0:00:03 > 0:00:07Welcome to our Songs of Praise Big Sing, celebrating 2012.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10I hope you've had a great Christmas, and as the New Year approaches,
0:00:10 > 0:00:14we look back over a momentous year for the whole country,
0:00:14 > 0:00:17with the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21There'll be a feast of hymns to help us reflect,
0:00:21 > 0:00:24and joining us will be our Senior School Choir Of The Year,
0:00:24 > 0:00:26soprano sensation Laura Wright,
0:00:26 > 0:00:28and the amazing Alfie Boe.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31And we have Olympic gold medallists, too.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33So, sit back and watch it all unfold,
0:00:33 > 0:00:37or join in and sing along with this celebration of 2012.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45APPLAUSE
0:00:51 > 0:00:54Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Royal Albert Hall.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:01:00 > 0:01:03Here is the million-dollar question. Are you ready to sing?
0:01:03 > 0:01:05ALL: Yes!
0:01:05 > 0:01:09Well, you've come to the right place, and so have you.
0:01:09 > 0:01:10What a line-up we have for our sing-along.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14Our Big Sing Orchestra, conducted by maestro Paul Leddington Wright!
0:01:14 > 0:01:16APPLAUSE
0:01:20 > 0:01:23Our fabulous choirs behind me, Adventist Vocal Ensemble,
0:01:23 > 0:01:25St Michael's Singers and The Brighton Festival Chorus.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28APPLAUSE
0:01:29 > 0:01:33And to complement them, we have 5,000 voices here in the hall.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:01:37 > 0:01:40Well, our first hymn will really set the mood.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43The music comes from the final movement of Beethoven's 9th Symphony,
0:01:43 > 0:01:47considered by some to be the greatest piece of music ever written.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50It is, of course, Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49APPLAUSE
0:04:52 > 0:04:56So many voices singing under one roof. Absolutely brilliant.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58It's time now for our first star guest.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01She's a former Radio Two Young Chorister Of The Year
0:05:01 > 0:05:04and enjoyed great success with the group All Angels.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07Please put your hands together for the lovely Laura Wright.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09APPLAUSE
0:05:15 > 0:05:16- Welcome.- Thank you.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19You had a very, very busy year.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22Yes. I'm a little bit exhausted, but it was very, very fun.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25How many times did you sing for the Queen?
0:05:25 > 0:05:26About six or seven, I think.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29Deserves a round of applause. Come on, ladies and gentlemen!
0:05:29 > 0:05:32- APPLAUSE - That's in one year!
0:05:33 > 0:05:36And what sort of music do you love performing these days?
0:05:36 > 0:05:38Exactly what I'm about to sing, in fact.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41I feel so lucky to have a wonderful choir behind me
0:05:41 > 0:05:42and to sing this kind of music,
0:05:42 > 0:05:46especially when we've had such a fantastic year with the Jubilee.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49- It's wonderful.- And this is a song that's associated with the Jubilee.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51- Tell us the story behind it. - Yes, it is.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53We decided that it'd be wonderful
0:05:53 > 0:05:56to have a very special piece of music written for Her Majesty,
0:05:56 > 0:05:58and were approached by the record company,
0:05:58 > 0:06:01and I was asked to perform it. And, yeah, it's been a whirlwind.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03Brilliant. Well, I can't wait to hear it.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06Singing Stronger As One, Laura Wright.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08APPLAUSE
0:06:15 > 0:06:20# From Echo Bay to Savai'i
