News

Jon Lord’s ‘Durham Concerto’ attracts further acclaim

(28 January 2008)

A piece of classical music created to promote Durham and its University is attracting national acclaim.

The Durham Concerto whose world-premiere commanded a sell-out audience at a live performance at Durham Cathedral by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra is achieving further success. Commissioned by Durham University to celebrate its 175th anniversary, the Concerto has been named the ‘CD of the Week’ by the popular radio station, Classic FM, in the same week it goes on sale. Extracts from the Concerto, written by composer and former Deep Purple keyboard player Jon Lord, will be played on the station every morning this week at 10.10am on Classic FM’s Simon Bates show. Simon will also be talking about the music and its inspiration. Classic FM has already broadcast the Concerto’s world premiere in full after it was performed on October 20 in Durham Cathedral to nearly 1,000 guests from around the world. Fans will be able to buy the CD from today for £12 plus postage and packing from the official website www.durhamconcerto.com. All proceeds go to the University. Sam Jackson, Executive Producer, Classic FM, said: "The Durham Concerto is one of the most exciting pieces of contemporary classical music to emerge in recent years. The soloists and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra bring it brilliantly to life, and I'm sure it will prove to be a big hit with listeners to Classic FM.” The Concerto is performed by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, with four soloists, including Jon Lord on the Hammond Organ. It paints pictures of a day in the life of Durham, and has seven movements whose musical influences span jazz, ragtime, rock, and even Northumbrian folk music, including an old miner’s lament. Other soloists are acclaimed Northumbrian Pipe Player, Kathryn Tickell, cellist and TV personality Matthew Barley, and violinist and Classical Brit Award winner Ruth Palmer. The conductor is the Swiss-born Mischa Damev. Jon Lord, who has composed several acclaimed classical pieces over his musical career, said he was very inspired by the “hugely impressive” city of Durham. He commented: “To be asked to write a piece of music based on a place as beautiful as Durham was an honor and a privilege, To then have it premiered in Durham Cathedral was one of the highlights of my musical life.” Durham University Vice Chancellor, Professor Chris Higgins, a Durham graduate who trained as a classical violinist before taking up an academic career, said: “The Durham Concerto captures everything that is special about Durham and the University - the heritage of scholarship and education, sense of community and place, and long musical traditions. “With somebody as accomplished as Jon Lord behind its creation, the Concerto was destined for success from the beginning. We are thrilled that it is getting the recognition it deserves.” Durham Concerto was inspired by Durham law graduate John McLaren, merchant banker, best-selling novelist and classical music lover, who first suggested the idea to the University when it was planning its 175th anniversary celebrations.