Lionel Falkman

The violinist Lionel Falkman (1892 – 1963) was born in Port Talbot. A student of Kalman Ronay and Leopold Auer, he gave his first broadcast on 14th April 1923 from Cardiff, where he was Musical Director of the Capitol Cinema. His was the first cinema orchestra to broadcast. Like many musicians of his generation, he gained his early experience playing for silent films, later receiving his musical education at the Royal College of Music. As early as the age of 12 he was playing in the music hall orchestra in Abertillery. By the age of 16 he was playing in the Covent Garden Orchestra under Hans Richter, was first violin in the New Symphony Orchestra under Sir Landon Ronald and first violin in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. In the early thirties, Lionel became conductor of the Paramount Theatre Orchestra in Manchester and in the mid-thirties he formed ‘Falkman and his Apache Band’. This orchestra of 12 played in an authentic Parisian style and French music dominated their repertoire. The last few years of Falkman's career were marred by illness. At the close of 'Music While You Work' on Saturday 13th April 1963 the announcer said 'Tomorrow, Lionel Falkman celebrates the fortieth anniversary of his first broadcast on April 14th 1923'. It was fortunate that this announcement was made because it turned out to be Falkman's last programme. He died a few weeks later in Cardiff.