I always enjoy performing at outdoor concerts as I love the relaxed atmosphere of the evenings, and the sense of celebration - (and seeing all of the wonderful picnic creations and costumes of the audience!) I was particularly thrilled to be able to perform again with the RLPO under the baton of their wonderful Chief Conductor Vasily Petrenko at this event.
Thankfully the weather, despite unfavourable forecasts, was really kind to us and much to everyone’s relief - although it was a chilly evening for June!
@Peter Lovatt
After an afternoon of rehearsals, the concert commenced with the Birkenhead School’s Big Band and the audience of 3,000+ were then treated to performances by some of the schools very talented young pupils. Roger Philips from BBC Radio Merseyside compèred the evening and the RLPO then took to the stage with Vasily. It was great privilege for me to join these talented musicians singing some Bizet, Saint-Saens, Lehar and Lerner & Loewe in the first half of the concert and Boubil & Schonberg and Rodgers & Hammerstein in the second. The programme concluded with Tchaikovsky’s, '1812 Overture' with a spectacular firework display and Elgar’s "Pomp and Circumstance." It is such a great moment to join the audience in singing 'Land of Hope and Glory' and witness the sea of flags across the audience!
A special thank you to everyone at Birkenhead School for their wonderful organisation and hospitality, to Vasily and the orchestra and to all of the people who attended the concert for making the event such a special occasion.
Find out more about what's on during Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra's 2011/2012 season .