Hull Phil adds disco classic to repertoire for city hall concert
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
Budding entrepreneurs and dance enthusiasts could experience some Saturday Night Fever this weekend.
The theme from The Apprentice and a 70s disco classic are part of the Hull Philharmonic Orchestra’s Invitation to Dance concert on Saturday, February 22 at Hull City Hall.
The programme features music written originally for ballet, including three movements from Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet of which Dance of the Knights is the famous opening track from the long-running competitive TV show with Lord Sugar.
The audience could also be grooving in the aisles when they are treated to A Fifth of Beethoven, the US No 1 hit single which featured on the soundtrack to the famous 1977 dance movie starring John Travolta.
Also being played are De Falla’s Three dances from The Three-Cornered Hat, Khachaturian’s Adagio from Spartacus and Phrygia, Bliss’ Three movements from Checkmate and Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite (1919 Version).
Peter Walker, the Hull Philharmonic Society’s chair, said: “There is a lot of ballet music that people don’t know they know, often in the public consciousness through use in TV and film.
“The disco instrumental A Fifth of Beethoven by Walter Murphy is our funky encore item and will bring a bit of retro New York suburban nightlife to Hull’s city hall.
“It may be dark outside, but we’ll be burning bright as we open the doors and invite you in to dance with us.”
Hull Philharmonic’s musical director Simon Chalk will conduct Saturday’s concert. A proud “Welsh lad from the valleys”, Simon trained in conducting and violin at the Birmingham Conservatoire and has appeared in more than 70 countries with numerous professional symphony orchestras and smaller ensembles. He is committed to using music to engage and inspire, and to attract people into the concert hall who may have never seen a live orchestra before.
The concert starts at 7.30, with a free pre-concert talk at 6.30 open to all ticket holders. Tickets are priced between £10 and £31 with concessions available. You can buy tickets here.