Sir Karl Jenkins wasn’t expecting this birthday surprise! | Classic FM Live

Sir Karl Jenkins was expecting to conduct his 'Palladio' on stage at the Royal Albert Hall, but Scotland’s national orchestra had other ideas...
In his 80th birthday year, Sir Karl was treated to a musical surprise by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, at Classic FM Live with Viking, where hosts Alexander Armstrong and Myleene Klass brought the Welsh maestro two cakes in celebration.
The wonderful arrangement was made by the orchestra’s conductor for the rest of the night, Ben Palmer. Watch the full concert soon on Sky Arts.
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[@susanmcguire6355]

I was there with my daughter. It was a lovely surprise for him...and us!!!

[@Stefanmannberg]

Where was this? And then?

[@susanmcguire6355]

Classic FM live at the Royal Albert Hall in April

[@Stefanmannberg]

@@susanmcguire6355 thanks🙏

[@mrs.penguinsdaisy5948]

@@susanmcguire6355but his birthday is in February?! Did they explain why they did that? 😁

[@susanmcguire6355]

He is doing an 80th birthday tour which will last most of his birthday year.

[@kaustubhhh.pvtltd]

This is the most luxurious way of saying happy birthday.

[@harridan.]

well said

[@modernorpheus]

I'm just here for how well they orchestrated Happy Birthday.

[@seanbarker8234]

it was...quite elegant!

[@hestergreen2031]

So very well orchestrated. So well planned..

[@dogman15]

​@@hestergreen2031It's an easy song, so it was probably pretty easy for each individual member of the orchestra to improvise their own part.

[@LovenArtiste]

That was the most epic and triumphant Happy Birthday I’ve ever heard.

[@CZghost]

It must be splendid to have an entire orchestra wishing you happy birthday :D

[@clickrick]

And the entire audience, too!

[@mikebaker6288]

Absolutely fantastic! Seamless transition to the Happy Birthday song. Must've had some practice without Sir Karl around!

[@rmhchef42]

I loved that. We need more of these moments in our lives.

[@leoniedejong9549]

In this deeply selfish world we indeed need more of these moments, if only to show that surprising someone else is actually much more fun than being so busy with yourself.

[@typerexc]

That was glorious - beautifully done. "Happy Birthday" played by a full orchestra is absolutely stunning, very moving. Happy Birthday!

[@elizabethrae679]

Happy 80th Birthday Sir Karl Jenkins. 🙏

[@lujedz]

I shed a few tears every single time I watch this. Must be a great feeling to be this loved!!

[@spiritman-em4qr]

Surrender to Christ. You'll know what love is.

[@gnirolnamlerf593]

Imagine being that beloved. Wonderful.

[@PMS1950]

He writes music, which is always accessible and throughly enjoyable. Happy Birthday to a great Welsh man.

[@KS-cz9qc]

This demonstrates the love and friendship that is forged from playing in an orchestra together 🥹

[@alwaysfreezing130]

What an absolutely lovely suprise. They really made it special

[@amidazad4832]

What an amazing gesture. That was beautiful. Happy Birthday.

[@lme104]

I had the joy of attending his 70th birthday concert at the Albert Hall in 2014 - can’t believe it was a decade ago. Still have the CD he signed. Such wonderful music.

[@BmanTheChamp]

Now that's just wholesome.

[@luishumbertovega3900]

Spectacular !!! I burst laughing and had a tear at the same time, that was so beautiful !!! Loved how he dropped his arms as if saying Something's not right here... 😂

[@TH-bx9qb]

LOVE! The look on his face was so precious.

[@maranatha256]

He looks a lot like Captain Kangaroo, another beloved human being. Happy birthday!

[@c0mpu73rguy]

That was so sweet. Happy birthday ^^

[@TMM6900]

Dang that's a grand Happy birthday song

[@lgrillo]

That was great, and what a fabulous rendition of Happy Birthday!

[@wanderlust62]

Happy 80th! That was a touching moment to celebrate an amazing composer, conductor musician!

[@blodwen6946]

One of the best modern day composers and he is Welsh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@etistone]

It was great! In this evening of mid April, when I went to congratulate Sir Jenkins at the end of the performance, I also wished him a happy birthday, and he replied: "It is in February." I'm still confused to why they did that! 😂

[@jenn976]

Even more of a surprise, then! According to Wikipedia, it’s Feb. 17 and it was his 80th birthday.

[@berniecelee5062]

When my older friends ( 70 plus) have a birthday, they celebrate ALL WEEK , 7 days …they are treated by different friends and family to dinners or lunches ALL week. When you live that long she says, you accumulate many deep long caring relationships so you can’t just have one day to celebrate. I guess when you’re 80 AND FAMOUS …. it could take up to 2 months !! LOL 😂 This must have been a lovely surprise for him . 😊 80 and still working at a job he loves . If we can be so lucky …. I hope I get some of his blessings to keep doing something I enjoy for as long as possible .

[@cathynewyork7918]

Maybe they had NO live concert in February so they had to wait for April's concert.

[@suki757]

Bless their hearts - didn’t miss a beat when they switched songs 🤭

[@wildlifewalkswithcountryge749]

What a beautiful touch!

[@secretgarden3555]

One od the best conducters on this planet❤

[@onzkicg]

Lol 😂 He’s so focused.. I’m not in cake mood during work. That timing is really well executed 👍

[@larrystuder6378]

I laughed till I cried. Hoq much they must have loved him...

[@jeannehall6546]

😊😅! Happy Birthday Sir Karl!