0:06:20 > 0:06:26# Sullom Voe to Kalahari
0:06:26 > 0:06:29# Oceans may part
0:06:29 > 0:06:34# But every river must start
0:06:34 > 0:06:38# In valley and hill
0:06:38 > 0:06:44# We are the people who will
0:06:44 > 0:06:46# Oh, oh
0:06:46 > 0:06:52# Come now, joining as one
0:06:53 > 0:06:56# Heart and a soul
0:06:57 > 0:07:02# Shining as gold
0:07:02 > 0:07:06# Under one sun
0:07:06 > 0:07:12# We're stronger as one
0:07:17 > 0:07:22# In the rise and the fall
0:07:22 > 0:07:28# Of echoed words in great halls
0:07:28 > 0:07:31# Nations may dawn
0:07:31 > 0:07:36# But it is we who are born
0:07:36 > 0:07:41# All equal and free
0:07:41 > 0:07:46# With the power to see
0:07:46 > 0:07:48# Oh, oh
0:07:48 > 0:07:56# Who, among many, has one
0:07:58 > 0:08:01# Heart and a soul
0:08:02 > 0:08:07# Shining as gold
0:08:07 > 0:08:11# Under one sun
0:08:11 > 0:08:17# We're stronger as one
0:08:17 > 0:08:21- # Heart and a soul - Heart and a soul
0:08:21 > 0:08:26- # Shining as gold - Shining as gold
0:08:26 > 0:08:30- # Under one sun - Under one sun
0:08:30 > 0:08:35- # We're stronger as one - We're stronger as one
0:08:35 > 0:08:40# Stronger
0:08:40 > 0:08:48# As one. #
0:08:48 > 0:08:53CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:08:57 > 0:08:59Laura Wright, ladies and gentlemen!
0:09:02 > 0:09:06The theme of Stronger As One, nations coming together,
0:09:06 > 0:09:08was true, of course, for the Olympic and Paralympic Games,
0:09:08 > 0:09:11where hundreds of countries gathered to compete.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14I'm sure most of us were cheering on Team GB,
0:09:14 > 0:09:15and didn't they do well?
0:09:15 > 0:09:17ALL: Yes!
0:09:17 > 0:09:20APPLAUSE
0:09:20 > 0:09:22Well, ladies and gentlemen, our next hymn
0:09:22 > 0:09:25is sure to raise some emotional patriotism.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51APPLAUSE
0:11:52 > 0:11:54That was amazing. You're all in fine voice.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57Now, talking of fine voices, our next guests wowed the judges
0:11:57 > 0:12:00at the Songs of Praise School Choir Of The Year competition
0:12:00 > 0:12:02earlier this year in Salford.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04They'd never entered before, so imagine their delight
0:12:04 > 0:12:06when they were announced Senior champions.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08Please welcome, from Weybridge in Surrey,
0:12:08 > 0:12:10the choir from St George's College.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13APPLAUSE
0:12:20 > 0:12:24# Be Thou my vision
0:12:24 > 0:12:29# O Lord of my heart
0:12:29 > 0:12:33# Be all else but naught to me,
0:12:33 > 0:12:37# Save that Thou art
0:12:37 > 0:12:41# Be Thou my best thought
0:12:41 > 0:12:45# In the day and the night
0:12:45 > 0:12:50# Both waking and sleeping
0:12:50 > 0:12:57# Thy presence, my light
0:13:02 > 0:13:06# Be Thou my vision
0:13:06 > 0:13:10# O Lord of my heart
0:13:10 > 0:13:14# Be all else but naught to me,
0:13:14 > 0:13:19# Save that Thou art
0:13:19 > 0:13:22# Be Thou my best thought
0:13:22 > 0:13:26# In the day and the night
0:13:26 > 0:13:31# Both waking and sleeping
0:13:31 > 0:13:38# Thy presence, my light
0:13:38 > 0:13:42- # Be Thou my wisdom - Be my wisdom
0:13:42 > 0:13:46- # Be Thou my true word - Be my word
0:13:46 > 0:13:50- # Be Thou ever with me - Be with me
0:13:50 > 0:13:54- # And I with Thee, Lord - And I with Thee, Lord
0:13:54 > 0:13:58- # Be Thou my great Father - Be my Father
0:13:58 > 0:14:02- # And I Thy true son - I Thy son
0:14:02 > 0:14:06# Be Thou in me dwelling
0:14:06 > 0:14:14# And I with Thee one
0:14:26 > 0:14:30# Be Thou and Thou only
0:14:30 > 0:14:34# The first in my heart
0:14:34 > 0:14:38# O sovereign of Heaven
0:14:38 > 0:14:43# My treasure Thou art
0:14:43 > 0:14:48# Great heart of my heart
0:14:48 > 0:14:51# Whatever befall
0:14:51 > 0:14:56# Still be now my vision
0:14:56 > 0:15:00# Be now my vision
0:15:00 > 0:15:10- # Be now my vision - Be now my vision
0:15:10 > 0:15:18# O Ruler of all. #
0:15:30 > 0:15:34APPLAUSE
0:15:36 > 0:15:38St George's College choir,
0:15:38 > 0:15:41with their musical director Tansy Castledine.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48Now, in a few minutes,
0:15:48 > 0:15:51we'll be meeting some Olympic gold-medal winners, but before that,
0:15:51 > 0:15:54it's time for one of the most frequently sung hymns in the land.
0:15:54 > 0:15:58It seems rather fitting, in a year when the Olympic flame
0:15:58 > 0:16:00has visited so many places all around the UK,
0:16:00 > 0:16:02to sing Shine, Jesus Shine.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55APPLAUSE
0:18:57 > 0:18:58Wonderful singing there. Well done!
0:18:58 > 0:19:00Now, the Olympic and Paralympic Games
0:19:00 > 0:19:04were compulsive viewing in our house. I don't know about yours.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06The amazing opening ceremonies, the rush of medals,
0:19:06 > 0:19:09it was a great time to be British or Northern Irish.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13Well, I'm delighted to say we have two Olympians here with us today.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15Winning the very first gold for Team GB,
0:19:15 > 0:19:19please join me in welcoming Helen Glover and Heather Stanning.
0:19:19 > 0:19:23CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:19:34 > 0:19:36Ladies...
0:19:36 > 0:19:37What does that feel like?
0:19:37 > 0:19:39Oh, phenomenal. Thank you very much.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42I feel like we should have come on in slow motion there.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44No, it was great. Thank you.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47It was just phenomenal, wasn't it? The response?
0:19:47 > 0:19:49Yeah. I think that's something we never prepared for.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52We always knew that we wanted to win it for ourselves
0:19:52 > 0:19:54and for our coach, Robin, but when we crossed the line,
0:19:54 > 0:19:56we realised we'd won it for the country
0:19:56 > 0:19:59and everyone was behind us and the support has been
0:19:59 > 0:20:02the overriding feeling that we're taking away.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05And the first gold for Team GB?
0:20:05 > 0:20:06That bit's really surreal for us,
0:20:06 > 0:20:09cos I think we thought that was going to be someone else,
0:20:09 > 0:20:11a much bigger name, and for us, this was our first Olympics,
0:20:11 > 0:20:14so, to get the first medal, and the first one for the team,
0:20:14 > 0:20:15was incredible.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18What goes through your mind during a race like that?
0:20:18 > 0:20:19It hurts, a lot,
0:20:19 > 0:20:22so a lot of it is just trying to keep the motivation,
0:20:22 > 0:20:25keep feeling calm, because we were out ahead from quite early on,
0:20:25 > 0:20:28so we wanted to keep ourselves feeling calm, feeling confident,
0:20:28 > 0:20:31and trying to block the pain as much as possible, really.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33And do you feel at your best when you're on the water?
0:20:33 > 0:20:35Yeah, absolutely.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38I feel like we've worked so hard for the last couple of years
0:20:38 > 0:20:40and it's become what we do and what we do best,
0:20:40 > 0:20:44and it's what we've dedicated every single second of our lives to.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47Do you sleep with those medals around your neck?
0:20:47 > 0:20:48Not any more. LAUGHTER
0:20:48 > 0:20:51- It's still beside my pillow. - Still beside your pillow?
0:20:51 > 0:20:52Yeah, it's still by my pillow,
0:20:52 > 0:20:55just so I can check every morning that it's still there.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57LAUGHTER
0:20:57 > 0:21:00You're an inspiration to the nation. It's been unbelievable meeting you.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02Thanks so much for coming in.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05Ladies and gentlemen, a round of applause for these ladies.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07APPLAUSE
0:21:11 > 0:21:13Now then, the United States of America
0:21:13 > 0:21:16topped the medal table at the London Olympics, and our next hymn,
0:21:16 > 0:21:19sometimes referred to as The Battle Hymn Of The Republic,
0:21:19 > 0:21:21is extremely popular across the pond.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23But there's no reason why we can't sing it too.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26So let's get the foot tapping and the heart thumping
0:21:26 > 0:21:29with Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory Of The Coming of The Lord.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55APPLAUSE
0:24:58 > 0:25:00Wow! That was amazing!
0:25:00 > 0:25:03The Diamond Jubilee service at St Paul's Cathedral
0:25:03 > 0:25:06must have been particularly important to Her Majesty the Queen
0:25:06 > 0:25:08as she remembered her promises and trust in God.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11But one of the hymns sung during that service,
0:25:11 > 0:25:13we're going to sing now. O Praise Ye The Lord.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46APPLAUSE
0:27:49 > 0:27:50Now, do you remember the scene
0:27:50 > 0:27:52as thousands gathered outside Buckingham Palace
0:27:52 > 0:27:54for the Diamond Jubilee concert?
0:27:54 > 0:27:57Well, someone who was lucky enough to sing to that throng
0:27:57 > 0:27:58is our next guest.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01His voice seems to be getting bigger and better,
0:28:01 > 0:28:03and his star continues to rise.
0:28:03 > 0:28:04Please welcome Alfie Boe.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07APPLAUSE
0:28:14 > 0:28:17- How are you doing?- You are a one.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19That must have been such an experience for you.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21Performing in front of how many people on the Mall?
0:28:21 > 0:28:25I think there was 150,000, or something. Yeah.
0:28:25 > 0:28:26Were you nervous?
0:28:26 > 0:28:28I wasn't until you brought it up, but...
0:28:28 > 0:28:30No, it was good. It was great.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33It was just a time to focus, a time to get your head together,
0:28:33 > 0:28:35and, yeah, just went out and did it.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37So, what's next for you?
0:28:37 > 0:28:42I'm going to go on a US tour and then I've got a new album out.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44Oh, I have a book out as well. My autobiography.
0:28:44 > 0:28:47It's a horror story. LAUGHTER
0:28:47 > 0:28:49I don't believe it. It's an amazing story.
0:28:49 > 0:28:52Thank you very much. It was a good one.
0:28:52 > 0:28:55- Looking forward to the States? - Absolutely, yeah. I love the States.
0:28:55 > 0:28:58My wife's American, I've spent a lot of time over there,
0:28:58 > 0:29:00I've got a lot of family there,
0:29:00 > 0:29:03so, yeah, travelling around the States, it's good to see the country.
0:29:03 > 0:29:06- And you're a big fan of Elvis? - I am, I am.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09And that links into the piece of music you going to sing, doesn't it?
0:29:09 > 0:29:10HE IMITATES ELVIS
0:29:10 > 0:29:12- Was that Elvis, was it?- That was...
0:29:12 > 0:29:13LAUGHTER
0:29:13 > 0:29:15I'm a big fan of Elvis.
0:29:15 > 0:29:17I've always been a fan of Elvis since being a kid,
0:29:17 > 0:29:21and any chance I get to sing one of his tracks and swing my hips a bit,
0:29:21 > 0:29:23- I'll do it. - And what are you going to sing?
0:29:23 > 0:29:26I'm going to sing If I Can Dream, which is a very...
0:29:26 > 0:29:27It's quite a spiritual song.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30Yeah, it's sort of like...aiming for your goals,
0:29:30 > 0:29:33- aiming for your dreams, and going for it.- Fantastic.
0:29:33 > 0:29:35- Ladies and gentlemen, Alfie Boe. - Thank you.
