London. The London Symphony Orchestra played an
all-Tchaikovsky programme today to a capacity crowd of Londoners and
visitors in Trafalgar Square for the fifth annual BMW LSO Open Air
Classics concert. The series is run in partnership with BMW who share
the LSO’s ambition to bring the greatest music to the heart of London
and is free and open to all, with the support of the Mayor of London.
The spectacular “1812 Overture” and Symphony No 4 were performed by
the LSO conducted by Valery Gergiev; the evening was presented by Paul Rissmann.
Dr Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, said:
“Throughout its almost 50-year-long engagement in the cultural field,
BMW has focused on making classical music available for people to
enjoy, without boundaries. Culture is an integral part of the BMW
brand and our cultural partnerships honor this. Innovation is the
cornerstone of our DNA and we enjoy our position at the forefront of
new developments, be it in the arts or technology. It is a pleasure to
see around 10,000 visitors annually from all over the world just here
in Trafalgar Square, listening to our phenomenal partner, the LSO. We
are proud to kick off BMW’s classical open air summer that way, with
Munich and Berlin following in the next weeks.”
Kathryn McDowell, LSO Managing Director said: “I’m delighted that the
LSO is giving this free concert for Londoners in Trafalgar Square for
the fifth time. Bringing great music, live, to thousands of people is
at the heart of the LSO’s ambition and I’m delighted that this event
is now embedded in the annual calendar of London’s cultural calendar.
Alongside the musicians of the LSO, this concert gives a platform to
dozens of talented young musicians from East London who have been
nurtured by the Orchestra. Huge thanks to BMW for their visionary
partnership and to the Mayor of London for the continued support of
the event.”
Earlier in the afternoon more than 100 singers led by Lucy Griffiths,
conductor of the LSO Junior Choir, formed a pop-up chorus in Trafalgar
Square, singing “The Orchestra Song” which introduces the instruments
of the Orchestra. The singers, carrying coloured parasols, formed a
giant version of the BMW LSO Open Air Classics butterfly logo on
Trafalgar Square. Passers-by joined in the singing flashmob to
celebrate five years of free LSO concerts in Trafalgar Square.
Over 40 young musicians from LSO On Track also joined the Orchestra
to play side-by-side in a specially arranged performance of
Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake – Suite”, along with musicians from the
Guildhall School. LSO On Track is a year-round community programme
based in East London for young musicians regardless of their
experience or background. It aims to inspire the next generation of
music-makers by offering high-profile platforms for performance and
opportunities to work with the musicians of the LSO, this concert
being an annual highlight for the young participants.
The concert was also captured by MelodyVR, who are launching the
world’s first dedicated virtual reality music platform. The London
Symphony Orchestra’s worldwide audience will be able to experience the
performance in immersive virtual reality later this year. The LSO and
BMW are incredibly excited to be embracing new technology, which will
allow its audience to feel like they are actually on stage with the orchestra.
About BMW Group’s Cultural Commitment
For almost 50 years now, the BMW Group has initiated and engaged in
over 100 cultural cooperations worldwide. The company places the main
focus of its long-term commitment on contemporary and modern art,
classical music and jazz as well as architecture and design. In 1972,
three large-scale paintings were created by the artist Gerhard Richter
specifically for the foyer of the BMW Group’s Munich headquarters.
Since then, artists such as Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, Daniel Barenboim,
Jonas Kaufmann and architect Zaha Hadid have co-operated with BMW.
Currently, female artist Cao Fei from China and American John
Baldessari are creating the next two vehicles for the BMW Art Car
Collection. Besides co-initiatives, such as BMW Tate Live, the BMW Art
Journey and the “Opera for All” concerts in Berlin, Munich and London,
the company also partners with leading museums and art fairs as well
as orchestras and opera houses around the world. The BMW Group takes
absolute creative freedom in all its cultural activities – as this
initiative is as essential for producing groundbreaking artistic work
as it is for major innovations in a successful business.
Further information: www.bmwgroup.com/culture
and www.bmwgroup.com/culture/overview
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BMW-Group-Culture-925330854231870/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroupculture/
@BMWGroupCulture
#BMWGroupCulture
For further questions please contact:
Dr. Thomas Girst
BMW Group Corporate and Governmental Affairs
Head of Cultural Engagement
Telephone: +49-89-382-24753
Leonie Laskowski
BMW Group Corporate and Governmental Affairs
Cultural Engagement
Telephone: +49-89-382-45382
Internet:
www.press.bmwgroup.com
Mail: presse@bmw.de
The BMW Group
With its three brands BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce, the BMW Group is the
world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles
and also provides premium financial and mobility services. As a global
company, the BMW Group operates 31 production and assembly facilities
in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.
In 2015, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.247 million cars and
nearly 137,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the
financial year 2015 was approximately € 9.22 billion on revenues
amounting to € 92.18 billion. As of 31 December 2015, the BMW Group
had a workforce of 122,244 employees.
The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term
thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established
ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain,
comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to
conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.
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