[@rizzad16]

This is the best orchestrated Birthday song rendition I ever heard. It made me tear up. 👏👏👏👏👏🥹🥹🥹👏👏👏👏🎶🎼👏🎶🎼❤️❤️🎆👏❤️

[@SBSportsMX]

How WONDERFUL IT SOUNDS

[@FERNANDOAMENDIVIL]

MY MY MY Did NOT expect that. ~ EPICsode ~

[@banisimowicz3095]

What a wonderful surprise and heartfelt reaction!

[@hestergreen2031]

What a lovely beautiful lovely birthday present. Congratulations!!

[@gimhulber2716]

Ohhhhhh how sweet 😋. Happy Belated Birthday.

[@capital101]

I never get tired of watching this!

[@wayne8797]

They practiced for this! So heart warming! 🙏

[@murat_yurttas]

Wonderful. Happy birthday, Sir.

[@michaelpuhaindran4127]

That was really sweet… 🎉🍾🥂

[@linetriangleisasussybaka]

Happy Birthday, Sir. Thank you for your creativity, your talent, your gifts that you share with us.

[@chan400]

That was heavenly Classic!!

[@jaywei7546]

Aaah, sweet!!! Happy birthday 🥳

[@rectify2003]

What a beautiful surprise It bought a tear to my eye 🙏❤️

[@Geffi01]

Now this is heartwarming

[@user-hh8tf4tb9q]

What a brilliant surprise and a memory that he and those present won't forget.

[@paquefeal2385]

That was so sweet 😊

[@denisekay4292]

That was lovely!!! ❤️

[@coolbreeze5683]

I'm glad to see that many people at a concert for classical music! In my city, the symphony orchestra is struggling to bring in crowds 😔

[@cathynewyork7918]

What city do you live in that struggles to bring in crowds for a classical music concert? I live in New York City where classical music is very popular. We even have a free Philharmonic concert coming up on June 12 for the masses in Central Park, which they do every year.

[@julz63]

That gave me goosebumps ❤ Happy Birthday Sir Karl 🎉

[@sbkpilot1]

very well co-ordinated by everyone :) What great team work!

[@grahamalexander9956]

Truly wonderful !!!

[@martinmarsola6477]

Many more to come! 😊❤

[@ivoverhoef1160]

Beautiful 😍

[@chong2389]

How wonderful! 🎂🎂

[@ancientwisdom108]

That was stupendous! I think it got to me more than to him!

[@angelvera04]

I love this!!!

[@Corey0205]

Happy birthday 🎂 maestro, Sir Karl

[@nilsneumann3399]

Wonderful

[@VioletsOnMars]

The human aspect of Sir Jenkins: Oh how wonderful, thank you! The perfectionist conductor: It's ruined, we need to start over!

[@AquaFonic]

Brilliant ❤️

[@mercoledi_falco]

What an Amazing Surprise！then i'm also happy to see that special moment. Big Thx for sharing, Classic FM🎵Very Happy Birthday to maestro, Karl Jenkins🎵and Huge Love to All there🎵Bravissimi :)

[@davedyson4730]

Very fitting.

[@MooreMusic12]

Beautiful

[@hazeentertainmenthiphop]

Sweet!

[@georgemitchell9696]

Wonderful!

[@Tinrebel]

From Southern California here, I so wanted to be at that concert, had plans years ago but then Covid hit, I so adore the music this man composes! Perhaps someday, until then Happy Birthday Sir Karl!

[@cathynewyork7918]

Covid is mostly over - you could have gone to that concert now in 2024.

[@slo7819]

So sweet ❤

[@clickrick]

What a fantastic, fabulous moment!

[@zeynepyurter9831]

SUPERB !

[@keithhamilton3399]

Loved the woolworths el cheapo cake.!!😂😂😂😂

[@nicolas2419]

Superb surprise brilliantly done! :)

[@gilesellis8002]

All the Best, and Slàinte Mhath,

[@juleshorse9056]

Just brilliant!

[@johnw2026]

Very nice! And they somehow got the whole band coordinated on it. Bravo!

[@alanthomson1227]

Wow what a change from his Soft Machine and Nucleus days .

[@keahi7646]

I enjoyed that, very classy.

[@stevemanuell8610]

Brilliant

[@pearlharbor8065]

Very nice!

[@aacvieira]

Fantastic surprise.!! Unbelievable!

[@atalanta9353]

I love this and I love this man!

[@kati-ana]

Sir Karl sure looks great for 80.

[@user-zu3xy8ve2y]

Wow, wow,wow!🎉

[@HelenCamile63]

Brilliant 😊

[@holandamonicace1385]

Beeeautiful!!

[@JB-gv8wz]

That was cool!

[@JamesRonstadt]

It’s a beautiful thing 🌈♥️

[@eliztshiamamukendi6082]

So cute❤

[@user-ul2ym8qj2o]

How gorgeous is that. Congratulations and best wishes to you 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂

[@scm0717]

Happy Birthday! That was so lovely!

[@francoisvillon1300]

Очень трогательно! Обожаю его Реквием!

[@cindyshirey8561]

Classy !

[@agathavandoesburg7297]

Very nice as he's well loved, you'd expect nothing less ❤❤

[@dion1949]

Love Stella Natalis!

[@mikejaggs6722]

That was really nice! Happy Birthday Sir Karl.. I've been a fan since Nucleus! You have come so far since then!! ❤❤❤

[@HandmadeDarcy]

Seamless!!

[@lw216316]

saw that coming a mile away.....sweet

[@HelovesU-we4qh]

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾😁