World Class Classical Music Comes to Westfield


The BBC Symphony Orchestra gives a free concert

The BBC Symphony Orchestra is to give a free concert at Westfield as part of BBC Proms Out+About, which takes world class classical music to a diverse range of venues across London.

On Thursday 25 June, members of the world-renowned BBC Symphony Orchestra will perform for free in unexpected venues around the capital ranging from the Natural History Museum, Lyric Square in Hammersmith, Kings Cross St Pancras and Waterloo Tube Station.

The day will culminate in a musical spectacular, when the full orchestral force of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, nearly 100 musicians, gives a free concert at Westfield.

Inspired by the rich heritage of London, the Westfield concert features British music including, Benjamin Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Eric Coates’s London Calling and a world premiere by renowned film and jazz composer Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, Chelsea Reach. John Wilson, who features at the MGM Musicals Prom on 1 August, conducts the concert, which also highlights BBC Radio 3 New Generation trumpeter, Giuliano Sommerhalder.

The BBC Proms is also encouraging members of the public to pick up their own instruments and join in to help create a Family Orchestra at the Westfield event. This is a rare and invaluable opportunity for people of all ages to play alongside members of the world-class BBC Symphony Orchestra. This session will begin at Westfield at 3.30pm with the workshop at 4.30pm – 5.30pm.

The Out+About event is part of the Story of London Festival, a month-long celebration of the city’s past, present and future organised by the Mayor of London, in partnership with a host of organisations across the capital. The festival takes place throughout the whole of June 2009, with more than 350 events aimed at tourists and Londoners alike.

BBC Proms Out+About, now in its seventh year, is striving to bring the essence of the festival directly to the communities of London. It provides opportunities for families to get involved and for individuals to develop their own musical knowledge through the Proms Learning initiatives, which continue throughout the festival – 17 July -12 September. This is a chance for all to be part of this internationally renowned classical music festival. Previous Out+About events include performances at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 last year and two concerts at the Brighton Dome in 2007.

19 June 2009

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