Procol Harum and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra

Tuesday, 10 August 2010 14:07

An Evening with Procol Harum and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra

One Night Only, One Last Time!

 
A groundbreaking performance in November 1971 made orchestral history. Now nearly 40 years later, British rock band Procol Harum returns to Edmonton to reunite with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and Da Camera Singers (John Brough, Artistic Director) for one night only, one last time! History will repeat itself at the Francis Winspear Centre for Music with ESO Music Director Williams Eddins leading orchestral treatments of rock hits including Whiter Shade of Pale and Conquistador.
At the time, few could have predicted that the experimental “rock meets the classics” concert would yield one of the band’s best-selling albums. Procol Harum Live in Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, released in 1972 to critical acclaim, peaked at #5 on the US Billboard chart – the group’s highest placing ever. The album became the first collaboration with an orchestra to sell Gold, and eventually achieved Platinum status – again, a rare first.
 
In 1992, the Edmonton Symphony invited back Procol Harum and the Greenwood Singers for a 20th anniversary nostalgia-filled reunion concert. "The orchestra had been in and out of the charts worldwide with Conquistador since 1972. So we had to play it about four times in '92. The crowds just would not go home. We played it twice at the 1971 concert and they also went absolutely berserk. We started the concert with Conquistador and we had to play it again at the end,” recalls Gary Brooker, founder of the band.
 
Gary Brooker (piano and vocals), Josh Phillips (Hammond organ), Geoff Whitehorn (guitar and vocals), Geoff Dunn (drums and vocals), and Matt Pegg (bass and vocals) bring their raucous rock back to the classical stage for one unforgettable night. Ticket prices for this performance range from $36 – $81 (agency fees apply) and are available through the Winspear Centre Box Office.  
Subscribers to the ESO’s 2010/11 Season may purchase tickets to this performance now - by phone (780-428-1414 or 1-800-563-5081) or in person (#4 Sir Winston Churchill Square). 
 
Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Tuesday, August 17th at 10am by phone, in person, and online.

Comments  

 
0 # James EPD 2010-08-17 05:52 i am excited to see this again. Reply | Reply with quote | Quote
 
 
0 # Roger McGuire 2010-08-25 15:40 I have been hoping for this specific event to occur my entire adult life. Have been enthralled with PH and the ESO combination since I first heard Whaling Stories on the radio at 3am one night about 1975. Didn't find out about the 1992 PH/ESO concert until it was too late to go. Thanks to the wonders of the internet, this time around I'll see you there!!! Reply | Reply with quote | Quote
 
 
0 # Scott 2010-09-07 04:47 I sincerely hope that in addition to the original concert set , that they Play a Whiter Shade of Pale on the magnificent Davis concert organ at the Winspear. It was not played in the original concert , but this would be the fitting end piece now.

I have my ticket. Reply | Reply with quote | Quote
 

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