Jonny Greenwood will be paid to produce modern classical pieces for the BBC concert orchestra. The appointment is an experimental move for the BBC, which is attempting to shake off the stuffy image of classical music. Greenwood, 32, who composes Radiohead songs with singer Thom Yorke, is not trained in classical music. A viola player in his youth, he went to Oxford University to read music but lasted just three weeks. Although he does not take up the three-year post until next year, it is understood he will write for BBC festivals, the Proms and possibly theme tunes.
Radio 3 is expected to broadcast most of Greenwood’s new work. Roger Wright, the station’s controller, played a key role in persuading him to take the job. Wright has made Radio 3 more eclectic, introducing jazz and world music. Wright said: "The great joy about this deal is that Jonny is not a classical composer. He has a great talent and we want to give him the oppertunity to simply be creative. We want him to try things out with brass and string, to experiment. Anything goes and we are all enormously excited."
Greenwood said he was looking forward to his new role. "The key thing for me is beginning a close relationship with an orchestra. Orchestras are very magical things." The introduction of new music to the BBC has met resistance from traditionalists. They believe Wright’s Radio 3 is too keen to wage a ratings war with its commercial rival Classic FM and is focusing too much on "alternative" music. Michael White, the music critic, said Greenwood’s appointment was "very questionable." Greenwood replaces Anne Dudley, a classical performer.