ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½

Maida Vale opens

30 October 1934

Image: ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Symphony Orchestra, Section D, conducted by Aylmer Buesst in studio MV1 at Maida Vale, 1934.

The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s Maida Vale building witnessed every sort of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ music making - from Pink Floyd to ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Symphony Orchestra! Acquired in response to the rapidly increasing requirements of broadcasting in the early 30s, it was in fact one of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s earliest premises, pre-dating Broadcasting House in central London. It was the centre of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ radio news service during the Second World War, and like Broadcasting House, the site had to be repaired after taking a direct hit during the London Blitz.

Initially, however, it was acquired for orchestral purposes, and so in 1934 a skating rink in Maida Vale was converted into studio facilities large enough to accommodate a major orchestra. Originally it could accommodate more than 150 musicians, a choir of over 100 and an audience of 220.

A slideshow of images and audio from Maida Vale over the years.

Overall, the building housed a total of seven music and radio drama studios, and - outside its classical music remit - was most famously home to John Peel's ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 1 Peel Sessions, and the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radiophonic Workshop (as used in the Doctor Who theme music).

Now a new state-of-the-art facility in Stratford, east London has replaced it, and the original building sold to a partnership that includes the Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer and film producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner.

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