0:29:35 > 0:29:37APPLAUSE
0:29:52 > 0:29:56# There must be lights burning brighter
0:29:56 > 0:29:59# Somewhere
0:29:59 > 0:30:04# Got to be birds flying higher
0:30:04 > 0:30:07# In a sky more blue
0:30:07 > 0:30:11# If I can dream of a better land
0:30:11 > 0:30:15# Where all my brothers walk hand in hand
0:30:15 > 0:30:17# Tell me why
0:30:17 > 0:30:19# Oh, why
0:30:19 > 0:30:25# Oh, why can't my dream come true?
0:30:29 > 0:30:34# There must be peace and understanding
0:30:34 > 0:30:36# Some time
0:30:36 > 0:30:39# Strong winds of promise
0:30:39 > 0:30:44# That will blow away the doubt and fear
0:30:44 > 0:30:48# If I can dream of a warmer sun
0:30:48 > 0:30:51# Where hope keeps shining on everyone
0:30:51 > 0:30:54# Tell me why
0:30:54 > 0:30:55# Oh, why
0:30:55 > 0:31:02# Oh, why won't that sun appear?
0:31:07 > 0:31:10# We're lost in a cloud
0:31:10 > 0:31:14# With too much rain
0:31:14 > 0:31:17# We're trapped in a world
0:31:17 > 0:31:21# That's troubled with pain
0:31:21 > 0:31:23# But as long as a man
0:31:23 > 0:31:27# Has the strength to dream
0:31:27 > 0:31:31# He can redeem his soul
0:31:31 > 0:31:39# And fly
0:31:40 > 0:31:43# Deep in my heart
0:31:43 > 0:31:46# There's a trembling question
0:31:47 > 0:31:51# Still I am sure that the answer's
0:31:51 > 0:31:55# Answer's going to come somehow
0:31:55 > 0:31:58# Out there in the dark
0:31:58 > 0:32:02# There's a beckoning candle
0:32:02 > 0:32:03# While I can think
0:32:03 > 0:32:05# While I can talk
0:32:05 > 0:32:07# While I can stand
0:32:07 > 0:32:09# While I can walk
0:32:09 > 0:32:12# While I can dream
0:32:12 > 0:32:16# Please let my dream
0:32:16 > 0:32:18# Come true
0:32:18 > 0:32:23# Yeah!
0:32:23 > 0:32:29- # Right now - I can dream, I can talk, I can stand
0:32:29 > 0:32:34- # Let it come true right now - I can dream, let me dream
0:32:34 > 0:32:36- # Oh, yeah - I can think, I can talk
0:32:36 > 0:32:43- # Right now - I can stand, I can walk... #
0:32:43 > 0:32:51# Oh, yeah! #
0:32:51 > 0:32:54CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:32:54 > 0:32:55Thank you!
0:32:55 > 0:32:58Alfie Boe, ladies and gentlemen!
0:33:03 > 0:33:06And that's almost it from this amazing and special occasion
0:33:06 > 0:33:08we call the Big Sing.
0:33:08 > 0:33:09As we approach the end of 2012,
0:33:09 > 0:33:11a year when the spotlights of the whole world
0:33:11 > 0:33:14have shone upon our little bit of it,
0:33:14 > 0:33:17what better way to end than with a medley of favourite hymns
0:33:17 > 0:33:19from all four corners of the United Kingdom?
0:33:19 > 0:33:21Until next time, from all of us on Songs of Praise,
0:33:21 > 0:33:23goodbye and Happy New Year.
0:38:15 > 0:38:17CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:38:24 > 0:38:27Next week, for the first Songs of Praise of 2013,
0:38:27 > 0:38:29hymns full of hope...
0:38:29 > 0:38:31from Liverpool's Hope Street.
0:38:31 > 0:38:35I'll meet Shauna Muamba, wife of Premiership footballer Fabrice,
0:38:35 > 0:38:37with her story of hope,
0:38:37 > 0:38:40and there'll be uplifting music from Philippa Hannah
0:38:40 > 0:38:43and the BBC Radio Two Young Choristers Of The Year.
0:38:58 > 0:39:03Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd