23 December, 2006

Just before Christmas 2006, Sean Street marks the centenary of one of radio's greatest events, the very first radio programme - by R.A. Fessenden from Brant Rock, Massachusetts, USA on Christmas Eve, 1906. Let Distant Lands Converse will attempt to recreate Fessenden's broadcast, which included a violin rendition of "O Holy Night" and a record playing Handel's "Largo".
The programme, produced by Julian May, can be heard on BBC Radio 3 on the evening of Saturday, 23 December as the interval feature in the network's live relay from the Metropolitan Opera, New York. The title is taken from the inscription on Canadian Reginald Fessenden's grave - "By his genius distant lands converse and men sail unafraid upon the deep."
Other programmes by Sean currently in production include "The Halifax Explosion" (BBC Radio 3). This Sunday Feature will chronicle the events surrounding the accidental explosion of a munitions ship in the harbour of Halifax, Nova Scotia, during the First World War. The blast caused by the accident has been said to be the largest man-made explosion before Hiroshima. Sean is also working on a feature on the history of the Channel Tunnel, and a documentary about Marie Slocombe, a key person in the foundation of the BBC Sound Archive (both BBC Radio 4). These programmes have yet to be scheduled, and are currently in development.(see also Publications - Radio).