Mike Batt - 1990s

1990s

In 1995 he made a solo album for Sony Germany, Arabesque. Batt was then commissioned to write the official anthem for the inauguration of the Channel Tunnel by the Queen, entitled "When Flags Fly Together". This was performed for the Queen and President Mitterrand, along with many senior politicians, by members of the choir of the Harvey Grammar School, Folkestone.

Batt composed and produced the four million-selling album, The Violin Player, with classical violinist Vanessa-Mae (EMI Classics, 1995) from which the Top Twenty single of J.S. Bach's "Toccata and Fugue" was taken.

In 1997 Batt produced an album for the soprano, Anna Maria Kaufmann, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; an original dramatic song cycle called Blame It On The Moon, from which his song, "Running With A Dream" was taken as the theme for Germany’s national football team at the World Cup in June 1998.

Also in 1998, Batt produced, arranged and conducted the album, Philharmania with the Royal Philharmonic and guest singers included Roger Daltrey, Marc Almond, Bonnie Tyler, Status Quo, Huey Lewis, Kim Wilde, Justin Hayward and others. Later the same year Batt relaunched The Wombles pop group, with two hits, "Remember You’re A Womble" (at number 13) and "The Wombling Song" (at number 27). In 2000 he collaborated with Roy Wood for a single which combined new versions of previous Christmas hits by Wizzard and The Wombles, released as "I Wish It Could Be a Wombling Merry Christmas" - UK number 22).

Later he would work on the music for the 1999 Watership Down TV series, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Art Garfunkel again performed a song for the TV soundtrack, "When You're Losing Your Way in The Rain" which was not used in the show. The song however originated from Batt's earlier album, Tarot Suite, and was originally performed by Colin Blunstone of 60's group "The Zombies". "Bright Eyes" was instead performed by the former Boyzone member Stephen Gately, although the new version was not as successful as Garfunkel's original. Other stars who were featured on the soundtrack included Cerys Matthews performing "Thank You Stars", (which would later be covered by Katie Melua on her album, Piece By Piece), Paul Carrack who performed "Winter Song" and Gary Martin provided the narration for "Frith's Blessing". Batt also performed an original song, "A View From A Hill".

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