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To commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Radio 2 is marking the occasion with this special concert at Portsmouth Guildhall.

Presented by Vernon Kay, the concert features the combined musical forces of the BBC Concert Orchestra and the BBC Big Band as they perform some of the best-loved and most enduring music of that era.

It will feature classic film scores including Maurice Jarre’s The Longest Day, Gerard Schurmann’s Attack On The Iron Coast, John Addison’s A Bridge Too Far and John Williams’ Hymn To The Fallen from Saving Private Ryan.

Musicians played an important role during those times, most notably Glenn Miller’s United States Army Air Force Band. They arrived in England in 1944 and over the next year would make more than 500 broadcasts and 300 live performances attended by more than one million military personnel. Among their classics to be performed will be In The Mood, Tail End Charlie and Moonlight Serenade.

The concert also features guests including the acclaimed soul voices of Vanessa Haynes and Tony Momrelle who perform some of the biggest hits of 1944 including Duke Ellington’s Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me, Louis Jordan’s Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby and Nat ‘King’ Cole’s Straighten Up And Fly Right. Plus, 9-piece vocal ensemble The D-Day Darlings revisit those Vera Lynn favourites, We’ll Meet Again and The White Cliffs Of Dover, whilst singer/pianist Kate Garner takes a nostalgic look back at Now Is The Hour and I’m Gonna Get Lit Up When The Lights Go Up In London.

Please note, this concert is being recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.