Due this month, issue 35 of Ritchie Blackmore magazine “More Black Than Purple” features an interview with Jon Lord. Amongst other things, the interview covers the Durham Concerto, Jon’s thoughts on Ritchie Blackmore and the chances of future Deep Purple activity.
Getting all emotional and teary at hearing ‘Sarabande’ and ‘Gigue’ live, Swedish Artrock Association’s reviewer caught Jon Lord in Hagen. Read his review (Swedish language).
Der Westen reviews Friday night’s Hagen concert very favourably. Read ‘Jon Lord bei den Philharmonikern’ (German language).
Hagen Philharmonic Orchestra turned Friday night’s performance of Jon Lord’s ‘Concerto for Group and Orchestra’ into a victorious celebration of not only the orchestra’s own 100th anniversary, but also of Jon Lord’s versatile talents as a composer. The Hagen locals agreed and afforded the sold out show (1.200) a prolonged standing ovation at the end.
The concept of teaming up with a local orchestra to perform some of his orchestral pieces seems a successful (not to mention practical) way for Jon Lord to take his music ‘on the road’ more often.
While preparing for the Hagen concert, Jon Lord guested on German web-tv.
In their Soundcheck series he comments on various pieces of music played to him during the interview. One of them was recorded in Japan in 1972 … while the others were a little more exotic. Click on the photo to watch the clip. (English language.)
Last night’s open rehearsal at Hagen Stadthalle for Jon Lord’s concert there tonight was a resounding success. The 1.200 capacity venue was close to sold out and the crowd afforded the ’show’ several standing occasions.
- It’s difficult to do a rehearsal when the venue is full of people watching you, so it was more like a real concert. The organiser said afterwards she’d have booked two concerts, if she’d known there was this much interest, Jon Lord explains.
Jon Lord was a featured guest on the Roger Day show on BBC Southern Counties Radio last night. They talked about the success of the Durham Concerto in the classical CD charts as well as Jon’s session work in London in the 60s. You can listen to the interview here. It starts around the 02:00:00 mark.
With concerts lined up in both Australia, England and mainland Europe, 2008 promises to be a busy year for Jon Lord.
Check out the links for local availability of tickets.
JULY
6 - X Summer Music Festival, Płock, Poland
- Concerto for Group & Orchestra w/Plock Symphony Orchestra
(100 km North West of Warsaw)
Updated:
26 - Weston Park, near Birmingham, England - Proms Spectacular, tickets
- The Telemann Experiment, The Road from Lindisfarne, Bourée
AUGUST
Updated:
16 - Castle Howard, York, England - Proms Spectacular, tickets
- The Telemann Experiment, The Road from Lindisfarne, Bourée
New:
23 - Marble Hill, Twickenham, England - Classic FM’s Proms Spectacular, tickets
- The Telemann Experiment, The Road from Lindisfarne, Bourée
SEPTEMBER
13 - Luxembourg Philharmonie, Luxembourg
- Concerto for Group & Orchestra w/Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra
New:
25 - The Porchester Halls, London, England - Sun Flower Jam
- Special Guest with Deep Purple, read more
Check back to this page for updates. New concerts will appear here as they are confirmed.
2008, past shows:
FEBRUARY
14 - Theater Hagen, Hagen, Germany
- Open rehearsal - Concerto For Rock Group & Orchestra + solo pieces
15 - Theater Hagen, Hagen, Germany SOLD OUT
- Concerto For Rock Group & Orchestra + solo pieces
MARCH
27 - Festival Theatre, Adelaide, Australia
28 - Festival Theatre, Adelaide, Australia
29 - Festival Theatre, Adelaide, Australia
- Concerto for Group & Orchestra (three shows)
APRIL
5 - Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, England
- Durham Concerto w/Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
9 - Zermatt Unplugged, Main Stage, Festival Zelt, Zermatt, Switzerland
- Solo material
A one hour special on the Durham Concerto is sheduled to air on Classic FM this Sunday at 4pm GMT. The show will feature an interview with Jon Lord in which he will tell the story behind the concerto. You can listen to Classic FM on the web.
In case you miss the show it will also be available later at classicfm.co.uk/listenagain.
Listen to a commercial for the show here.
Jon Lord’s “Boom of the Tingling Strings” will be released on CD on March 24.
Below is the press release:
EMI Classics are pleased to release two symphonic works by Jon Lord, better known as a founder member of one of the all-time great rock groups, Deep Purple. Lord’s new Piano Concerto, ‘Boom of the Tingling Strings,’ is performed by Nelson Goerner with the Odense Symfoniorkester under conductor Paul Mann, the concerto’s dedicatee. Lord’s Suite for String Orchestra, entitled ‘Disguises,’ completes the programme.
