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Something Special - University of Warwick Symphony Orchestra, Chorus & Big Band

The Warwick Art’s Centre’s Butterworth Hall will be the venue for a very special and unique concert featuring the musical talents of around 350 students from the University’s Symphony Orchestra, Chorus, Big Band, Drama and Tap societies. Concert goers will also have an additional visual treat in the form of a specially commissioned piece of live video art which is scheduled to run alongside some of the concert pieces. A rarely seen or heard Duke Ellington piece will also be performed in a first time collaboration between the Music Centre’s Chorus and the Big Band.

The evening’s entertainment begins with excerpts from Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde. The University Symphony Orchestra will perform Holst’s popular Planets Suite which will be accompanied by a spectacular visual element of planetary background visuals and live video feeds by Raphael Lapouille. The visuals have been specially devised for the event and marks a first time collaboration between Warwick Arts Centre and Raphael.

The second half of the concert will be equally as daring, creative and as innovative as the first half with the performance of a selection of Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concerts. Between 1965 and 1973, Duke Ellington wrote three massive works that combined elements of jazz, classical music, choral music, spirituals, gospel, blues and dance. He called them his "sacred concerts," and they were performed in churches and cathedrals around the world. However due to the scale of the music and the sheer number of artists needed to execute each work, Ellington's sacred concerts have rarely been performed in the 30 years since his death in 1974.

Now you have the opportunity to see and hear this rarely performed and highly regarded work. Sacred Concerts will be performed by the University’s 250-strong Chorus, in collaboration with the Big Band, vocal soloists and also includes a narrator and a tap-dancer adding to the overall entertainment of this piece.

Speaking about the event, Symphony Orchestra Concert Manager Lia Buddle said, 'This is no ordinary concert. It's going to involve dancers, lighting effects, video projection and much more! And on top of that, we're performing some downright fantastic music - I can guarantee there'll be something you'll enjoy!"

Just in case you need reminding:

  • Venue: Butterworth Hall (Warwick Arts Centre)
  • Date: 22 June 2004
  • Time: 8.00pm
  • Event: The University of Warwick Symphony Orchestra & Chorus & Big Band
  • Potential for an enjoyable evening: So high its off the scale.
  • Price: £9 (£6)

Email: box.office@warwick.ac.uk

www.warwickartscentre.co.uk