The London Musical Theatre Orchestra hosted a gala at the Bishopsgate Institute to launch its first season and professional concerts, featuring performances from some top West End performers.
Showcasing the work of the London Musical Theatre Orchestra, last night’s event was a chance to celebrate the work of the orchestra as well as announcing its first season as a professional orchestra.
As the first orchestra to concentrate on performing a musical theatre repertoire, the LMTO has up until now acted as a rehearsal orchestra assembling monthly, without an audience, to develop players’ repertoire and pit playing skills by playing through an entire show.
The new organisation has recently been granted charity status, which now means that it can now undertake public concerts throughout the year.
Among those who performed alongside the London Musical Theatre Orchestra at the gala last night were West End stars Rebecca Caine, Ramin Karimloo, Ashleigh Gray and Hadley Fraser, giving invited guests an insight to what expect from the orchestra’s live performances.
It was also announced at the gala that tickets for the first public concerts to be brought to London are on sale now.
For the first public concert, on the 6th November at the Cadogan Hall, the orchestra will perform a fully orchestrated arrangement of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s State Fair . It will be the first UK symphonic concert of the musical and the orchestra is working in close collaboration with the Rodgers and Hammerstein estate.
In another debut, on the 19th December at the Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, Alan Menken and Lynn Ahren’s A Christmas Carol will be the orchestra’s next performance and finish the year on a high.
The London Musical Theatre Orchestra intends in the future to host between five and six concerts a year, with the first 2017 date taking place across Valentine’s weekend. further details of the 2017 season will be announced soon.
This new professional orchestra was the idea of Freddie Tapner, Musical Director and Founder of the ensemble and is produced and managed by United Theatrical.
The orchestra also has an impressive list of patrons which includes: Alan Menken (Eight time Academy award winning theatre and film composer), Howard Goodall (Emmy, BRIT, and BAFTA Award winning composer of musicals, TV and choral music) and Stephen Schwartz (Three-time Academy Award and Grammy Award winning composer and lyricist. Best known for his musical work including Wicked, Godspell and Pippin).
The upcoming public concerts for the orchestra will be comprised of some of London’s greatest musicians – all with an enthusiasm for musical theatre.
London Musical Theatre Orchestra contains over 1,000 musicians and singers and now having launched will be able to stand out as a unique ensemble.
For more information on the London Musical Theatre Orchestra and the upcoming concerts visit: http://www.lmto.org/.