BBC Arts

Karl Jenkins: The Composer behind the Moustache (2024x4)

Air date: Jul 14, 2024

A profile paying homage to the world’s most performed living composer, Sir Karl Jenkins, who turned 80 in 2024. His work has touched the hearts of millions globally, transcending traditional genre boundaries. The film incorporates footage from throughout his career to give a complete insight into the many influences on his music: from the Methodist hymn-singing of his Welsh chapel upbringing to his recent commission of a saxophone concerto for Jess Gillam, which is being performed at this year’s BBC Proms. We accompany Karl as he visits, for the first time in 50 years, his grandfather’s town in Sweden, where he spent much of his early childhood. We hear from his colleagues, his fans, fellow musicians and friends and from the man himself as he looks back over an incredible career in music making. This programme celebrates the man, his phenomenal music and yes, that famous moustache.