In Conversation with RICHARD BALCOMBE & GRAHAM BICKLEY discussing The Hallé – It's A Livin' Thing: The Music of Jeff Lynne's ELO

We chatted to conductor, Richard Balcombe and vocalist, Graham Bickley about The Hallé – It’s A Livin’ Thing: The Music of Jeff Lynne’s ELO concert at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester on Saturday 23rd May 2026. Karen Ryder asks the questions.

Experience the legendary Electric Light Orchestra’s unique fusion of rock, pop and classical music as you’ve never heard it before, in this live orchestral celebration of Jeff Lynne’s visionary music.

Formed in 1970 in Birmingham UK, the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) is a band that fuses pop music with classical overtones. Jeff Lynne, its creator and continuing driving force added violins, cellos, string basses, horns and woodwind to the standard rock line-up to “pick up where the Beatles left off…”

In the 13 years following their arrival on the music scene, they sold over 50 millions records worldwide, accumulated 27 Top 40 songs in the UK singles chart, and 15 in the US charts. In the summer of 2016, they played the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival, and in December, it was announced they had been elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2017.

Richard Balcombe and Graham Bickley have now produced a concert celebrating the unique aura of ELO, expanding the classic sound with a treatment that utilises a full symphony orchestra and band, with six singers.

Think sweeping strings, powerful brass, electrifying guitar riffs and a glorious wall of vocal sound – all celebrating some of ELO’s timeless hits.

Programme to Include

Standing in the Rain
Evil Woman
All Over the World
Diary of Horace Wimp
Last Train to London
Sweet Talkin' Woman
Showdown
Telephone Line
Rockaria
Living Thing
Shine a Little Love
Turn to Stone
When I Was a Boy
Wild West Hero
Xanadu
Mr Blue Sky

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