Sir David Attenborough's wonderful anniversary party
The BBC has organized a special program to celebrate the hundred years of Sir David Attenborough, the most extraordinary naturalist and communicator in television history. The celebration culminated in a magnificent gala at the Royal Albert Hall in London, with the protagonist present in the royal box, seated between his wife and Prince William of Wales representing the royal family.
A live-streamed anniversary celebration. David Attenborough’s 100 Years on Planet Earth has been one of the best television ceremonies ever made, and it has paid tribute to the protagonist in life, in good health, and who has received the love and recognition of hundreds of people.
The event was hosted by Kirsty Young, one of the channel's iconic presenters, characterized by a sobriety in her manner but great intensity in her message. She condenses important ideas into few words, with precise language and great warmth. Sir David did not speak throughout the gala. It was time to receive his gift: to contemplate his own legacy. It was very touching to see how, in the moments when he was given long ovations, his wife gave him instructions on whether it was appropriate to stand up and wave as a sign of gratitude.
The gala abandoned conventional theatricality. It did not need a large stage. Just a small seating area to receive some guests who would not only talk about Attenborough but also about the evolution of television in these hundred years, especially regarding the filming of the natural world and wildlife. The anniversary celebration lost none of the spirit of communication that has characterized the protagonist. The celebration was structured by the BBC orchestra, a huge screen projecting Attenborough's great television moments, and some very austere musical performances linked to the sound design of the great productions of Planet Earth and Blue Planet. Performances full of epic and emotion, with choral accompaniments that served to illustrate the fascinating images projected on the screen.
In the last ten years, Attenborough has produced and starred in eighteen magnificent series. It was the decade he was supposed to retire and he has been busier than ever, with television and activism. At the gala there were extraordinary moments, such as the congratulations from Buckingham Palace promoted by the BBC: a letter of recognition from King Charles III that was passed along by a series of animals until an owl deposited it in his home's mailbox, like in Harry Potter. Finally, Attenborough showed the audience that he already had the letter in his hands.
The BBC has organized one of the best living tributes to a key television figure, a pioneer of technology and color imagery. But above all, to a man who has given a voice to nature and opened our eyes to appreciate the beauty and fragility of our planet.
