss at full throttle. I was happy to oblige but in the event it was decided to be perhaps a little too opulent and that it might give the wrong idea about British Airways. I am sure they were right to withdraw it but it was fun to record and a very big line-up for a single 60-second commercial.
Related Works
'*BRITISH AIRWAYS THEME TUNE - LAKME'
op.333
(March 1984)
Music for a TV advertising film, the launch of the famous duet from Lakme, music by Leo Delibes, arranged and conducted by Howard Blake
'BRITISH AIRWAYS'
op.348
(1985)
The further use of Delibes' 'Lakme' for a TV advertising film
'TEARS OF JOY'
op.499
(June 1997)
A new arrangement of Lakme for 2 sopranos and piano(see op.333), music for a TV advertising film (British Airways)