East Lancashire’s answer to The Proms to launch

1:00pm Thursday 17th October 2013 in News

EAST Lancashire’s answer to ‘The Proms’ opens at King George’s Hall on Friday with the world-famous Halle orchestra kicking off a varied programme of concerts for everyone from movie fans to purists.

There will be five events featuring film themes, popular composers and more ‘difficult’ pieces for experts.

Blackburn with Darwen leisure boss Damian Talbot believes they feature something for everyone played by the North-West’s leading instrumentalists.

As well as the Halle, who perform three concerts, the annual ‘Blackburn Classics’ series running until May, next features The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Manchester Camerata.

Friday’s performance sees rising star Rory Macdonald conducting Rachmaninov’s popular “Rhapsody on a Theme or Paganini’ and Sibelius and Shotakovich.

On Saturday November 24 Manchester Camerata performs Beethoven, Dvorak and Mozart.

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic came to King George’s on Saturday February 15 with a selection of ‘Great Movie Themes’.

On Friday April 4 the Halle are back with Berlioz, Beethoven’s and the romantic classic ‘Pathetique’ Symphony Number Six by Tchaikovsky.

The Manchester-based orchestra’s principal conductor Sir Mark Elder will take the final concert featuring Bernstein, Gershwin, Copland and Ginastera’s ‘Harp Concerto’.

Coun Talbot said: “The classical season at King Georges Hall and the world class performers it attracts, really emphasises how important the hall is.

“I am delighted that we continue to work in partnership with world leading ensembles, such as the Halle and the Manchester Camerata to give the people of Blackburn and Lancashire the chance to see performances usually reserved for London and other capital cities.

“There really is something for everyone including people who don’t think they like classical music.

“Many people who come to their first classical concert at the ‘Blackburn Classics’ are amazed at what a powerful experience hearing great music by a full orchestra is.”

Halle second horn player Tom Redmond said: “The Hallé has a long and distinguished history with Blackburn’s King George’s Hall, and it is a relationship of which we remain extremely proud.”

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