Principal Conductor Robin Ticciati directs the SCO in Essen in a programme of music by Berlioz and Brahms and joined by brilliant young pianist Kit Armstrong for Beethoven's Piano Concerto No 1.
Since forming in 1999, the Galaxy Big Band has surged onto the big band scene attracting some of the most accomplished musicians in East Anglia to comprise its 18 piece line-up of saxophones, brass and rhythm. The entertaining and talented Roger Chinery leads the Band as well as playing some wonderful trumpet solos.
Treading in the footsteps of the great big bands of the 1940s, the Galaxy Big Band has established an enviable reputation for swing music, jive and jazz.
Tony Bennett (born Anthony Dominick Benedetto on August 3, 1926) is an American singer of popular music, standards and jazz. After having achieved artistic and commercial success in the 1950s and early 1960s, his career suffered an extended downturn during the height of the rock music era. Bennett staged a remarkable comeback, however, in the late 1980s and 1990s, expanding his audience to a younger generation while keeping his musical style intact. He remains a popular and critically praised recording artist and concert performer in the 2000s.
he BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (BBC SSO) is a broadcasting symphony orchestra based in Glasgow, Scotland. One of five full-time orchestras maintained by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), it is the oldest full-time professional orchestra in Scotland. The BBC SSO takes live music to towns and cities across Scotland every season, performs around Europe, and in recent years has toured in China, the USA and South America.
The New London Orchestra, based in London, was founded by Ronald Corp in 1988, to perform rarely heard 20th century works. The Orchestra and Corp pioneered the music of Martinů, now a familiar name with concert-goers, and have helped re-establish the popularity of ‘British Light Music' through a series of recordings on independent label Hyperion Records. In the field of education, the Orchestra have devised projects which use music as a tool to enhance learning in the primary curriculum subjects of Maths, Literacy and Science, and found new ways to engage children in crucial learning and social skills. Based on the success of its 'Newham Welcomes the World' community project, the New London Orchestra is focusing its concert giving and outreach work in the local community in the London Borough of Newham.
Founded in 1967 by trumpeter and arranger Syd Lawrence, The fabulous SYD LAWRENCE ORCHESTRA has been thrilling audiences in Concert Halls, Theatres, TV Shows and Music Festivals all over Great Britain and Continental Europe for over 40 years.
Renowned for it’s exciting blend of high octane Big Band Swing and Classic Dance Music, the Orchestra’s repertoire ranges from the wartime million sellers of the legendary Glenn Miller through the era of the great Count Basie Orchestra to the hit songs of Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.
Russell Watson, born in Salford, Lancashire, England, November 24, 1966 is an English tenor who has released popular albums of operatic-style songs. In his 9 year career he has released four singles, five albums and another was planned for November 2006, delayed now until 2007 due to removal of a benign brain tumour. His debut album entitled The Voice followed in May 2001, a mixture of operatic arias and covers of pop songs, topping the UK classical music charts and eventually reaching number five in the UK album charts.
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes called "Britain's national orchestra". The RPO was founded in 1946 by Thomas Beecham and played its first concert in Croydon on September 15, 1946. Beecham was principal conductor until his death in 1961. He was followed by then assistant conductor Rudolf Kempe, who was given the title of Conductor for Life in 1970. Subsequent musical directors and principal conductors have been Antal Doráti (1975-78), Walter Weller (1980-85), André Previn (1985-92), Vladimir Ashkenazy (1987-94).
Chick Corea is best known for his work during the 1970s in the genre of jazz fusion, although his contributions to straight-ahead jazz have been tremendous. He participated in the birth of the electric fusion movement as a member of Miles Davis's band in the 1960s, and in the 1970s formed Return to Forever. In the 80s he formed the Chick Corea Elektric Band, utilising new technologies, whilst still exploring the fusion arena. This band gave new exposure to John Patitucci (Bass), Dave Weckl (Drums), Frank Gambale (Guitar).
The Philharmonia is an orchestra based in London. Since 1995 it has been based in the Royal Festival Hall. In Britain it is also the Resident Orchestra at De Montfort Hall, Leicester and the Bedford Corn Exchange. The orchestra was founded in 1945 by Walter Legge, and although it did give the occasional live concert, it was mainly intended to be a recording orchestra for EMI, where Legge was an executive.